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Original poster

Cervix too far back for sweep and 8 days overdue!

31 replies

Dontbsicily · 11/10/2019 11:51

Hi all!

I’m 41+1 with baby no 1 and I went for my second unsuccessful sweep today as, my cervix is too far back ☹️

I really really don’t want to be induced but, I am booked in for an induction on Tuesday morning. I had a bloody show this morning before my s&s appointment and then, I’m sure, a contraction just before I set off but, nothing since and I have been having regular painless contractions for 8 days now. Also, have had a handful of painful contractions which I realised were actually toilet pains so, now I’m wondering if it was actually a real contraction.

I’m so fed up as, I’ve been really uncomfortable for the past 8 days with these tightenings and baby’s head has been 2/5 engaged for 2 weeks so, feeling a lot of painful pressure down there.

I’m really hopeful that some of you have positive stories about cervix being too far back but then labour happening soon? The midwife said she can’t say labour is imminent because, the cervix is so far back and she appeared to be pretty convinced I was having the induction.

I really don’t want to have an induction as I wanted a water birth and also, have read and heard that induced labours are more painful and usually require intervention.

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sarebear1983 · 11/10/2019 13:40

Hi there!
I was the same with my first baby. They tried a sweep at 41 weeks and it was unsuccessful because my cervix was too high. I was booked in for induction at 41+4 but at 41+2 my waters broke at about midday and contractions started later that day. He was born at 6am the next day (ended up with an emergency c-section but that's another tale!)
So it did happen for me, I'd taken a long walk a few days before but on the day my waters gave way, I had had a tiny bit of pretty spicy chilli and my DP and I had done the deed lol so not sure if either of those things had anything to do with it.
Currently 38+5 with our 2nd so hopefully waters will go naturally again and I'll avoid the c-section this time!
Good luck and I hope you get the labour that you want xx

Original poster
Dontbsicily · 11/10/2019 14:18

Thank you for your reply Sarebear you’ve made me feel a lot more positive that it can happen! I’ve been moping around since my appointment convinced I am going to be induced as I only have 4 days but, at least now I know it is possible! Congrats on baby number 2 and good luck :) x

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HJWT · 11/10/2019 14:46

@Dontbsicily with my first I had a sweep and she said she was sure I would go into labour (done by a consultant) I didn't and was induced 6 days later!

Currently 39 weeks tomorrow with #2 and being induced on Sunday, Induction isn't always bad x

Tableclothing · 11/10/2019 14:55

They can't make you have an induction you don't want. (Although you may find yourself being very strongly advised to go for a section instead if you get to 42 weeks)

www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.l344

This research showed no significant difference in outcomes between induction at 41 weeks or 42 weeks (if hadn't gone into spontaneous labour by then).

Re: sweeps. They're not the be all and end all. Cochrane review found that sweeps did result in sooner and shorter labour, BUT that the effect was so small that sweeps have to be performed on 8 women for 1 to avoid induction, i.e. 7/8 chance it won't work.

www.cochrane.org/CD000451/PREG_membrane-sweeping-for-induction-of-labour

Basil90 · 11/10/2019 15:00

Oh bless you. Get walking up and down those stairs, bouncing on your ball (assuming you have one!), lots of massage, sex and relaxation. Treat yourself as much as you possibly can. I was in a similar situation to you - I was convinced I'd have to be induced which would have been my worst nightmare. I had two failed sweeps and was due to go for a third when I went into labour spontaneously at 41+2. I had an amazing birth and got to use the pool as planned (though I didn't actually like it!)

Original poster
Dontbsicily · 11/10/2019 15:01

Thank you for replying HJ and Table! I’ll take a look at those links now.

Midwife did want to book induction for ASAP but I asked her to book for the latest she could which was 12 days overdue! X

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Passthecherrycoke · 11/10/2019 15:03

Hello. My cervix was too high up on the Thursday, I was in full blown labour Sunday. On Thursday I was low you- random contractions and mucus plug coming out.

The chances are really good you’ll go into labour before Monday

HJWT · 11/10/2019 15:31

@Dontbsicily My mum and sister always went into labour the night before they were meant to be induced I think the thought of it scared them into labour 😁

Original poster
Dontbsicily · 11/10/2019 15:50

Thanks so much for your replies, I’m feeling a lot more confident now! I’ve been following all of the usual ‘rules’ e.g. lots of long walks, birthing ball, spicy meals etc.

I’ll keep trying... Fingers crossed!! X

OP posts:
TwinkleStars15 · 11/10/2019 16:10

Don’t have one then! It’s your body, not theirs. If you get to 42 weeks ask for daily monitoring. Baby will come when it’s ready.

HarrietM87 · 11/10/2019 16:16

The midwives couldn’t even reach my cervix at 41+5, so 12 days over, bishops score was zero and baby wasn’t even engaged. I reluctantly agreed to an induction as they put so much pressure on me and I just wanted something to happen. I had some gel, then 2 hours later contractions started and 3 hours after that I had a wonderful water birth, literally my dream birth. So an induction doesn’t have to mean lots of interventions etc. Saying that, don’t let them pressure you - it’s your body and your baby.

