Failed stretch and sweep

[firstbabyworries]

So today I had a stretch and sweep booked in. I'm currently 40+4 and am so ready for this pregnancy to be over. Everything has been progressing really well, 2/5th engaged, loads of movement, Braxton hicks increasing, and having the runs(sorry tmi) which I thought was possibly meaning labour would be soon.
But at appointment she couldn't do stretch and sweep because my cervix was too far back still and not dilated at all.
I feel so disheartened I just feel like crying. Nothing has changed in the last week and tbh I'm just so exhausted.
I'm still going on walks and bouncing on my ball like a crazy woman but trying not to stress is almost impossible because I'd banked on giving birth in a birth centre but if I have to be induced won't I need to go to hospital?

I suppose I'm just wondering has anyone else had a failed stretch and sweep but still laboured naturally? How quickly can your cervix change?

Never had a failed S&S, but I went from 3/4cm dilated to 10cm in a matter of an hour.
I’ve was also m 2cm dilated for weeks.
It doesn’t really have any bearing on when you’ll go into labour, could be tonight, could be another week.
S&S isn’t hugely effective either, there’s no way of knowing whether the people it worked for wouldn’t have just gone into labour anyway. It doesn’t reduce the risk of requiring an some form of assistance.
Honestly the best things you can do are eat well, walk, rest and nest.

Sorry OP, I know how disheartening it is when it doesn't get things moving. I had three when I was pregnant with my DS and they all failed.

I ended up with induction but they broke my waters when I was 2cm and he was born 2.5 hours later!

There is zero scientific evidence that a stretch and sweep works to initiate labour. So, yes it “fails” the majority of the time.

Try and relax. Labour is more likely to start if you are not stressed.

Have you an induction booked, are they not going to wait until you’re 42 weeks for that?
Or are there health reasons for them to induce you earlier?
My first was born at 40+8 and my second at 40+6 - it seems like you’re early days still at 40+4?
The baby being engaged doesn’t necessarily means they’re coming soon, that can happen a good while before the birth, and other signs can still mean that the birth is days away. I don’t say that to be discouraging, but more just point out that things might not be ready yet.
All hospitals are different and it depends where the birth centre is situated at yours (whether it’s nearby) but at mine you can still give birth in the birth centre if you’ve had a pessary and go into labour with that. But if you’re put on the drip for induction yes you need to go to the labour ward /hospital.
Birth plans do fall apart for lots of reasons, I started off in a birth centre for my last but then had to get moved to the labour ward. It all went well though. I wouldn’t fixate too much on the birth centre if I were you, you’ll just get more stressed. The labour ward is fine.
The really hard thing about birth is we can’t predict when or how it will happen (well, unless it’s a planned c-section I guess). And sometimes we plan for it go a certain way and it just doesn’t. We just have to make our peace with that and accept we really can’t control it. It’s hard though, I am 37 weeks pregnant and desperate to know when I’ll go into labour and what the birth will be like.
I can relate to your feeling exhausted and fed up. It’s hard

@swaziscot thank you. I actually found that quite reassuring. No I'm not currently booked in for an induction, I think they want to try the stretch and sweep again next week when I'm 41 weeks.
I've been really low risk the whole pregnancy so I think because of how everything had been going it didn't even enter my head that they wouldn't be able to do it, so it was more of a shock.
The birth centre is a separate building in the hospital grounds so what you said gives me hope.
I know I probably sound ridiculous to the seasoned pros but I just don't know what to expect and because of COVID I feel so disjointed from everything and everyone

No, you don’t sound ridiculous at all. Try not relax and not worry. Take walks in nature and long showers. First babies are often a bit late mine was 40+10. All four were actually late, although less late.

Oddly the first was also the smallest baby at 7lb 14oz and the last at 40+4 was the biggest at 8lb 8oz. For all of them they had booked me an induction at 42 weeks, but I luckily went into labour before the deadline. Genetics is also a factor, if your mother had late babies, you are more likely to as well.

You can skip the sweep if you want to. I refused them myself.

*to relax. Sorry

@firstbabyworries I’m 40+10 with my first and it’s been a really hard week. It didn’t really occur to me that going over would be so tough. My dating scan brought my date forward a few days too which I don’t think has helped. I’ve actually had three sweeps the last was yesterday. I didn’t expect they would do much but it’s been helpful to know what’s going on. I had a week between the first two and my cervix was the same which I found disheartening. I had progressed to 2cm and it had moved forward yesterday. I’m really hoping I go into labour before I’m induced Monday.

So just wanted to say you’re not alone. It’s really really tough! Try and be kind to yourself, do nice relaxing things. I hope things start moving soon. Fingers crossed for a birth centre birth for both of us X x x

I couldn't have a sweep at 40+2 as my cervix was also too far back and closed. I had a sweep at 40+9 and went into labour naturally the next day. Sympathies OP, the last days of pregnancy are a pain in the arse! Sleep and relax as much as you can :)

Is this your first baby? Wanted to reassure you that sweeps are often unproductive but that doesn’t mean you’ll take ages for labour to get started particularly if this is not your first. It does sound like many of the signs are there. I have three children and have had sweeps with two of them I’d say of the 6 sweeps total only one was forthcoming so to speak. Have you lost your plug? That was always the flashing sign to me that things were imminent - oh and a weird clicky feeling in my cervix, Good luck I hope you don’t have to wait much longer.

Totally relate to what you said about how it's a shock after a straightforward / low risk pregnancy. The same happened to me, was told throughout I'd have no issue, would be a perfect candidate for birth center etc... in the end I was induced at 42 weeks, things never progressed and I ended up with a c section. I'm only telling you this because it made me feel like such a failure and ruined my first few weeks with my daughter. 3 years later I realise how none of this matters, so try to let go of any expectations just so you're not unnecessarily disappointed. All will be well in the end. All the best!

@Sobloodyexhausted yes it's my first (and only!) I haven't seen my plug yet which is what's making me more nervous, although I know some people don't 😔