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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

40+6 advice needed!

170 replies

ejmay90 · 07/05/2020 10:49

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!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 12/05/2020 20:56

I waited to 42 +3 with my 2nd then I was induced. She was born with very thick meconium so wasn't ideal. I had wanted a home birth but they wouldn't support it after 42 weeks.

With birth #4 I had a very open and honest discussion with the consultant known for supporting waiting rather than induction. The risks of still birth do go up post 42 weeks and although you could have daily monitoring a lot can happen in 22 hours and not for the better!

Whilst some women will rave about waiting until it happens, induction is unnecessary at the end of the day the stillbirth rate and maternal deaths rate are lower in part due to "intervention".

I think I don't go into labour as I have a very curved lower spine so baby doesn't sit on my cervix as once they do I dilate quickly.

My 1 minute labour was 8cm, fully dilated, Delivered!

Original poster
ejmay90 · 13/05/2020 10:33

Update - had a call from induction ward and I expressed my feelings. They have said they can't force me to do anything so we have agreed I come in today for a ctg, she will check my cervix and if more favourable do another sweep and she said something about trying to start labour with pressure points? No clue what that means. So will have another chat when I go in about things.

Not sure if it came to it whether I'd prefer induction or a c section and if I can actually opt for a c section over being induced?
Anyone's thoughts on this?

OP posts:
sunlight81 · 13/05/2020 10:44

You do not have to be induced if u and baby are healthy - it is your choice!!!

RandomMess · 13/05/2020 10:45

Pressure points work like acupuncture, they stimulate the womb.

C section is major surgery, longer stay in hospital, risk of catching MRSA and long recovery was always enough to put me off!!

There are so many horror stories around induction but plenty of women have straight forward labour and delivery with them.

Whereland · 13/05/2020 11:03

Plenty of people have a straightforward induction labour- I couldn't imagine opting for major abdominal surgery or something potentially as simple as breaking your waters

Whereland · 13/05/2020 11:04

Meant to say "over something as simple"

joydivisionovengloves1 · 13/05/2020 12:58

The fleshy area between your thumb and forefinger is one of the points. It's recommended for constipation, and does stress do not perform if pregnant as can induce labour

Original poster
ejmay90 · 13/05/2020 12:58

I actually think it's currently a longer stay for inductions than c section. If I had an induction i would need to stay in for 24 hours before labour may even start then not sure how long after that.
With 4 of my friends recent as in past 3 week c sections they have been in and out within 24 hours.
I understand the whole major surgery but ideally I also dont want to end up on a drip, in agony, having a epidural which I didnt want, then may end up with c section at the end (obviously worse case scenario)

Just had check and I'm 1cm dilated and they ideally wouldn't want me to go past Friday, so still unsure on what to do!

OP posts:
bluemoon2468 · 13/05/2020 13:02

@ejmay90 you could ask for enhanced (daily) monitoring of your baby from Friday until labour starts naturally? My cousin opted for this. If there is anything wrong with the placenta this will be clear on scans and fetal monitoring (if baby isn't in any distress then that's a clear sign that it's just fine).

Original poster
ejmay90 · 13/05/2020 13:09

@bluemoon2468 that's what they said they would do, do daily monitoring from friday if I still didn't want an induction.
I just wonder what could happen inbetween the monitoring which does worry me. 24 hours is a long time for something to maybe go wrong?

OP posts:
RandomMess · 13/05/2020 13:11

Well 1cm is progress!

You could agree to induction but refuse the drip and at that point ask for a c-section. Obviously if you have a section you end up with a spinal block anyway?

Raaaa · 13/05/2020 13:15

Just worth noting I was on the drip and just had gas and air so it doesn't necessarily mean you will need an epidural Smile

RandomMess · 13/05/2020 13:17

I found the tens machine brilliant! Gas and air too you just need to get the hang of it, sitting on the birthing ball made the contractions far less painful too.