HarrietM87 · 11/10/2019 16:16

PS I never had a show and Waters didn’t go until I was 9cm.

Original poster
Dontbsicily · 13/10/2019 09:03

Hi @HarrietM87, thank you for your reply!

Now 10 days overdue and still no sign of baby. Keeping fingers crossed but, trying to stay positive that either way that I’ll have a baby by the end of the week!

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rubyroot · 13/10/2019 12:37

I went for an induction at 41 weeks and 3 days and glad I did. Baby was born 42 weeks by c section and the consultant commented that my placenta was getting very old and was calcified. Don't worry too much about induction, birth whatever. It doesn't really matter whether it's unpleasant or pleasant, you'll be so happy when your baby arrives safely. BTW as far as I'm aware you can't opt to go straight to c section, they generally try induction first. Good luck and let us know how it goes. X

rubyroot · 13/10/2019 12:43

Btw I was opposite. I asked midwife for an induction ASAP as I just wanted to get on with it. Perhaps, it was intuition i don't know. But I believe my baby would never have arrived naturally. He was back to back and his head was tilted so not pushing down on my cervix at all

Sorbfsiabs · 13/10/2019 16:12

You've said repeatedly you don't want an induction - no-one can force you. It's very difficult to hold strong at this point, but there are other options, like daily monitoring, checking the health of the placenta etc.

Original poster
Dontbsicily · 13/10/2019 23:04

I would prefer not to have an induction but, the midwife says they only let you go 12 days overdue and then prefer to induce you for the health of the baby and that’s the most important thing to me! Birth plans rarely go to plan and I’ve read up on inductions and a lot of people have had positive experiences with them so, looks like that will be the way for me and LO if they don’t show up tomorrow!

Either way, I’ll get to meet my little one soon so, hopefully whatever labour I have, baby and I are healthy and together soon!

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rubyroot · 14/10/2019 16:02

That's the attitude @Dontbsicily and exciting that you'll meet your little one soon. Wishing you all the best.

Crocky · 14/10/2019 16:27

If they are busy tomorrow you may not get your induction when you expect it. I was booked in for an induction at 12 days over. Had wanted a home birth so was very disappointed. Went in to hospital early morning but emergencies during the day meant that at 7pm that evening they came to tell me my induction wouldn’t happen until the next day.
I made a decision to go home for the night and come back the next morning.
I went into labour that evening and had the perfect home birth.

Original poster
Dontbsicily · 14/10/2019 20:45

@Crocky Oh really, sounds like it worked out perfectly for you! I must admit, I am prepared to not meet baby for a few days as i have read up on and watched lots of YouTube on inductions and I appreciate they don’t always go according to plan. Just had a little cry to DP about it as i am nervous now. I think knowing that you are going to be induced is a bit more scary than waiting to go into natural labour for me personally. Feels like i am booked in for an operation of sorts and gives my mind chance to worry about it!

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powershowerforanhour · 14/10/2019 21:15

I had inductions for both births - first failed pessary then syntocin then ended up EMCS as she turned her head the wrong way; second failed balloon then syntocin and VBAC about 10 hours after starting syntocin. Both babies fine and the experience wasn't that bad.
My top tips for induction:

  • lots of waiting around as more urgent cases get fast tracked ahead of you. Bring a couple of good books, some music and your phone charger
  • also bring a shit ton of chocolate, nuts and fruit for boredom- eating and carb loading in case it turns into a marathon (they wouldn't let me eat anything once I was in the delivery room- hours on syntocin with no sustenance is hard yakka). Also a 2l bottle of water in case you don't get given a jug. No point having to traipse out to refill a crappy little cup all the time.
  • If you need syntocin be aware that they will hammer you quite hard with it to get things going. My first time they were forced to turn it down as I became hyponatremic; the second time there was a limit to how much they could turn it up as it was a VBAC but it was still fairly hard going and relentless. I hit the wall after a few hours and was a snivelling discouraged mess so they took pity on me and turned it down a bit so I got a breather and was able to regroup, get a grip on myself (and the gas and air thing) and get back in a rhythm so we were flying along again. In my case they had to wait for half an hour for the anaesthetist to come and set up a remifentanil drip so laid off the syntocin for that time but I think the physical and mental break helped as much as the analgesia.
rubyroot · 14/10/2019 21:20

My birth was awful really I'm not going to lie failed induction and c section. But honestly. It's not as bad as you think and when you're in the midst of it, you just get on with it. You'll be in the right hands and you'll have your baby in the end. And that's all that matters. Promise, you'll be fine x

Original poster
Dontbsicily · 14/10/2019 22:13

Thanks for your replies Ruby and Power, fingers crossed everything goes to plan for me but, we shall see!

I think this is karma for telling everyone how fab my pregnancy has been!! X

OP posts:
rubyroot · 14/10/2019 22:18

I also had an amazing pregnancy and it didn't matter that it ended with a shitty birth. It really didn't. It might still be an wady induction. You just don't know. My gut said I would need a c section. What does your momma intuition tell you? 😁 Good luck x

rubyroot · 14/10/2019 22:19

Easy not wady