Sweeps and induction (longish post)

[Cakemuncher]

Hello all

I have a bit of a dilemma on my hands anc could do with hearing some thoughts/advice on the matter.

I have very, very bad SPD (as in could only make it up the stairs on hands and knees last night) and I am in a lot of pain. I have one or two other issues which are also contributing to severe discomfort. I was referred to a consultant by a concerned midwife who didn't think it would be sensible to let me go too far beyond my due date (Friday) as I might have nothing to give to the labour in terms of energy etc. I have now seen two different doctors and I am no nearer a resolution. I was offered a membrane sweep but I decided to defer it. I am not very keen on this as I tend to get a bit anxious at internals and I have heard that they are pretty painful and not always useful. There is a reluctance to go straight for induction as there is a 25% increased risk of caesarean. I am due to return on Monday for a possible sweep, but that would leave me waiting again for days to see what happens.

Ideally, I would rather not interfere with mother nature in this matter, but I don't know what the right thing is to do. I am concerned that if I go too far beyond my due date with this level of pain I will be so exhausted by labour that I could well end up with a caesarean anyway. Some days are more manageable than others, but sleep is non-existent and getting up every hour for the loo is made more difficult by the fact that getting in and out of bed can be sheer agony.

Part of me thinks I should push (no pun intended :) ) for induction as it would just cut straight to the chase so to speak.
I really don't know what to do for the best. I don't think baby is in any rush to arrive any time soon.

Sorry for long post. Anyone ever had a similar experience? Thoughts, advice welcome.

What kind of birth are you hoping for? If you need a drip for an induction, that usually rules out using a MLU or birthing pool. So if part of the plan was to use a pool to make labour with SPD easier, then you need to weigh that against induction.

Have you got any pain relief?

Thanks Japhrimel
I will have to have an antibiotic drip as I have Strep B so the pool is out for me anyhow. I suppose you could say that I am already on the medicalised route. I have tried paracetemol, which don't help and co-codamol which sort of does, but I don't want to take too much of that for baby's sake.

Are you able to see an Osetopath within the next day or so. Got to say that they cured me of my SPD in my 3rd pregnancy.

On the sweep front, I have very little faith in them, after having 3 for ds1, then had an induction, which went really well and was my best birth experience out of all 3 of them.
With ds2 I had about 12 sweeps, and a failed induction ending in an EMCS

So sorry I cant be of much help, but dont be afraid of induction it can be a positive thing.
But I would recommend trying to get on top of your pain issues.
Failing that you could opt for an epidural straight away on induction so that pain is not an issue and you can labour as normal

I'd talk to the doctor about pain meds. Codeine is very very mild compared to what they use in labour and if your doc is okay with you using it, then I would - you need the sleep & pain relief.

Cakemuncher, I'm sorry you are having such a tough time and I really feel for you. :(

IMO Japhrimel makes a good point. I have no personal experience of chemical induction, but have been told by family members that it's not always pleasant and it will have an impact on your birth choices if you were hoping for an active, natural birth.

If I were you I would book a date for chemical induction with your hospital (that way you have an end date in sight) and then try and get in as many sweeps as you can before then. That way at least you are giving yourself half a chance of going naturally. I know a membrame sweep is never top of anyone's list of pleasant activities but it's a means to an end.

Plus with membrane sweep, midwife can tell you how things are developing down there and whether she thinks the sweep will have been effective. If cervix is unfavourable and it looks like bubba is still a way off then maybe that will help you decide to opt more towards the chemical induction sooner rather than later? But at least you will know

Thanks for your replies folks.

What you say about codeine, Japhrimel, does make sense. For some reason though, both GP and hospital doctor were very cagey about me using it which confused me as midwives seem quite comfortable with it.

Some days are better than others and I think in terms of birth positions, I should be okay in some sort of all fours position.

Part of me thinks that I have put up with this since very early on in the pregnancy and that I should just sit tight and see it through to the more natural end. But that is a sensible point you make MummyB about the sweep being a starting point that might help me decide.

Cheers again all.