Original poster
ejmay90 · 13/05/2020 13:26

@RandomMess that's what I thought its progress. Since she's done the cervix examination I've had a couple of lower back ache pains and few dull ache cramps so dont know if that done something? I have a tens machine so that's good but I guess instead of labouring at home comfortable where my partner can put it on and help out I'd have to do it in hospital, just really not what I wanted.

@Raaaa that's good to hear, I'm just not so confident with my pain threshold! And knowing the drip ramps it up makes me panic more.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 13/05/2020 13:38

1cm is far further than I ever got on my own 😂

Honestly I couldn't believe how much better I felt after giving birth than heavily pregnant, back to driving, bounding up the stairs again etc.

kikibo · 13/05/2020 14:03

I think, a) if there is no dodgy placenta or other weird goings-on, there is no reason to induce, b) under the current circumstances, it would be madness to keep someone in hospital for longer than is strictly, strictly necessary (I'd say most new mums and babies should give birth at home preferably or be discharged after a few hours, from the labour ward) and c) I would opt for regular monitoring. 20 minutes at a time will be better and less of a risk than being on a ward frequented by umpteen other people every day.

There is no reason why you should accept an induction, they're most likely following 'policy'.
I'd tell them to get lost.

kikibo · 13/05/2020 14:08

By now there's a good chance you'll have given birth or you'll be in labour on Friday or at the weekend.

Mind you, my midwife went 16 days over, in the days it was still allowed for women to give birth when they were ready :sigh:.

Original poster
ejmay90 · 13/05/2020 14:15

I agree with all of the above!
I think I'm going to go home and if he's not here by friday have the induction.
Since the cervix examination/sweep I've definitely had what I think are contractions, hoping it's not just a few off the back of being messed around with. If nothing happens by friday I think I'll have the induction or opt for monitoring.
Got an awful bad lower back right now!!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 13/05/2020 14:17

@kikibo I also know 2 women that lost babies to stillbirth past 42 weeks back in days when women were left, no reasons found for babies not making it other than placenta fail...

Daily monitoring means daily trips to hospital and not all hospitals offer full placenta blood flow scans many must offer being hooked up to monitor heartbeat.

There are risks waiting quite possibly more with a first. I know a few babies very unwell after inhaling meconium in delivery - it was not nice delivering with thick meconium!

Hopefully now the op is dilating then baby will be here under its own steam before Saturday.

Delbelleber · 13/05/2020 14:25

Sounds like things are starting for you @ejmay90 good luck I hope your baby makes an appearance by tomorrow Flowers

NameChange30 · 13/05/2020 14:27

It sounds promising OP, possible signs of early labour.. good idea to take the pressure off until Friday and wait and see if things happen naturally before then. If it hasn't progressed by Friday, and you opt for induction or c-section, either option will be ok - it's not what you hoped for but you will get through it and will meet your baby Smile

needanewusernameplz · 13/05/2020 14:27

I'm waiting for labour too, OP, had a bad lower back all day yesterday and then it stopped, so annoying. Today nothing.

Not overdue yet though... still a few days.

Hope you have it all happen naturally and don't need inducing!

Original poster
ejmay90 · 13/05/2020 14:28

I've decided if he's not here by friday I will have an induction, I'm hoping this sweep she done today gets things moving especially as I was 1cm dilated and I wasnt anything on monday.
I worry about stillbirth ect which is why I dont want to go over 42 weeks but I'm wondering if what she's done today has helped get things moving!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 13/05/2020 14:32

It does sound like it and even if you need to be induced far more likely to work.

Sometimes these slow to get started labours are because baby is back to back so look up what to do to get baby in optimum birthing position there are "exercises" you can do.

You only need to dilate to 2-3cms to get your waters broken. In most cases that would be a definitive getting things going or it's not happening and opting for c-section.

RandomMess · 13/05/2020 14:35

My top tip is to relax (hah I know), the baby will arrive and it will be ok. You can have the pain relief you want and refuse a drip etc.

When induced you can refuse continuous monitoring if you want to move around etc they just need to do a trace for the first hour in case baby gets distressed as a reaction to it.

Looking forward to an update Thanks