Sweep, sweep and induction or not?

[shandybass]

Hi. I'm 40 weeks +6 days and have had one sweep yesterday. The mw said my cervix was very favourable, head was well down and I was 2 cm dilated, but alas after pains all day nothing happened and I'm back to normal today.
So fed up.
I'm booked in for another sweep Friday and then if that doesn't work an induction next week.
Can anyone tell me why everyone is so off putting about an induction? Are there risks or is it just intense?
I'm anxious to get on with it as its my 3dc after a long time ttc and I'm over 40 so worried my placenta or something will give up and other risks of stillborn.

I was induced with first DS. It's not hugely nice (if labour ever is!) I was on the bed, strapped to monitors and couldn't move anywhere. Fortunately it was quick (7 hours) but I feel not being able to get up and walk around is not helpful. Also you go from nothing to everything pain wise so no natural build up of endorphins. They like to avoid as you are more likely to have intervention but it sounds as though you are almost there so hang on in there! I was 2 weeks late, 1cm and not favourable! Lots of cleaning, scrubbing and general running about tomorrow to set you off?!

I nearly lost my baby three weeks ago due to the placenta coming away so I'm deffo in the camp of be induced and get that baby out!
I always used to think wait as long as poss and b natural but not anymore, thankfully I was lay on the operating table being numbed for a section when it happened so they had me asleep and whipped her straight out and i've now got a gorgeous daughter asleep in her Moses basket, I was 40+15 and will no way allow them to let me go so late next time

Oh crikey that's horrible millystarso frightening. I'm glad you and babs are ok now. That's just what I think, if it's just pain fine bring it on, its seems almost careless to risk what you had after all this time carrying and caring for your baby.

I've tried most of the natural stuff, walking, sex, stimulation, curry, housework. I was exhausted yesterday so didn't do much, but I may look at rasbperry leaf tea and is it Schweppes diet tonic today although as my cervix is already to go I'm not sure this will help!!

Our care trust book induction for 40+10 which I think is jumping the gun a bit. Especially when all their literature says labour can happen naturally any time between 40+42 weeks so I declined induction. They didn't like it but stuff them. I declined because I wanted it to happen naturally without pumping my body full of hormones. Also I've read it's more painful going from 0 to 100mph in such short time. Also in other countries you arent overdue till after 42 so i didnt see why tehey are si gung ho about getting them out! And What do you know after a sweep at 42+1 I went into labour at 42+3

Yes it sounds good in theory and hindsight melliebobs but what if you had millystar's experience or worse?!
As I was ttc earnestly I know my due date was smack on and I've been early with my last dcs. I just feel v nervous and if there's anything I can do to lessen the odds of the bang being at risk I think I'll take it.

See i was induced at 40+12 and i loved it, no frantic race to hospital, no chance of being sent home as not far enough along etc. we were told to come in for a time in the afternoon, 1 lot of gel at 8.30pm meant an overnight stay and when checked next morning was already 4cm and it was then i went on the monitors which had very long wires so continued to walk around the room. I didnt have traditional contractions i dont think it was just constant cramps which did get a bit pokier before i went with my initial epidural plan and by then i was at 8cms. Id say total labour was about 11 hours.

Ok i needed drips in to rehydrate me so they could get the babys baseline readings and had to stay overnight but hospitals really dont bother me. I would tell anyone Its not all bad but maybe i was lucky

Placental failure can occur at any point though.

There are risks to induction: increased risk of intervention such as forceps, epidural, episiotomy (all of which have their own risks - including risk of post partum haemorrhage and retained placenta which in turn carry their own risks) and an increased chance of EMCS, which obviously carries its own risks also.

Normal pregnancy is 37-42 weeks.

Having had one induction with lots of intervention and problems I was clear that I would refuse a second and would accept expectant management with EMCS if a problem was found (went into labour spontaneously though)

I had an induction at 40+10. They gave me a pessary in the morning, I went home, started to feel mild contractions a couple of hours later, went back to the hospital for more monitoring, had a vigorous sweep and then contractions started fairly seriously. The first contraction through to birth took about 6 hours. It was fairly fast but I wasn't bedbound and was able to use my TENs machine and a bouncy ball. I was very apprehensive beforehand because of the higher risk of interventions - but I was lucky as in my case it was fairly straightforward. I hope your baby comes soon and saves you the anxiety though!

