Help! ARM tomorrow morning and no idea about it!

Hi girls,

I'm 10 days overdue tomorrow, with an unfavouable cervix, and my ob has booked me in in the morning for an artificial rupture of membranes and syntocinon "put up". Firstly - does "put up" mean what I think it does???! I thought syntocinon was administered by a drip in your forearm...

Secondly, can anyone please tell me step by step what will happen to me during this whole process. This is obviously not the way I had imagined my labour starting, and I am petrified of needles. I had every intention of not getting an epidural, the thought of it makes me want to be sick, but I'm scared if labour is brought on so abruptly that I will be in agony.

So many questions, can't think of any more now!

I'm so scared !!

first off he wont be able to rupture your membranes if your cervix is not open...
i would assume the synto is via IV and put up may mean until it does something.. not put up your *xyz*
also you can say no to any of it or all of it if your uncomfortable with the process. but im sure he will say that its your babies life your threatening if you dont do it now..
Synto labours are definatly harder then natural labours.
you could ask him to hold off on the induction and do some U/s to check placenta function and CTGs to check on bubs.. and wait it our until your baby is ready.

Hun, you don't have to be induced - you can give it a few more days xoxoxo

Hi Loupy
‘Put up’ does mean an IV and not put up your girly bits.
Your waters cannot be broken if your cervix is not open.
To break your waters they use a plastic stick with a small hook on the end of it. Something like a crochet hook. Your waters should not be broken if your baby is high or not engaged as this can cause the cord to be washed out in front of the baby. This would be an emergency and an urgent CS would be required. Contractions often but not always start shortly after the waters have been broken. Having synto and an arm will cause your contractions to be a lot more intense than if labour started naturally. As others have said you can refuse to have any or all of these procedures. Perhaps an option would be to wait a couple more days and try some natural remedies to bring on labour.

Thanks for the responses :)
I've tried a few natural remedies without success.
Since writing this post this morning, I have seen my ob for one last check up (he booked the ARM last week) and my cervix is high, hard and completely closed, and he said the baby's head is not as 'down' as it was last week. So the induction has been cancelled tomorrow.
I've decided to wait a few more days to see what happens, but it doesn't sound very hopeful, I must say...
Thanks for the information in any case, I appreciate it.

It's better that they cancel the induction if your body is not ready yet. Even if your body is ready, induction sucks. Keep going with natural methods to get bub moving, long walks, bouncing on a fitball, DTD... Have you tried acupuncture at all?

good luck!

Hi Loupy,

I had ARM with my DS and it wasnt too bad, it is uncomfortable and hurts a bit, and feels really gross when the amniotic fluid comes rushing out, but it worked. I was already in labour but things wernt happening fast enough so they ruptured them. I wasnt pressured into it and decided it was time to get things moving so let the MW do it. I didnt need synto as things progressed well after that.

If the doctors choose to ARM ask them to hold off on the synto for a while as sometimes the increased pressure of bubs head on the cervix can be enough to get things started. If it doesnt, then the synto will help bubs be in your arms that much sooner. If you agree with what the doctors say and trust them, then go with it and dont feel bad or think that you have failed or are weak in anyway by agreeing with them if that is what you feel. All in all, the birth, while important to you, is just a small step in a long relationship, so be positive and confident and you will feel successful about your birth no matter how it goes.

You're a strong woman no matter how you bring your baby into this world.
Hugs and good luck.

Hi Loupy,

Just in case you find yourself going down the induction path again, they are not all bad.

I have had two inductions, both at 10 days over. No synto but Cervadil (tape) and gel (over a couple of days) for one and just gel for the other. They broke my waters after 24 hrs with the first and after 8 hours for the 2nd, when I had dilated to around 2 to 3cms.

Both were born within 2 hours of waters broken, with no complications.

Sounds like a good plan to wait it out a bit more though.

All the best xoxo

That's good it's cancelled for now. Mine went ahead with an unfavourable cervix - I don't recommend it unless there's a good reason for it.
Asking to delay the synto for a while is good too. We did that and I think it really helped to have a more gradual lead in.
All the best - hope bubs decides to make an entrance soon.