posterior unfavourable cervix

[Ladypug]

Does anyone else have a posterior 'unfavourable' cervix? Did this mean you couldn't go into labour without induction and did it affect your birth at all? Midwife said this is why she can't perform successful sweeps and I'm very unlikely to go into labour naturally. Just wondered if this were always true for others or if anyone still went into labour last minute before induction with a posterior cervix?

I had DS at 40+4. Went into labour at 40+2 and had quite a time of things.

DD was 40+8 and came out very quickly once things got started. Natural birth, no stitches or tears etc.

Re: baby size. Have you had any growth scans? They are notoriously inaccurate but should give a predicted size etc? If not, is it the midwife just estimating? If so, check with her why she hasn't referred you for a growth scan and ask for one. If she was in anyway concerned about size, she should have done this so if she's not she probably talking out of her arse re size.

My cervix was the same on the day I was 38 weeks. I was being induced early and was nowhere near ready. The first pessary gave me a few contractions but the second really got things going and I had my baby 8 hours later. Labour was painful but I had gas and air and gave birth naturally.
My best friend was also induced with both of her children and had natural deliveries both times. It can and does happen.

I had horrific spd with dc3 crutches and codeine by the end. It was gone within a few days of giving birth. Some people have problems for longer but normally it goes quickly. I also didn't get it with dc4.

Don't be too worried about your cervix things can change and I don't think your midwife should have said you won't go naturally because she has no idea! However she's right that there is no point doing a sweep on an unfavourable cervix it will just bloody hurt.

I know you said that you don't want an induction (I totally understand why) but I just thought I give you a bit of positivity. I've had two "natural" births and two inductions and i actually had really positive experiences with the inductions. I had no intervention and had really good care (one on one midwife care is usual with induction) I had an epidural with both because that's what I wanted and had no problems pushing them out and dc3 was 10lb8.

I know it's so hard but try not to worry it will all be over soon and which ever way it happens you will soon be holding your beautiful baby

Thank you buttwing that has really made me feel much better! I automatically think induction with posterior cervix means intervention and ultimately probably c section so this is promising!

Watching this thread with interest, as you know ladypug I'm 41 weeks but had an unfavourable cervix at my attempted sweep on tues.

I'm thinking a lot about induction and really feel like I'd rather have a caesarian, I had a caesarian style op before when I had a huge ovarian cyst and I recovered really quickly so I'm not frightened of that side of things. I know it could be different this time. I just hate the idea of an induction and have friends/relatives who have bad experiences ending up with caesarian anyway.

Whether they'll actually allow me to have one is a different matter I guess!

Hi lemon! Yeah I know what you mean. I realllly don't want a Caesarian and would only opt for this if I knew it would end up that way anyway. But we don't know! Argh!

This info from birthrights is helpful re: requesting an elective section when induction is a possibility

^Some cases would be stronger than others. As recent research by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists revealed, in some UK hospitals women have a 40% chance of an emergency c-section after an induction. If a woman requests a c-section in order to avoid the induction process and the high odds of an emergency c-section or instrumental birth, and consequent potential trauma, a decision to refuse to perform the operation might be hard to justify. (And, of course, a failure to explain the likelihood of a c-section in these circumstances disables the woman’s ability to make an informed choice and casts doubt on her consent to the induction.)

We are often asked whether NICE guidelines have legal force to compel a doctor to provide a c-section. The NICE guideline on elective c-sections without a clinical indication states that women ought to be offered a c-section after discussion and an offer of mental health support. NICE guidelines are not legally binding on medical professionals. However, where a decision is made to depart form a guideline, reasons need to be given and exceptions considered in each individual case.^

My local hospital has an amazing shiny new birth centre I'm gonna be so pissed off if I don't get to use it

That's really helpful thanks Gobbolino.

lady - I know I e said this up the thread but you need to speak to the consultant. You don't know Definitively or not whether you will need a section or not.

However, it is more likely than not that you will need a syntocin drip (unless your hospital massively bucks the trend). The consultant can then give you figures regarding how many inductions end up with (a) an instrumental delivery and (b) an emergency section.

