40+6 advice needed!

[ejmay90]

So currently 40+6 and decided not to have a sweep at my 40 week appointment as wanted everything to start naturally.
I had my 41 week appointment yesterday and opted for a sweep as I really dont want an induction and would prefer as little intervention as possible, this is less than an induction so opted for this instead.
Now my midwife has had to book my induction for Wednesday 13th as I'll be 40+12 then, but she has said they may bring it forward to monday 11th or Tuesday 12th.

I really dont want an induction, I'm a ftm and do really want this to be as natural as possible and my partner there. Midwife said if I'm in hospital for 24 hours for induction it will be alone.

My question is should I ask for another sweep before the induction to see if it starts anything?
Really dont think yesterdays sweep did anything as she said my cervix is soft which is good but she couldn't do a very good sweep as it's still at the back.
I know sweeps aren't proven to work and if I go into labour it's because I was ready to anyway but is it worth it?

Any advice welcome.

P.s I'm doing the walking a day (have a dog), hot foods, sex, birthing ball ect to get things going but nothing is working!

Another saying hope things get going soon. I tried most things with my first and probably everything including acupuncture with my second (the latter definitely seemed to do something but wasn't enough). Both went to attempted induction at 42/40. Neither tolerated the early stages of induction so quite quickly ended up with sections - the placentas were presumably starting to degrade.

So I'd say, try everything except waiting as long as possible. But whatever happens what matters is a healthy baby. Very best wishes.

@smileycloud ohh isnt it!! Luckily everyone is messaging my other half instead of me lol! But I feel for him getting them daily.
Like you I havent felt that fed up until last few days. I've cried as I'm now fed up but I know thays not helping release oxytocin to get labour started, so trying to be happy lol.
How did your pains feel like? I've had the odd dull ache pain and bad lower back but they werent consistent just the odd few.

@theseriousmoonlight thank you, me too! Good luck also!

@ejmay90 those pains is more than likely early labour, sounds very promising. Well done for sticking up for yourself and getting what you want for yourself and your baby, be proud.

@Pythonesque thank you!
I'm hoping he starts to get a move on tonight/tomorrow or atleast tomorrows sweep does something.
I'd try acupuncture if I could but all shut due to corona :(
Trying everything and nothing is working. Fingers crossed tomorrows sweep helps!
That's what I worry about my placenta degrading, I only care about my babys health so will do anything needed. Especially after infertility issues and a miscarriage last year so will do everything to keep him safe.
Thank you!

@Twinklestars15 that's what I thought! As heard they are like period pains, but literally had one at like 3am then one about 10 minutes later then nothing all day :( not sure why they arent ramping up!
Thank you, I am proud and so is my partner he wants what's best for baby but also knows how i feel on things.
Just wish these fanny daggers would stop as they are so painful!

Try sex, I had sex at 41+3 and DS was born about 12 hours later

@namechange30 ohh really? Maybe we will give it a go, just dont feel up for having sex when he's moving and I keep getting the horrible fanny daggers :(

I know what you mean, I didn't feel like sex at all throughout the whole of pregnancy (and same so far in second pregnancy) It is a mark of how desperate I was that I tried it

@namechange30 I'm exactly the same, I think just because I feel I look awful with the weight gain ect I just dont feel sexy at all lol! My other half doesnt care and keeps saying I'm pregnant not fat but just can't help feeling like I do. I'm now desperate so will have to give in lol!

Good luck

Sorry, didn't see your question until now. About nipple stim, well, I didn't look deep into it but I read a couple of studies (didn't save the link) that mentioned fetal distress. A quick google search brings out stuff like this :

"Rubbing your nipples may start contractions, but is unlikely to trigger actual labor unless your body is otherwise ready (your cervix is thinning and dilating, too, for example). What's more, very long or strong contractions from nipple stimulation can even be dangerous for your baby's heart."

www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/can-rubbing-my-nipples-cause-labor/

I was looking this up because I'm soon 38wk and I really can't wait for him to deconfine

Anyway, for nipple stim to work you really have to work at it, like pumping every couple of hours for several days, so unless you've been at it like crazy your midwife probably thought there wasn't much risk ?

I do wish you a prompt and easy birth ! If you have to be induced, I was and birth was real quick (5 hours from start to birth) and no forceps or anything. I did have some tearing though, and it was painful until the peridural, but I got nothing to compare it to so can't say if it's better or worse than a natural birth.

I also had a really inaccurate growth scan at 40+3 that predicted she was almost 9lb so I was literally convinced my body was broken and she was too big to come out, I literally lost all ability to think rationally!! The pains were all in my back and bum, very erratic and irregular, I wouldn’t have said this were painful at first but I was just so uncomfortable with them I struggled to sit down! I was convinced my cervix would be closed but they’d clearly been doing their thing, the steadily got more regular and more painful in the hours after the sweep! She was born the next day weighing only 7lb😂 i was so annoyed I had got myself into such a panic!

