Apparently I have a ''difficult'' cervix

[c&j04]

This probably won't be short :)

This is the info I thought I had when I went to the hospital. Cervix tilted/positioned in the optimal direction. Baby positioned correctly. Between appts 2 days apart I went from nothing to almost 2cm, 75%, -2. Dr felt confident scheduling an induction for five days later.

After pit. for 9hrs and hideously strong ctx, Dr says cervix pretty much unaffected, Cervadil overnight, another round of pit. the following day. No change=c/s.

We chose to go home which was very disappointing but I think the right decision. Any support for this decision? Not too much from friends.....

They will let me have one more week to progress on my own. At that point, Cervadil, pit, c/s if that doesn't help.

Aside from the fact that this week is gonna be frustratingly long, the worst part is, I now feel that I'm facing a c/s without a choice. Dr and the nurses all now feel like my cervix is "difficult" enough that a week will probably not change anything. What's the use of exhausting myself on pit. for possibly no reason?? :gloomy:

I just want what's best for my baby, my body, and DH.

[PearlsMom]

You poor thing! How frustrating! No BTDT, just lots of :hug5: for a productive week.

[marge234]

I'm so sorry. Not bdtd either. How far past estimated due date are you? As hellish as it was i'm surprised they didn't try to scare you into a cs you want to avoid right then and there. I think a lot of practices would have.

[JBaxter]

when is your due date?

[KrisM]

How many days are you past your due date?

I think leaving is likely the best choice, assuming all is otherwise well. Who knows, you could go into labor tomorrow and have it be easy and fast.

[jjjo1112]

I'm a labor and delivery RN-and think you made the right decision for sure!! Your cervix isn't difficult- it just isn't ready. I would just see if you go into labor on your own. I know it's hard to be patient!! If you don't go into labor on your own and you need to be induced again, another week can make a big difference. Have sex if you're able-that pretty much will help soften the cervix like a cervadil would. Other than that-as long as the baby looks good-just keep waiting :) Good luck.

[daisymommy]

Oh brother :eyeroll. Why is it that doctors think they can force our bodies into something before they're ready, and then when it doesn't work, they blame our body?

Unless you hit 2 weeks past due, if your baby and your body are healthy, I wouldn't worry about it. I know it's hard to do when you want your little one to come out! But trust your body and your baby to know when the time is right, and not to push things.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Anything can happen. It is not helpful at all to go into this thinking you have a "difficult" cervix- it's probably just a way that they can plan the c-section seed so you give up sooner during the induction. Though, it is great that they gave you more time! Even better that they didn't break your water and therefor take any choice out of the decision. So, in that way they are somewhat on your side. But, when are you even due? Both of mine came close to 42 weeks, on their own, naturally (well, I did have my membranes swept!). I think that nowadays we are not giving the process enough time. Everyone is getting impatient. Health outcomes during full term- 37-42 weeks- are pretty similar. Personally I chose to avoid induction and have regular biophysical profiles and non stress tests between 41-42 weeks. I think that if mom and baby are healthy then things should be allowed to just progress. No one has been pg forever. Some (very few) would go past 42 weeks and at that point I see a good argument for intervening. Before that if all is well, not so much. Lots of sex to stir up cervix ripening prostaglandins!! Try membrane sweeping prior to 2nd induction attempt. Just be patient and hang in there. Things will happen.

eta- I'm sorry you had that painful, frustrating experience!! Enjoy this last stretch of time and go do some fun stuff. Hopefully little one + your body will get things ruling soon. :)

Beth

[AnnieW625]

That's a bummer, but I would've done the same thing. Who cares what friends/family say. I would be honest with the doc. at your check up and say that you want a c/s to be your absolute last resort and that even then you'd rather just go naturally. Granted this was 1987 but my sister came on her own (with maybe a little pitocin; I don't remember if my mom said she had it or not) at exactly 42 weeks.

I had my water broken with DD after my labor had stalled at 5 cm for a few hours, three hours later labor was still stalled at 5/1/2 cm. so pitocin was given (plus the penicilin drip for strep B) was the most evil stuff ever. Worst thing about that whole situation was though the morning nurse comes in (loved her) and told me oh they should've sent you home, you could've gone for another 2 weeks at 5cm (I was 37 w 6 d!), but had to start the pit. because my water had been broken for 3+ hrs. by then. Seriously hoping to avoid that this time.

