Straight to ARM - help!

[worried88]

I’m in hospital having an induction at 38+6 as I have gestational diabetes. I’ve had two half hour sessions of monitoring so far plus a cervix examination.

Apparently the monitor found that I’m having a lot of “tightenings”, but when the midwife examined my cervix, it was found to be quite high up. She said she could just about get a finger in there but wouldn’t be able to break my waters yet.

The midwife recommended a pessary as although they’re wary of overstimulating the cervix due to the tightenings I’m already having (I think?) it can be whipped out at any time.

However, the doctor wants me to go down to the labour ward shortly to try and break my waters (ARM). I’m confused about what to do - I was hoping for a slower build up with the pessary and gel.

Do you think I can say that I’d like to slow things down? Or is it best to progress straight to ARM even though my cervix doesn’t sound particularly ready?

If I do go straight to ARM, when’s the best time to request an epidural?

I’ve now had a conversation with the midwife and said that I’d prefer the gentler route (in my opinion) of a pessary. She said they’re worried that because I’m having these tightenings (which I’m barely even aware of but they’ve been detected on the monitor!) the pessary could mean my contractions get intense very quickly. She said ARM could actually be the gentler route at this stage.

I finally got a couple of hours’ sleep and am going to have another round of monitoring this morning before they decide what to do. I’m hoping the tightenings have settled down and they go with the pessary - I don’t want to move onto the labour ward!

The pessarys will make things progress very quickly and i had a cervical tear with my 2nd as my cervix hadnt fully dilated. Follow the recommendations of the staff, they are there to help you have your baby safely xx