Favourable cervix/sweep- how long did yours take?

[squizita]

Have posted similar over in childbirth.

I am 3 days after due date (40+3) and my MW did an internal exam. My cervix is not yet favourable (it's far back, fairly firm and not really dilated yet) however the baby's head is low and I am 2cm effaced (50%?).

I'm impatient and want to know if I'll be any better/more favourable for my next appointment on Saturday.

Can't use the interwebz because in the US of A it seems they start doing internals on everyone at 36 weeks and recommend induction at 40 if your Bishop's score is under 8! Which bears no resemblance to our practice here.
But all I could get was 'it varies from days to weeks'...

Anyone been not that favourable at 40 weeks and then OK at 41? She hopes being sick of waddle walking, curry and so forth.

No experience I'm sorry but shamelessly marking my place Today is my due date and there doesn't seem to be much happening down there. I'm seeing my midwife Wednesday so hopefully there will be many more posts by then. Good luck and I hope babe is in your arms very soon.

I'm 41 weeks today and final midwife appointment tomorrow. I haven't been offered a sweep yet, but presumably this will be offered tomorrow. All I can share is that which my NCT lot have told me. The cervix can become favourable very quickly, so things could change before your appointment. I feel your pain, I am very, very fed up and would like very much to not be pregnant any more. I think also it's worth remembering that the due date might not be totally accurate. It's more like a due month really. Try to plan nice stuff to do and hopefully baby will come to put a spanner in the works!
Good luck!

I saw my midwife at 40+1 and scored 7/15 on the scale they use (Bishop's??). Had a sweep. Saw the consultant at 40+5 and score had increased to 12. Had another sweep. Waters broke less than 36 hours later. Had DD at 41 weeks exactly.

Good luck with everything, hope things get moving soon!

Hi squizita,
any news?
no ideas i'm afraid as i'm in the same situation as you. 41 weeks today. just had acupuncture this morning and got a sweep tomorrow morning as i'm booked in for an induction on sunday and want to avoid that if possible!
also doing the usual stuff - walking, RL tea, pineapple etc etc!
i really want this baby out now!

No news! Birth centre unconcerned as it's my first. Will give me a sweep in 4 days.
Few Braxton hicks etc but nothing obvious happening. Sick on pineapple, so curry tonight.

Also getting stressed at monitoring movement in a smallish engaged baby. Takes ages, not like the kicking days. Again mw says that's normal and some women need to do it quietly throughout but it doesn't help when you get the fear out and about.

How are you squizita?

I'm 40+2 today (LMP)but 40+1 by 12 w scan which is the date the hospital wrote as edd on my file.

I refused a sweep a few days ago but am considering it for next appointment on Thursday.

So fed up to be overdue. I haven't even a sniff of a pain

DC1 pineapple worked. Didn't with DC2 though.

With DC2 at 40+3 I begged MW to do a sweep. I was already 3 cm dilated, she said she could feel the bag of water, gave me the mother of all sweeps, immediately got contractions, baby was born 6 hours later. I had also gone for a massively long walk the day before, even though it was painful.

With DC3 I needed to be induced. At 38 weeks MW (different one) said cervix favourable, 2 cm dilated. Gave me a sweep, noting happened. Same at 39 weeks. On day of induction (2 days before my due date) they gave me another one, nothing. In the end I needed the drugs and it only kicked off when they broke my waters.

So my view is that if your body is ready, sweeps are fantastic. If it aren't, they don't do much. Raspberry leaf is really good for after the birth to help uterus return to shape (esp if you breastfeed).

Good luck!

Oh and to answer your question, as far as I know your cervix can change in a matter of days.

I went from mine being unfavourable, high and completely closed to having dd (spontaneously/naturally) in a week.

My hospital won't sweep/consider induction until 41 weeks bar medical reasons. Which is prudent and safe and respectful of our bodies ... but when you're waddling like a duck and your GP clinic MW only does em Mondays ...

They reckon same as you "when you're ready you're ready".