Pros and cons of a sweep?

[naturelover]

My MW has offered me a sweep at my next appointment. I'll be 40+2 with my first baby. Is it a good idea to give it a try, assuming baby hasn't made an appearance by then? I'm keen to avoid induction and am in fact planning a homebirth, so want to keep things as natural as possible. Baby is already fully engaged.

[sweetkitty]

I had one with my second baby I was 40+4 at the time I think had bad SPD and was feeling utterly miserable. I begged MW for one. Sorry to tell you this but it did absolutely nothing DD2 came along at 41+5. IMHO it might only work if you are about to go into labour anyway. I wouldn't have one done again it was very uncomfortable TBH.

DD2 was a homebirth as well I was facing induction at 42 weeks but we managed to get our HB it was fab, best of luck

[skerriesmum]

It worked for me, ds2 must have been ready, because I had it done Monday and he was born next day! His bday is Jan and ds1's is three weeks later, I didn't want to go too long over and have two birthdays so close together...

[Klaw]

If I was you I'd wait till after 41wks, you can always opt for Expectant Management if baby has not arrived by 42wks (daily monitoring of you, baby, fluid levels, placental function) and make a decision about delivery based on the findings. If all is well there's no great harm in continuing to wait till baby is ready. However, you are most likely to have your baby before then so try not to stress about it.

[lulumama]

what loopy and klaw said!!

sweep will only work if you would have gone into labour anyway within 24 - 48 hours

sex & nipple stim can help ripen cervix, and encourage labour

i;d wait until 41 weeks at least for a sweep

also, sweep can increase risk of meconium in the waters and waters being broken, IIRC, so might be best to hang on if you want an intervention free homebirth

babies tend to come when they are ready, and on the whole, first babies tend to arrive after 40 weeks

[naturelover]

Thanks everyone - you've confirmed what I instinctively felt - that waiting till 41 weeks would be a better idea.

[miniegg]

just wanted to add that when I had a sweep i was totally unprepared for how painful it was! it was easily as painful as some of the later stages of labour! i'm sure not everyone finds it so bad but it's best to be warned just in case. I had to use my labour breathing techniques to get through it - if I hadn't had some breathing techniques there's no way I could have let the midwife continue the job.

[juuule]

Pros - sometimes it works.
Cons - sometimes it doesn't.
I never found it painful and I've had it done quite a few times (9 overdue babies).