Someone please give me some reassurance!!

[btownmum]

Hi all! 38+6 today!
I've been to see my consultant today as I had a previous emergency c-section with my son and I'm high risk due to bmi and preeclampsia. I'm not allowed to go over my due date of 8/7. Cervix was checked today and it's still posterior and not dilated at all! What are the chances of this changing by next Wednesday? If there's no change and my waters can't be reached to be popped, I'll have to have a c-section on the day due to not being allowed to go over due!
Stressed they'll be no change and I won't get the VBAC I wanted
Thank you

Anyone? Please?

Hi, when I had DD I had a sweep at 38.4 and was told cervix was posterior and completely shut and they were unable to do the sweep as she couldn't get to the cervix. I went into labour naturally 2 days later. Keep positive, get bouncing on a ball and try harvesting colostrum as that is meant to help kick start the hormones needed to get started.

@Tyrionsbitch

Hi, when I had DD I had a sweep at 38.4 and was told cervix was posterior and completely shut and they were unable to do the sweep as she couldn't get to the cervix. I went into labour naturally 2 days later. Keep positive, get bouncing on a ball and try harvesting colostrum as that is meant to help kick start the hormones needed to get started.

Thank you! I'm just so disheartened at this point in pregnancy! When on the ball did you just bounce or did you do any other motions or exercises?

Lots of bouncing and I also did a rocking backward and forward motion (no idea if that helped at all with the cervix but seemed to help my hip stiffness a little).

Have you not been offered induction if you want to try for VBAC?

There's the Foley balloon or dilapan rods which can be used to dilate you cervix and then allow your waters to be popped in the hopes of starting labour and giving you a chance to labour naturally.

I recommend the group 'VBAC support group uk' on Facebook if you want some quick and detailed advice and support.

There's not much you can do to bring on labour naturally to be honest. But staying relaxed and trying to keep happy (get the oxytocin flowing) are meant to be helpful.

@Tyrionsbitch

Lots of bouncing and I also did a rocking backward and forward motion (no idea if that helped at all with the cervix but seemed to help my hip stiffness a little).

Brilliant will spend the next week attached to the ball haha!

@Curiosity101

Have you not been offered induction if you want to try for VBAC?

There's the Foley balloon or dilapan rods which can be used to dilate you cervix and then allow your waters to be popped in the hopes of starting labour and giving you a chance to labour naturally.

I recommend the group 'VBAC support group uk' on Facebook if you want some quick and detailed advice and support.

There's not much you can do to bring on labour naturally to be honest. But staying relaxed and trying to keep happy (get the oxytocin flowing) are meant to be helpful.

The only method of induction I have been offered is hoping my cervix is naturally dilated enough to have my waters broken, I'm assuming I must be to high risk to have the rods or ballon that you have mentioned as neither have been mentioned to me before Trying to stay positive thank you!

@btownmum Please join that group I recommended. There are 100s of ladies on there who know the medical guidelines inside and out and will be able to help inform you of your rights.

Whilst I'm sure all our health care providers are doing their best, they do sometimes accidentally mislead. And at the end of the day they're all human so they can make mistakes.

I'm not saying if you are or aren't suitable for the Foley balloon or dilapan rods but as a minimum if I was in your situation I would ask the consultant straight up if you can have them or not to dilate your cervix.

Also, whilst I'm absolutely not suggesting you should go against medical advice I couldn't help but pick up on your phrase "I'm not allowed to go over my due date". Technically speaking you're allowed to do whatever you want, they can't force you into anything. But I totally understand your consultant may have advised that they don't want you to go over your due date and would prefer you to have a section if induction isn't possible. 😊

Agree with pp with the phrase you’re “not allowed”. They can’t tie you down and cut yoj open! Maybe worth a discussion on risks and options to allow you another few days to go over, perhaps with daily monitoring etc. You definitely have options - but the consultant will try and push you in a certain way. I say this as someone who was told by one consultant I absolutely couldn’t go overdue for vbac and be induced, however I asked for a second opinion and ended up being induced with the balloon at 41+3 and had a successful vbac which the different consultant was extremely happy to facilitate.
I second join g the Facebook group. Knowing your rights and risks is important not just taking everything consultant says at face value.

So interesting, I I was also told that since I had an EMCS with DS1 I would 'not be allowed' an induction so either I go into labour naturally before my due date or its another CS. I would not have thought to question it until I read this thread! Good luck OP!

@Worriedmummy152 "Not allowed" almost always means "In my opinion I wouldn't advise it". And whilst I accept that a trained medical professional knows what they're talking about I wouldn't feel comfortable agreeing to anything without understanding all my options and the benefits/risks of each one.

I honestly couldn't recommend that Facebook group enough. It's a great place to get informed of your rights and all the benefits and risks. That way you can take that information back to your care provider and have a proper informed discussion to decide on what the right choice is for you.

Also I think one hugely important thing to take on board - and which I’ve had so much experience of - is that opinions differ between consultants. And as PP said “you’re not allowed” 99.9% means I would not advise. However it is so dependent on who you get on the day, abs the next person you talk to might advise something completely different. It drove me up the wall, there was no continuity in advice even with consultants at the same hospital so I did my own research, used the Facebook group and found a consultant who’s views were in line with mine, and who would then be able to advise pros and cons but in an unbiased way. Obviously there are still restrictions and limits they’ll suggest.
I’m due now and had one consultant who said he’d refuse to induce me despite a successful vbac a few years ago, however ever single other midwife and consultant I’ve spoken to has said it’s done all the time at the hospital and are even trying to persuade me to go to 40+12 overdue!! (Think I’m more comfortable being induced a bit earlier though)