[c&j04]

Thanks all!
April 12.
One thing she did mention is the fact that since it's not a small baby, it may never drop fully and correctly.
Oh well. Keeping my fingers crossed it won't happen tonight and I can get a good night's rest. Weird-I know cuz the last 2 wks i've been hoping to wake up in labor every single night!

[brittone2]

nak-
have you tried "optimal fetal positioning" ala spinningbabies.com?

[KrisM]

At only 4 days post dates, I'd most definitely wait. Unless you have a medical reason to not be pregnant anymore, your body will most likely go into labor when things are ready. Mine were 4, 12, and 0 days post dates. I went into labor for all 3 on my own.

I'd probably agree to schedule my next induction for the 26th if I were you.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Larger babies can certainly drop, they have to come out. :) But, I guess they are saying not to expect baby to get to 0 before labor starts? That could be. Just try and squash out those "big baby" and "difficult" cervix comments because you can totally psych yourself out and start to believe that you really can not do it. With good support, avoiding unnecessary interventions and even just faith that your body grew and likely can birth this baby if given a fair shot will go a long way.

Beth

[catroddick]

I was 8 days overdue, and was in wicked bad contractions for 8 hours- went in to the hospital and sent back home- no dialation at all. Contractions 4 minutes apart- but no movement from my cervix.

6 hours later my water broke- I was 4 cm 1.5 hours later, and then in a period of 40 minutes I dialated 6 cm.

I was also told I had a difficult cervix. Don't take it to heart. Your body will do what it needs to do when it is ready.

Ignore the labels and comments- love and trust your body.

[niccig]

So you're only 4 days past due date? Still time for baby to decide he/she is ready. My DS was 8 days late. I was so done. But I'm glad my OB didn't push for induction. DS's labour was pretty quick for a first child - 8 hours.

[Katigre]

I want to applaud you for leaving the hospital when you did - your body was telling you it was not ready to go into labor yet (in spite of progressing a bit, it wasn't ready to go all the way) and it bought you time to get ready. Really - that took a lot of personal strength and I admire it.

First, do you know how long your mother was pregnant for? Did she tend to have her babies 'later' or 'early'? Remember that the 'average' gestational length is 38-42 weeks - it could be you naturally fall on one end of that curve which is perfectly normal. Some babies walk at 10 months old and some walk at 14 months - and both are 100% normal and not cause for worry. The same goes for pregnancy length - so there is NOTHING (i repeat - NOTHING) wrong with your cervix, it is not difficult, it is just not ready yet. Don't let the negative talk influence your belief in what your body is capable of!

The average gestational length for a first-time mom is a bit past 41 weeks - you've got plenty of time, do not feel rushed or let others hurry you.

Here is what I would tell you - 'baby in optimal position' just means the baby is head down. Head-down is only part of the story for a baby being in a correct position to help your cervix dilate. The angle the baby's head is at in the cervix, as well as the way their head is turned (think of your cervix like a clock - if the baby's nose is pointing at 2pm that is a different labor scenario than if it is pointed at 6pm or 9pm), is also very important.

If you have a baby who is larger, then slight positioning changes can make all the difference in how delivery goes. I have friends who have delivered 10lb babies at home with no tearing - so don't let the 'size' talk scare you. The only way to know if a baby is truly too big to fit (which is rare but does happen) is to do a trial of labor (not failed induction, actual labor your body is cooperating with) which you haven't been through yet.

Go to www.spinningbabies.com and read through the positioning techniques - pay special attention to the 'labor techniques' like abdominal sifting and the abdominal lift-and-tuck and pelvic tilts. I would spend the next few days doing all of those things - if you get contractions, do the abdominal lift-and-tuck. I would have your DH sift your belly using a wide scarf or shawl like it instructs. I would do 50+ pelvic tilts a day.

I had mild scoliosis as a child (so mild it didn't need treatment) but one result of that is my pelvis is just slightly 'off' and that means my babies' heads have been out of position during labor. They're head down - but at the wrong angle - and that has meant Looooooooong labors, 'failure to progress', and with a different practice would have meant a csection with DS and a hospital transfer with DD. (If you want to pm me, I will give you a link to my birth stories - 52 hours with DS and 18 hours with DD, with DD's labor once I recongized the signs of malpositioning, we did the abdominal-lift-and-tuck and I was pushing within 3 hours, it completely changed my labor pattern for the better and I truly believe in positioning importance after my experiences in birth.