Aghhh I really feel for you. This brings back memories of my first baby 11 years ago. I ended up with an induction at 40+10 and she was born the next day. I don’t think she was ready as the induction was so long and drawn out.
My second was born at 40+10 spontaneous so I have late babies!

Now 37+5 with my third. And preparing myself for the long haul 🙄

Good Luck!

@Malysh that's ok :)
Thank you for the information. I've literally just been expressing colostrum for 10 minutes a day so think I'm ok :)

Thank you! Just have a feeling my little one is being stubborn and I'm going to end up with a c section. Just hope tomorrows sweep works!

@smileycloud that's how I'm thinking!! I was told at a scan after reduced movements monitoring that he had such a big head, even my dr at one of my appointments said I'll 100% be having a section due to head size. I was mortified, but every midwife I've spoken to has laughed at the comment which makes me feel a little better. But now it's in my head his head is too big to come out which is why labour hasn't started!
So hoping I have the same outcome after the sweep tomorrow. So glad your little one came out smaller than expected. Hoping mine does too lol!
I'll look back on this and wonder why I worried lol

As long as his head has engaged into your pelvis it will be able to come out and they wouldn’t have given you a sweep if it wasn’t so so not fear the giant baby like I did! Just think you’ve made him a nice home and hes just a little bit too comfortable! Good luck tomorrow, keep us updated! Sending you oxytocin vibes😉

Is the babies head fully engaged?

@SmileyCloud I believe it is as my midwife said thats why I'm getting the fanny daggers as when he moves it presses on my pelvis. Been told his head is deep in my pelvis so assume that's fully engaged?
That makes me feel better, thank you! Haha luckily you didnt have a giant one in the end.
Thank you :) will keep you updated!

@flissity I believe so, my midwife said his head is deep in my pelvis so assume he's fully engaged!

If your body is pretty much ready an induction can be as simple as breaking your waters. I was contracting every 3 minutes within 10 minutes of my waters being broken. DC arrived within 5 hours. It was very straight forward, no pain relief required, baby healthy, and I'm very glad I went ahead with it.

Like you I was nervous about induction having heard so many horror stories. However someone I knew went to 40 +12 and their dc was still born. Placenta issue. DC was otherwise perfect in every way. That decided me. There is a reason why medics don't want you to go too far over due.

Hi OP. I was very much like you I had two sweeps and still felt fine, they did nothing for me I wasn’t uncomfortable or anything. I went in for an induction at 40+14 and due to having raised bp the week before I was put straight on the drip. I only ever went to 6cm dilated which took nearly all day And night before I had an emergency c-section. If I was to have another baby I really wouldn’t mind having to have an induction, I had a lovely Experience and fab midwives. I think because I never went above 6cm dilated I don’t think I would mind not having my partner sitting with me whilst I was on the drip however, when I was rushed down to theatre that’s when things kicked in and I really needed his support and to be fair he was fab! Anyway the point of my post is that if it wasn’t for the induction I don’t think my DS would have made an appearance anytime soon, he really was just content in his own bubble.
Good luck 💓

Hi @ejmay90
10 years ago with my first DD I did follow and agreed to everything MW said. I was young, didn't have a good social network support and trusted NHS had me and my baby at heart when suggesting xyz. I was all for natural birth, no epidural, not really mentally prepared for what was going ahead. And ended up with 1st and only sweep at 40+1. It was horrendously painful because my cervix was long and hard. My body was clearly not ready. At 41 weeks I went for an induction, naively believing that I would meet my baby that day. My induction was 6 painful days long and ended with EMCS. If I knew then, what I know now I would never ever agree to have one.
I would wait till 42 weeks and schedule ELCS, if things don't move on naturally. Inductions are extremely painful, way more painful than a natural birth and carry their own risks including requiring EMCS which is not fun at all. I know you hope for the best outcome but you need to consider that labour won't start by 42 weeks. Have a back up plan.

@Icannotknit @Blueelephant2020 @NinaNeedsToGo thank you for your stories!

Had my 2nd sweep this morning and still the same as last Wednesdays sweep :( baby is very engaged but cervix is still posterior and she couldn't do it. I don't know what to do now, induction is booked for Wednesday but can't see much changing by then on it's own!

Hang on in there. You're 40+4 today aren't you? Baby might decide to turn up between now and Wednesday. You would still have the option to decline induction then if you don't want it.

Sorry I meant 41+4

@namechange30 I'm 41+3 today, I was a day ahead of myself yesterday lol.
I hope so! I just worry about stillbirth and placenta issues if I decline it :(

Ok so not particularly late yet. I wouldn't have considered induction until 42 weeks (that would be Friday) but it is a personal decision, of course.

Would it ease your worries to get some information about the actual statistics for still births and placenta issues at certain gestations? Could you ask the midwife or do some research of your own (if the latter choose your sources carefully!)