someone give me hope

[Ladypug]

Just looked up the notes from seeing my midwife yesterday (just gone 40 weeks). It basically says cervix posterior, partially effaced, thick, average consistency, -2 ischial spine. From what I understand this translates as baby is never coming :-( can anyone give me hope that something she has written is remotely positive?

My friend couldn't have a sweep cause her cervix was closed and high and the baby's head wasn't engaged at all. Four days later her waters broke, baby engaged and arrived seven hours later. Try not to go too much by findings from sweeps, everyone is different and every baby arrives when ready. I know how annoying it is waiting, I was a total cow in the last week or so :)

Oh thank you Dixie, any stories like this are making me feel better x

On the other side of that I had a sweep at 37 weeks, cervix was favourable and the midwife said it was a good sweep and reckoned baby would arrive within days. Three weeks later I had another sweep...

Ah ok, maybe the midwife doesn't always know best!

Your little one will be here soon ladypug

Just think, it will be less than two weeks :)

I really really don't want to be induced!

I know, but that's again different for everyone. There is a thread on here somewhere with positive induction stories that is worth a read.

I know but I personally know so many bad stories from our local hospital that I really really want to avoid it! I'm not good with hospitals at the best of times and pessaries, drips etc are not my idea of fun! Open to any suggestions to make labour happen!!!

You cannot make labour happen!

Enjoy your last bit of peace and quiet before your baby comes rather than spending it obsessing about symptoms and driving yourself crazy about things you cannot control.

The last bit of pregnancy is shit, it really is but resign yourself to the fact that you've just got to go with it and what happens is what happens.

In a way I think it gets you used to what it's like to have a baby - you haven't a clue what's going on and you're certainly not in control!

It's the best feeling in the world being a mum and whatever happens within the next 14 days you will be one so until then do whatever you can that is comfortable for you, eat cake, enjoy hot tea and the last bit of time with just you and your partner, go out for lunch, read the paper/magazines... I'm 20 weeks with dc2 and a very active 3 year old so these things are all what I'd like to be doing right now!!

Try & relax (easier said than done!) baby unlikely to come if you're stressed as not an ideal time. EDD is an estimate & becomes an obsession. Take a bath, book in a massage & enjoy a lovely autumnal walk. Good luck!

Ooh yes if you can get a massage do that! I had one at 40 weeks and it was bliss for my poor back!!

I just want to avoid induction guys!!!

Your cervix isn't a crystal ball! It can't tell the future, it only tells what is happening at that particular moment. One lady could be 2cm when examined, told she will be a while and then give birth 30 minutes late whereas someone could be 9cm and still be hours off!
Not trying to be patronising but it will happen when it will happen x

You can refuse induction if all is well. Atm, there's nothing to suggest you even need induction. It's a waste of worry. You can't induce labour naturally and your cervix may well look very different in the next minutes, hours and days. Please don't panic.

Actually lumpy that really helps... I just presumed to go from posterior to anterior cervix would take ages. They don't force induction but they do say statistically higher chance of miscarriage etc and I know I should act on medical advice so fingers crossed in the next week or so the cervix situation improves!

You can also say "not yet" rather than "not ever" to induction. Mine was originally planned for 40+10, ended up booked for 40+16, went into labour at 40+15 and baby arrived the next day an hour before the induction was booked.

Oh wow! That's good 53rd!

BTW, I had a 36 week antenatal appointment and they checked to see if there were any signs of labour (strongly likely to delivery a wee bit early and due to ds's position they were a wee bit worried about cord compression if my waters did break so checked to be on the safe side) and my cervix was posterior, long and unfavourable.

My waters broke that night.

Oh wow, that helps a lot, thanks show!

My midwife tried to give me a sweep at 40 weeks, but my cervix was so high she couldn't find it! My waters went 8 hours later!

We were told at my hypnobirthing class about a woman who went into Labour at 40+22. As long as you are monitored you can refuse induction.

Not ages at all, when I got to the hospital and was examined I was 5cm and contracting hard, the midwife said my cervix was still slightly posterior and that we just needed it to come down, my DD arrive exactly 3hours and 20mins later. Ignore the notes and get your feet up.

Thanks everyone, feeling much more positive about it all!