Cervix that won't open?

[CrystalBoo]

I wanted a natural birth with DD, but at 10 days over I ended up being induced. After 24 hrs of not particularly horrendous contractions, the OB tried to do a sweep but my cervix was so closed he couldn't even get a finger in. (sounds nasty when you say it out loud LOL)

At that point, I was told DD was showing a little distress and asked if I wanted a CS. By then, I was fed up and just wanted her out, so I said yes.

Now I am trying for #2 and have been thinking about the cervix issue in particular, and wondering why it wouldn't open.

So, I would like to ask if anyone else has ever had that problem, and if so, did it require a CS or did it resolve naturally (assuming you were already in labour). And did you ever get a good answer about why it wouldn't open? I guess I am wondering if I hadn't been induced, would I have had the problem, or have a got a defective cervix? LOL

[Lulu]

My GF has a history of long and spurious labours. We were talking about it the other day, she had the same problem with her first ending in c-sect.
With her second, she held off and off she just didn't seem to dilate but accepted an epidural - she dilated fully in under 40 minutes and the baby shot out! She puts alot of it down to the fact she was so tired with the first one, and a little overwhelmed. Once she could relax a little she was fine.
With bubs no3, she knew how to handle it a bit better and knew the power of helping her body relax.

GL!

[Olive]

i hope next time is better for you hun!
it not uncommon to end up with a c/s from an induction, many times the body just isnt ready or your dates may have been slightly out.
you may have simply needed a few days longer!!
maybe one thing to try next time is accupunture to help ripen the cervix in the weeks leading up to your due date

[Tobily]

How were you induced crystalboo? Was it just gel or the drip?

[STARRYSKY]

hi crystalboo,
I was induced at 40wks exactly, had prelabour for about a week (=no sleep!) aws 2cm dilated at admission and when waters broken, progressed to 3cm all by myself then put on drip (and epidural) contractions slowed and stalled at 4cm, ended up with emergency cs after 10 hrs of labour.
have heard of it happening to lots of my friends, exact same situation, personally in my own experience, I believe I could have done it on my own, given sleep, time and encouragement, all of which were sadly lacking!!

[Oorki Galoorki]

one thing that is a huge factor with a cervix is hydration!
labour will stall or wont start "nicely" if you are dehydrated.
i think your bubs probably wasnt ready(esp at only 10days past) and doctors dont like to wait once they have started the extraction process, so being that your body and baby wasnt ready (and bubs was probably annoyed with being poked and proded) the doctor had to say something to get you to to say yes to a c/s.

after your cervix has opened it never completely closes again. so you shouldn't have the same issues again...esp if you change CP

[Toomanytoomany]

One of the causes of a cervix not "ripening" is malpresentation of the baby. A well engaged baby's head will put pressure on the cervix and encourage it to thin and begin dilating. A posterior baby, or an unstable lying baby, won't give this encouragement. The spinning babies site is a good one for some methods on optimal positioning of baby - unless your baby is breech, many OBs won't bother telling you if your baby is lying posteriorly or not.

There are other things you can do to encourage your cervix to begin the ripening process prior to birth. Talk to a naturopath or natural health practitioner about the use of evening primrose oil capsules (broken and used internally) and of course semen contains precursors to prostaglandins which are used to ripen a cervix with the gel anyway.

Most times, though, once co-ordinated contractions have begun, a cervix will begin to ripen - just not often to an obstetrician's timetable! If you have a drip without having had the gel to ripen your cervix for you, try to stay upright as much as possible with good open pelvis positions to get that baby's head down where it needs to be. Rocking and swaying your hips in labour can also enourage this process.

[CrystalBoo]

Thanks so much for all your answers everyone.

Lulu2 - It makes sense that relaxation would help. I don't recall being particularly tense but of course, I lost my memory while pregnant and haven't seen it since, so it's definitely possible.

AJP - I hadn't thought of acupuncture but it does appeal to me. I will have to write it down so I don't forget when the time comes.

Tobily - I had two lots of gel over 24hrs. No drip. Is that normal?

Starrysky - Yes I have to agree in hindsight. But when it's your first, and the doc is saying your baby is distressed, it's hard not to say 'cut me! cut me now!'

Doudou - Dehydration could have been an issue. I know I don't drink enough. I will remember that.

toomanytoomany - If DD was not positioned well, no-one told me. I haven't heard of the primrose oil used in that way but will look into it. The semen sounds like the fun option in theory, but if I'm as fat and swollen as last time, I don't think it will be my first choice!

Thanks again everyone. You've all given me lots to think about (and try) before rushing into anything next time.

[Tobily]

Tobily - I had two lots of gel over 24hrs. No drip. Is that normal?

That's the standard way they will start an induction if your cervix is closed. Two applications of gel having no effect on your cervix (ob couldn't sweep/rupture your membranes at all so cervix still closed) pretty much says to me that your body wasn't ready to birth yet.

Perhaps for the next bub you could look into different models of care - not all careproviders will induce you at 10 days post with an unripe cervix. Inductions where things have to be really forced like that usually end the way yours did crystalboo. Unfortunately it's an all too common story But things can be different next time!