40y/o and under pressure to have a sweep at 39 weeks

[kitsen]

I've just turned 40 and am 39 weeks. My consultant has booked me in for a sweep on Thursday because of my age and that they don't want me to go over 40 weeks.

I'm really torn between not wanting any intervention at least before my due date and not wanting to risk my baby if there is an increased risk because of my age (I've had a healthy, normal pregnancy up until now).

Does anyone have any advice or been through this?

Thanks

[seeker]

If your blood pressure and everything else is fine, could you say you want to wait for your due date before having a sweep? You could aske for a scan to make sure the placenta is still working properly (I think this is the major worry with "older" mothers) I was 43 and had raised blood pressure and they let me do this.

Another thing to remember is that unless you are very close to going into labour a sweep probably won't have any effect at all - but in my case, ds was born 16 hours later!

[kitsen]

Thanks seeker. The placenta is my worry - can I request a scan?

Everything else has been fine all along including BP so it just seems unnecessary if all is ok. Even the midwife who is booked in to do the sweep said that 'they love their sweeps' and didn't seem that keen on doing it.

It's just the fear of something going wrong it I don't go along with it.

[childrenchildreneverywhere]

Yes of course you can request a scan! and of course you can refuse the induction.

Ask your consultant to provide you with the evidence re. risk of going over 40wks and then ask them to provide you with the evidence of the increased risk/benefits of induction so you can make a proper informed choice (and you do ALWAYS have a choice!).

Use your BRAINS anytime you have to make a decision, ask them to explain:

B enefits
R isks
A lternatives (here would be scans/trace etc)
I nstinct (what is it telling you?)
N othing (what happens if you wait a bit?)
S mile (be assertive, not aggresive).

Remember it is your body, your baby, your birth, YOU make the decisions, your consultant is there to aid you make them with clinical evidence (not just anecdotal) to back up their case.

[foxytocin]

Tell consultant you want 'expectant management' it means scanning the placenta to look at function and CTG scans of the baby for signs of distress.

if you are feeling like you may want a sweep for going overdue, ask for your 'bishop's score' it is an assessment of the condition of your cervix to determine how favourable it is for labour to start off after a sweep. the thing is, if it is favourable for a sweep to be successful, then it is favourable that labour would start soon naturally any old way.

i was 39 yo with dd2. normal healthy pg. went into labour naturally at 41 wks. no pressure to have sweep from consultant. they offered once and i refused. but then they already knew not to argue with me.

[kitsen]

Thanks so much for the advice ladies.

I've just called my midwife and she's very against giving me a sweep and is going to book me in for a CTG. Once I'm at the antenatal clinic I'll ask about a scan of the placenta.

It's so difficult when it's your first child to know what to accept from the consultant, and knowing that the risks are higher as you get older. and when to go with your own instincts (mine are screaming to let things happen naturally!)

[childrenchildreneverywhere]

there's a lot to be said for instincts!!

you could ask your consultant:

"so if I have a sweep/am induced can you guarantee my baby and I will be fine? because you're obviously telling me you can't guarantee that if I am past 40wks".

You could even ask them to sign your notes guaranteeing that (they won't by the way!).

[kitsen]

I bet they won't!

I find it strange that a sweep was just presented to me by the consultant as the only option rather than talk through ways of monitoring the baby and letting nature do it's job...

[foxytocin]

yeah because that takes time kitsen, and means it is more work and time is money, blah de blah.

[Morcambe]

Kitsen - me too! Except they want me to do sweep this Friday and I'm only 38 weeks. Consultant only works Fridays and next Friday is of course a Bank Holiday. Hmmmm, I'm thinking this is more about what's good for his schedule rather than mine or babies. I am 6 months shy of turning 40 yrs, and have had a problem free first pregnancy so far.

After reading this thread, I'm feeling much stronger about asking why exactly this is a good idea for ME. I was just too surpised at last week's consultation and his assistant/midwife was too busy trying to shove us out the door for me to gather my thoughts enough to question him.