Failed sweep heading for induction - any experiences of spontaneous labour in a similar situation?

[tatree]

Hi all,

just wondering if anyone has been in a similar position to me really and went into spontaneous labour, or can offer any advice for my situation?

First baby and 41 weeks today - just went to have a sweep (my first) and the midwife has advised my cervix is high and posterior so unable to complete. 3/5ths engaged which is no change from 40 weeks.. have an appointment with the day assessment unit at the local hospital tomorrow to see if I'm suitable for an out patient induction next Monday or if I'll need to be an inpatient (low risk pregnancy but measuring 5 weeks behind, growth scan at 34 weeks showed normal growth stats so it's up to the doctor tomorrow).

Feeling a little anxious - to add to this the midwife advised the baby's heartbeat was a little on the low side and to be extra vigilant with the movements..

Not dissimilar to what happened to me.

I've banged on about this on countless threads so I'm boring myself but here's the skinny:

If your cervix is high and posterior and not soft or dilated at all when the induction process starts you can bet it's going to end in a CS anyway.

Don't dictate "I want a CS" at any point. If you are started on a prostaglandin pessary give it a whirl.

Then - and only then - find out state of cervix.

If still high and posterior - well, you can politely decline any more pessaries, let them suggest maybe the drip, say "hmmm, what else could I do" and then and only when they say "CS" respond in the affirmative.

If cervix is softer and responsive after the first pessary you may end up going into labour; excellent if you want to avoid a CS.

I speak from experience (100 hr labour; failed induction, unresponsive cervix)
Plus I'm researching my tits off about this as I'm doing my birth plan for baby #2 with my gynae right now.

I wish you the best - PM me if you want x

My first child was 40+11, came after a second sweep. The first did nothing apart from loosen a bit of plug. I was not fully engaged at that point.

I was booked for induction on 40+11, but went into spontaneous labour a few hours after sweep (which I suspect gently broke waters). I went for a long walk and waters broke first, labour started several hours later. Baby born without extra assistance.

Second one, slightly different but also relevant - waters broke, baby 3/5. Labour didn't start for about 30hrs, until I was waiting for induction for being SROM>24hrs. I walked and walked and who knows how or why, but something triggered a labour I didn't think was going to happen.

Things can change fairly quickly, even if it feels a bit hopeless. I've been hours away from an induction twice, and got lucky on both occasions. I can't tell whether the sweep or the determined walking helped, but I'd definitely try both again in the same position. Good luck.

Have a look at this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/2994779-Is-there-really-any-point-in-writing-a-birth-plan

I'm not sure how plans are adhered to between hospitals but they definitely seem to be worth something when written down in black and white.

Lack of information about inductions can sometimes lead to intervention after intervention and more often than not ending up with EMCS.

Maybe jotting your wishes down (should your cervix remain high and baby is making no signs of appearance) could maybe avoid you having a long drawn out and utterly avoidable experience like I did?

Just a thought xxx

My experience was nearly identical to Legend's - if you're 'unfavourable' after first lot of pessaries then don't keep on - its souls destroying and exhausting. I had 5 days of pessaries, monitoring, examinations and no sleep culminating in the c-section I originally expected.

I'm pregnant at the moment and whilst I'd like a vbac I'm keeping vigilant and preparing for c-section mentally.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I really want to avoid the drip induction if at all possible as I have a fairly negative mindset about it from various horror stories from friends and family and online. Specially as It seems to distress baby, and she's already behaving differently in there.

My original birth plan was fairly loose but generally least intervention possible and a water birth so the idea of being induced as an inpatient and having to give birth in a bed and hooked up with taps is not ideal and scares me a little. I would rather opt for a c section than induction by a drip if multiple pessarys fail.

Fingers still crossed for a spontaneous labour - bleeding a little today (very slight pink tinge only when I wipe) but I think it was from the attempted sweep (she was about 4ft and climbed on to a stool to get better reach the force pushed me halfway up the bed!)

Oh the sweep! I had one at 41 weeks. Was booked in for an induction at 40+10. I was really against it but had a meeting with a consultant who explained it in a really good and sensible way. Anyway that was booked for sunday, went into labour naturally on Friday. Ended up with emcs early on Saturday morning as she was back to back, got wedged in and was getting distressed. On the day I went into labour I'd eaten lots of spicy food and done quite a bit of walking, not sure if that helped or whether the sweep got things started (iirc it was the day before going into labour). Best of luck to you whatever happens!

I would rather opt for a c section than induction by a drip if multiple pessarys fail.

Get that down in black and white
Get your partner "on message" too. They may need to back you up if your birth plan isn't read or if you get your choices dismissed.

