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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

41 weeks today, advice and support needed!!!!!!

12 replies

kmcomie · 27/06/2006 01:47

Hi all,

New to this but spending another lonely night as a insomniac, husband upstairs snoring. First preganacy and as I expected over due by 7 days today. Any words of encouragement greatly appreciated, have been having twinges but from what i read i will definately know when i am in labour so i guess just a matter of waiting. Midwife has suggested a sweep but have heard this is not very effective and can be painful has anyone had any experience of this all advice appreciated

Kerrie

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carol3 · 27/06/2006 02:04

Hi, its a nightmare isn't it, I was late with all three of mine between 7 and 8 days. Had sweeps with all of them at a week overdue and started in labour within a few hours, I didn't find them painful just uncomfortable, I thing it depends how far forward the cervix is though and wether its started to open.Hope things start happening soon.

Alipiggie · 27/06/2006 03:15

kmcomie sorry you're having such a tough time with no.1. Iwas 8 days over and induced for ds1. He came along in 4hours. With ds2 also induced and had sweep which brought him along in 1hr 15. So I think it depends on your cervix to be honest as carol3 said. It wasn't painful and IMO well worth a try as it may well stimulate natural labour.

TuttiFrutti · 27/06/2006 09:46

Kmcomie, you have my sympathy! It's horrible being overdue isn't it? I went 11 days overdue with ds and I can remember feeling at the end of my tether, fed up with well-meaning friends saying "Haven't you had it yet?" and I just wanted the whole thing to be over.

I never had a sweep so I can't comment on that, but I tried everything else which is supposed to start labour off: pineapple, curry, sex, going for long walks... Nothing worked!

I was induced in the end - it was not a nice experience so I won't give you the details, but I recommend you avoid induction for as long as you can. Your body will eventually go into labour on its own.

thebecster · 27/06/2006 15:24

Kmcomie - lots of sympathy - I went 8 days overdue and remember the feeling well...

I had two sweeps and the second one started labour off within hours. I'd definitely recommend it, although it was slightly painful. But from what I hear being induced is likely to lead to more pain in the labour and possibly a more complicated labour, so a sweep might be your least painful option really. It certainly worked that way for me. The midwife who did my second sweep also said to me that if the sweep wasn't thorough it wouldn't be likely to kick off the labour. So she said she'd stop whenever I told her to, but that the braver I could be, the more likely it was that the sweep would actually work. So I was very, very brave and didn't tell her to stop. And I was rewarded with contractions starting within a couple of hours and a dead easy actual labour. Hope it works out well for you too - best of luck!

TheBlonde · 27/06/2006 15:28

I had a sweep at I guess 41 + 3, it was awful, basically because my cervix wasn't dilated at all. Felt bruised for sometime afterwards

I wouldn't have one again unless I was booked for induction and then I'd wait til the same day

DS finally arrived two days before planned induction

Try sex if you can face it!

burstingbug · 27/06/2006 15:44

DS1 was 6 days late, I had a sweep 40+3 on a Friday mid morning, contractions started 40+5 at 5.30am Sunday morning and DS arrived 40+6 on Monday lunch time.
Not sure whats going to happen this time round, I'm 34wks and baby is breech. Baby shows no sign of turning any time soon either.

teabags · 27/06/2006 16:09

kmcomie, it's a drag isn't it? I went to 41 +5 , I didn't have the sweep. My advice, is make the most of this time. Sex and all the other things they say work, didn't for me. Snuggle up on the sofa, watch your favourite DVD's, eat yummy food, sleep whenever you can and enjoy this time if you can. I was convinced I would NEVER have my baby, but it happens eventually and the wait was definitely worth it! Good luck

mosschops30 · 27/06/2006 16:27

Message withdrawn

purpleturtle · 27/06/2006 16:55

kmcomie, my sympathy. I went 13 days over with dd, and they could have been the longest 13 days of my life! I was so fed up. I did feel better once I had a date for being induced, because then there was a real end in sight, and thankfully, dd finally decided to put in an appearance of her own accord the day before.

2nd time round I went 14 days over, but it wasn't so bad, because I had dd to deal with and I wasn't sitting around on my own! I had a sweep on the Wednesday afternoon, don't recall it being esp painful, then woke up in labour on Friday morning. Think I might have had a show on the Thurs.

This time round, if baby puts in an appearance before term+14 I am going to be in shock!

Rookiemum · 27/06/2006 17:13

I had two sweeps. First one didn't work, second one was at 5pm and I was in labour by 6.30pm of the same day. It didn't hurt at all and I had heard it would, much less painful than a smear test.
I tried everything else before then even old myth about a certain kind of sex (husband v happy - just as well considering barren weeks that followed birth) but nothing else worked.
I would say give it a go, but tell the midwife to stop if it hurts in any way at all.
Good luck and remember it can't stay in there for ever !

Original poster

kmcomie · 27/06/2006 18:15

Thank you all for your encouragement and sound words of experience. I had appointment today at 1pm and decided to go for the sweep and fingers crossed things are moving.

I live away from my mum and do not have lots of experince to call upon so finding you has been invaluable.

Sweep was uncomfortable but bearable and if works would definatly recomend it as at least i got the information of how things are progressing
Thanks Again
Kerrie

OP posts:

Beauregard · 27/06/2006 18:16

Good luck!hope it works.

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