If I've understood correctly from your post above, at the moment your care givers don't even have an estimated size for your baby

I would say that you are absolutely not in any position currently to make a decision about intervention full stop - let alone what type of intervention

You're welcome lemon. Glad it's helpful

Thanks gobblin, I am requesting to speak to consultant on Monday. However, I do know people who have had pessary induction then gone onto labour normally so my thinking currently is agree to pessary induction then discuss with consultant stage by stage so I can decide after pessary (depending on how cervix is looking etc) whether to opt for elective c section or drip. But will get more info on Monday and ask for growth scan

The scan should show if you're suffering from polyhydramnios too

If so, syntocin is relatively contra-indicated (ie the medics have to give particular consideration to its usage vis a vis risks) so probably worth asking the consultant about his/her views on that.

Thank you, I know I don't have that as had a scan about 10 weeks ago so at least that's something!

It can develop at anytime and is quite common with larger babies as they just make more amniotic fluid than smaller ones. It could be some excess fluid that's contributing to the size of your bump as well rather than just baby. Hope the consultant can help re: that. I think the midwife has been pretty unhelpful as if she thinks you're having a large baby, you really should have been for growth scans to work out if (a) you are (although they can be quite unreliable) and (b) why?

Good luck on Monday.

Ah I see, thanks goblin!

As others have said the state of your cervix only tells you what's happening now, not what could be happening in 5minutes, 5 hours or 5 days. Primip cervix's are new to the game and sometimes take a while to 'perform'. You do have plenty of time between now and your scheduled induction, so try to take some comfort (and yy to the sentiment up thread that your body conceived and carried your baby, why shouldn't it know as well as your mw/consultant when's the right time to birth it?).

In the meantime, a key hormone when you're labouring, that affects your cervix and the muscles of the uterus, is oxytocin. You can stimulate oxytocin production naturally....with nipple stimulation and orgasm. I know it's the last thing you want to do at this late stage in your pregnancy, when you're anxious about induction, but as the phrase goes 'hugs before drugs'. For many it has a real effect. So if you can stand it get to it with your OH, or on your own if it's more bearable. I know you have spd, so walking must be hard, but if you can manage it do.

Good luck OP. and remember to breathe...

Thanks busy, I only have 48 hours till induction is booked and am having sex and nipple stimulating plus ball bouncing no matter how much it hurts!

I went into labour with cervix closed and baby only 3/5 engaged with my first

Hang in there!

We referred to it as utilitarian sex; no ones there to enjoy it, but it's how got it in and can be how you get it out...!

Blessings on your cervix, Lady!

lady - try cleaning the kitchen floor too. Being on all fours really helps.

The Sex. . That needs to start for us in 2 weeks. Not looking forward to it

This was me and I did go to induction, I had the pessary first which did nothing and then the gel which put me in labour. Total active labour was less than four hours, no intervention, no drip, just g&a. Really it was OK. DS was born at 42+2

However I had decided that if the gel didn't work I was going to refuse anything else except a c section.

Good luck and there's still time!

Ps lady - I know I've said it upthread but you don't have just the 48 hours until the induction is booked. You can decline the induction after discussing with the consultant and evaluating any risks. I think it will help you relax if you're off the clock so to speak

Changes can happen overnight. As said before, a friend of mine went for a sweep and they couldn't do anything, plus the baby wasn't engaged at all. She popped four days later, waters went, baby engaged and she gave birth seven hours later.

My cervix whilst favourable was posterior when examined at 5cm, my DD arrived three hours later.

Stressing about it won't help you. If you don't want the induction request daily monitoring instead. Also, to throw out there that its a big baby without having had a recent growth scan is a bit shit of them, I'd be demanding to speak with a consultant to have this explained to me properly! I know the last few weeks are tough, but analysing every little thing is not going to help you at all. I'd recommend trying to do anything to help yourself relax a little until you can speak with the consultant.

Thanks dragon, that's really positive :-)