Ps: best of luck and keep us posted x

Yes! 41+6 with two sweeps and my waters broke the morning I was supposed to have monitoring (I'd already rejected induction).

Bounce on a yoga ball and shag. Worked for me.

Another one with a failed sweep at 41 weeks. I asked for another sweep so the midwife booked me with the "sweep clinic" for 41+3. Induction was booked for 41+5. When I attended the clinic the midwife said I was already two centimetres dilated, and 24 hours later I went into labour naturally! Maybe see if your hospital can offer you a second sweep?

Just for the record it would have been my second induction, and after what I went through with my first (ended in forceps) I was keen to do whatever I could not to repeat the experience.

I also had a spicy curry three hours before I went into labour 😂

My advice if you genuinely want to avoid intervention is to decline any further sweeps or induction until at least 42 weeks, as that is a perfectly normal pregnancy gestation. This is of course assuming movements stay good and you attend antenatal appointments still. You are more than likely to go into perfectly natural labour. Good Luck!

You can ask for more sweeps which works for some. I held off being induced and active labour started at 42 weeks after my waters had broken during fourth sweep but I had been in early labour for a week by then. I did have the drip later with an epidural and then an emcs. I was exhausted by the end and recovery would have been so much easier if I hadn't had a really long labour first. So if you'd rather have a c section stick to your guns. Good luck.

Had the appointment at the hospital and they've decided to induce me tonight. Currently in a ward waiting to see if there is capacity to be given the pessary now (should it work quickly they want to make sure there is space on the labour ward). Feeling scared and wondering if this is the right choice for me, it's hard to think independently when you have so many medical staff offering their advice and opinions it's easy to just keep agreeing.

Was feeling really anxious and teary earlier but slightly calmer now. My partners here and helping but it's his first as well so we both feel a bit clueless about what's coming. My labouring at home with tens machine and tea is definitely not happening! The ward has a horrible atmosphere of impending doom which is not helpful, and no one has said as much as hello.. it smells like school dinners and feet

You are about to meet your baby

I know this isn't how you pictured it and I know that feeling very well but this is the story of how you finally met your little girl.

I know with hindsight that what helps when you're deviating from the plan you had is to feel well informed and to feel your choices are your own. You and your birth partner have every right to ask as many questions as you need to. Write them down if necessary. Ask what you can expect ie how long they will let the induction go before review, whether you can have mobile monitoring, whether the pool is available once you're established and so on. Ask whatever you need to ask.

I'm sorry it's not home and tea. I wanted that too. My daughter hadn't read the manual either but the hospital was there for situations like mine where DD wasn't happy and needed a bit more help to meet us. In the end, I really needed that hospital input to keep us safe.

Remember the little stuff. One day your DD will ask what the weather was like, what you wore, what she looked like, what you ate and so on. Might seem insignificant to you but those small details weave the tapestry of your daughter's start in life. It'll be the best story you ever tell her.

Don't feel like a failure. You are NOT. I made that mistake and it's wasted energy. It's just a different route and will be full of magical moments. You just have to look for them.

Oh god, don't feel like a failure - you're away to meet your baby!

Have confidence when talking and remember what I mentioned in my first post.

Wishing you the best, this really is an exciting time xx

Okay so pessary went in at 11pm (why induce someone so late?) last night and I started getting cramps about an hour after that. I've not been able to sleep as these have continued throughout the night but now not sure whether these are cramps or early labour?! Between 20 to 30 seconds long every 4-5 minutes.. not excruciating but painful, much more so than normal period cramps. Feels like someone has their hands on my uterus squeezing and then tails off. I've had codeine but it hasn't touched it. Still on a ward with a very squeaky bed so not been a great night, the cramps/contractions make me want to squirm but aware others are trying to sleep and every movement sounds like a rusty door being opened. Should be having another pessary in the next couple of hours.. looking forward to it being a sensible hour so I can have my partner back here and my mum and move round without disturbing the other women.

Does this sound like labour?

Sounds like early labour :)
Can you move around a bit yet? Or ask for a ball to sit on? Might help to speed things up. Or are you on continuous monitoring? Sounds v positive so far, and like you'll be holding your baby in no time. I hope it goes well!

You sound further on than I ever got. Exciting x

Good luck! How exciting

sounds good
Hope this isn't tmi but makes make sure you keep pooing. I thought my induction wasn't working and was too worried/ embarrassed to poo in hospital with everything inside so I kind of held it in. Finally when I did go labour came hard and fast about half hour later

Good luck and soon baby will be here

Good luck OP! Let us know when baby has arrived