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  |  Pregnancy  |  3rd Trimester  |  Labour and delivery concerns
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Labour and delivery concerns

by Christine Hill

question
I am 40 weeks pregnant. My last pregnancy ended in being induced and, eventually, a caesarean. They don't want to induce me this time because of my scar, but if I can go into labour before next Tuesday, then I will get a chance to have a vaginal birth, which I really want to try for. Today, I saw the consultant who attempted a stretch and sweep, which was not successful because my cervix was hard and posterior. Is there anything I can do to soften and bring my cervix down?
Morph

answer
Dear Morph
Bad luck! You must be pretty fed up. I am afraid that there is absolutely nothing you can do to alter the present state of your cervix. I don’t know why you had a Caesarean section last time, but there is a possibility that you could have inherited a cervix that just doesn’t dilate very well.

I may be quite wrong(!), but if a sweep hasn’t worked at 40 + weeks, it looks less likely that you are going to go into spontaneous labour over the next few days.

I do appreciate it would be disappointing for you to have another Caesarean. However, to get things into perspective, all that really matters is that your baby is delivered safely – not that you have a vaginal birth.

I do hope all goes well. Let me know what happens.
Christine Hill

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