Sorry to disappoint you but for 2nd child onwards the cervix can be favourable and 2cm for weeks. It's not a sign of imminent labour as I found to my cost after rushing my mother down to look after DS1 after midwife had given me VE and sweep. 10 days later I was still pregnant and eventually went into hospital for induction at 40+17.

Was annoyed that midwife had got my hopes up by saying I was 'ready' and it completely messed up my poor DM's plans, whereas hospital said most women on subsequent births will automatically be at 2cm in later stages of pregnancy.

Anyway Shandy it can't be long now, and having had 2 inductions one was rubbish, with many of the issues Flisspaps mentions, but the other one was great. Its the drip that's the problem as as soon as you need that they insist on CFM which totally restricts your mobility although I insisted on staying upright which really speeded up dilation.
But please don't worry, it's the last thing you need at this stage. Stay positive and think of the bigger picture, ie, your lovely baby will very soon be with you!

I think the main downside to the induction process is that contractions can get strong very quickly - particularly if you're on the drip - so you're more likely to have an epidural which means you're likely to be less effective at the pushing stage & therefore more likely to need an instrumental delivery or EMCS. Also, as the pushing is less effective, the baby is more likely to get distressed but if they top up your epidural for an episostomy or EMCS, then that may cause baby's heartbeat to deccelerate. Basically, its the whole cascade of intervention thing.
Having said that, I was induced at 40+12 last time, had all of the above with DD being born with forceps whilst I was being prepped for an EMCS and DD then being in shock so spent 2 mins on the resus bed before breathing by herself but I still see my labour as being a pretty positive experience as I had a relaxed, pain free time, DD had an APGAR of 10 within 10 minutes & was bf within 30 mins and we both recovered pretty quickly.
I'm now 40+6 with DC2 and am showing no signs of labour but am pretty relaxed about having to have another induction. It means I can tell my parents & PILs when to come & stay, will have a better idea of how long I'll be in hospital for so can prepare DD accordingly & generally be more in control of the process. Obviously I'm desperate to meet DC2 so am having an S&S tomorrow, have had reflexology & am doing all the usual things (walking, pineapple, curry etc) but I'm not going overboard as I know I'll have a baby next week one way or another.

shandy yes it does sound good in theory. But declining induction resulted in close monitoring and scans to check for failure of the placenta which was, in my case fine (but the placenta can fail at any time) And after numerous hours in labour despite going into it naturally I ended up on the syntoci whatsit drip. And what do you know after an hr of being on it I ended up with an emsc under ga completely missing the birth of my first child. Gutting. If I had my time again would I go an be induced when the powers that be say you should just cos of a peice of hospital policy? Honestly? No I wouldn't

Gosh it's a minefield. Yes stranger I feel annoyed that my v experienced mw made out that having a favourable cervix and 2 cm dilation meant I was imminent on my 3rd dc. She even said she'd eat her hat if I had to go for a 2nd sweep on Friday. And guess what Fri tomorrow hello 2nd sweep.
I am getting twinges today again having had nothing yesterday and v uncomfortable all day Tuesday after the 1st sweep.
The stories about induction at least, thanks, aren't all doom and gloom and I would really like to get there and not have all this is, is it, isn't it business ended.

Poor you, I think we may have the same midwife, she kept saying she'd eat her hat as well, although she never did, along with nosy questions about how many times we'd been having sex.
I tried several of the natural remedies, as was trying to avoid a Xmas baby, but wish I'd just relaxed and saved my energy instead.

I was induced at 40+4, only because DD's movements had decreased and the mw and doctor did not want to take any chances. Was induced at 1300, nothing happened, sat on the maternity ears all day with DH watching shows on the iPad. By the time 1900 came I was convinced DD was not coming and asked to go home and wait it out. MW said I couldn't and gave me another pessary, this was at 20:00. By 2100 I was having contractions thick and fast, DD was born at 702 the next morning, after 3 hours of established labour and 20 minutes of pushing. I had no pain relief except for gas and air (wanted an epidural but couldn't have, but that's another story), no stitches and no medical intervention. I was not hooked up to monitors and was able to walk around, so to me the induction was not bad at all.

My feeling is if it needs to be done then do it, I am also very sceptical of going to far over the due date, I know 2 ladies who had stillborns because they waited to long.

I know in some countries they clad 42 weeks as full time but in another countries they will only let you go 3 days over and then induce.