Feeling utterly miserable 38+5 :(

[BelleSauvage9]

Afternoon. Just had midwife appointment where I'd been okayed to have a sweep. I've got gd so hospital don't want me going past due date. Last birth was an emcs and I really really want a vbac. Hospital have told me I've got until next Thursday to go into spontaneous labour and if not I have to decide between balloon induction and C-section. I was feeling really positive and hopeful, have had quite a bit of discharge and was hoping that might be a good sign etc, was really hoping the sweep might get things going and I could avoid section.

His head was on the brim of my pelvis so she couldn't do it, couldn't even examine me because of risk of breaking waters and cord prolapse. Left the appointment and just bawled my eyes out. I know sweeps aren't very effective (15% consultant said) but I've just been trying everything I possibly can to avoid a C-section and I feel so so disheartened. The emcs was traumatic and I have a 16 month old so having another section will make caring for her so hard, on top of having a newborn. I'm just gutted and my negative mindset now makes me feel like a C-section is inevitable and it sucks. Not really sure what I'm looking for but just wanted to express my feelings somewhere. On top of all that I'm obviously heavily pregnant and emotional, uncomfortable and impatient. Pelvic pain is horrible and I've just had enough :(

Sorry to hear you're struggling. I'm only 32 weeks and already have days when I've had enough.
I may be wrong but off the top of my head there are 2 of the old wives' tales which have actually been proven to work to get labour going. 1) sex - something to do with the semen working on the cervix I think 2) nipple stimulation - both nipples at once. Maybe worth a try?!

I know you don't want another c section especially if your first was traumatic but just to add a different perspective. I had ELCS with my second after traumatic first delivery and 4th degree tear. The healing from the ELCS was so so much better than my tear. I was at the park with my 2 year old on day 3. We had extra help day 1/2 but after that it was us. Just a thought

How you're feeling is very valid and it's understandable you're disappointed, upset, worried and a whole other range of feelings too.
You experienced a traumatic labour with your first child and that's probably made you more weary this time around. All I can say is, worrying won't change anything and it won't help. It might end up not being how you imagined or planned for this birth, but all that matters is that baby and you are safe. Thats the only focus point now..
Trust your body, and trust your baby to do what needs to be done, no matter what that journey looks like for their birth.
I hope it goes well for you x

Thanks very much for responses, I appreciate your kind words x

@Vick99 had sex last night (and a curry though I know that one's an old wives tale!). I'm still bfing my 16 month old so nipple stimulation is happening every day as well. Been bouncing on my ball and walking too.

@Whatelsecouldibecalled I know electives are supposed to be much calmer and lots of people say it was a lovely experience and much better than emcs 👍

I've got an 11 year old as well and had her vaginally and I think that's actually making it harder. This is my last and I'm so gutted to think
I may never have a vaginal birth again :( her birth was long and hard but I felt so empowered during and I look back on it with such nice feelings. I really want to get to experience that one last time.

I know that baby getting here safely is the priority and that's also hard because I'm fairly risk averse so if they tell me it's best that I don't go past due date then I will listen and do what needs to be done. His well-being is more important than my feelings. But it will be going against what I want for my own experience. I've been feeling such desperation to avoid induction and/or section and I wish my body would just work with me.

Midwife has said I can go into triage over the w/e for another attempt at a sweep so will be doing that. I guess I just have to do all I can so I know I gave it my best shot and if that's not to be then I'll just have to come to terms with that.

Managed to have one yesterday early afternoon 🎉 though no signs of it having done anything as of yet.

However it's restored some hope for me as cervix was soft and 1cm dilated already (though still a little thick she said - 1cm). But with my last they couldn't even do a sweep as I was firmly closed and only got to 1cm dilated after 4 days of pessaries so I feel like so far I'm in a better position than I was back then. And yesterdays sweep wasn't even uncomfortable.

Lots of walking and bouncing on the ball for the next few days and 🤞🤞🤞

Hi this happened to my sister in law she was told she'd have to have another emcs with her second child but she insisted on having vaginal delivery and she got it in the end if there is no risks to baby then just simply refuse c section they cannot make you have one they will have to persevere I feel like they just rush l women in labour now all my friends including myself who have had babies in this last year all had C-section including myself it's strange

Thanks @honeyy123

First section was definitely necessary as my cervix just wouldn't dilate (even after 9hrs on drip) and waters had been broken so had that time limit.

This time round they've been supportive of attempting a vbac but don't want me to go past due date because of the gestational diabetes. So I suppose that makes it medically necessary, or at least medically advisable to mitigate risk. And as much as I want to have a vbac, I don't want to put him at greater risk. I'm

No advice but wanted to wish you good luck. I'm 35 weeks, also with GD and hoping for a VBAC. So far it's diet controlled and while baby is big (89th percentile), he's smaller than my first at this gestation. I've got a consultant appointment next week and I'm sure they'll say similar about having an induction/section by due date.

It's so hard when midwives/consultants all say different things. I want to do what's best for baby but don't want to completely sacrifice my own wishes. Hope you get your spontaneous VBAC!

Thanks @Wigggggly I hope you do too!

Baby was measuring 96% which is when they got me to start testing my blood sugar. So wasn't diagnosed til about 37 weeks. At last scan (last Monday) he was 90%, estimated 7lb14 and they seemed happy with that for now 👍

I feel for you, I'm 38 weeks today, GD, section is booked for Thursday, I'm just so bloody over it with the pelvic pain and carpal tunnel. My lil lad is 14 months so again, feel for in that respect.

I chose to have another section (just my personal preference given all the risk factors for me - one of the downsides of working in obstetrics myself is knowing and seeing too much as I've found out through these pregnancies). Fingers crossed for you that you get your vbac, you got this ❤️

Thanks v.much @Seryse wishing you luck with your section 😊