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Pregnancy

To sweep or not to sweep!?

18 replies

therewearethen · 30/01/2013 16:15

So I'm 41wks tomorrow and due to see midwife for bp check etc and she's also booked me for a sweep, without asking me first

Apart from SPD I'm feeling fine and not in any particular hurry to get baby out so unsure if I should tell midwife no to the sweep or grin and bare it.

Any advise or previous experiences? It's my 2dc, and no other health problems apart from the SPD and being a bit fat

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Flisspaps · 30/01/2013 16:16

If I had another baby I'd not bother tbh.

Missingthemincepies · 30/01/2013 16:30

It's a low risk procedure that's only uncomfy for about a minute. I had 2 with dc1. Not fun and sometimes they don't work, but sometimes they do. My decision was based on the fact that I'd much rather a sweep than induction and I didn't want to get to 42 weeks and not have tried everything possible.

Neither worked. Finally went into labour at 40+13. Am pg again and would def have sweep again for same reasons. Apparently bit more effective for dc2+ as well.

Hope all goes well. Don't forget to wear a pad (bit of show/bleed likely).

katiecubs · 30/01/2013 16:34

It's pretty standard which is why she will have booked you in for it. The main reason to have it is as the poster above say's - to avoid induction.

But your choice so if you would prefer not then just say no.

Chloe55 · 30/01/2013 16:44

It's not all that bad, I had 2 but neither worked. It did maybe give me false hope labour would start but then it is successful for some people. It's your choice but worth giving it a go to avoid induction IMO

WildRumpus · 30/01/2013 16:50

I have always refused. Any evidence that they work is purely anecdotal. Only ever performed on women who are already overdue anyway. So many people I have known have said they didn't work while others have said "I went into labour the next day". Given that they were 41+ weeks pregnant that was a fairly likely outcome anyway. I think they are codswallop. Baby will come when baby is ready (in the case of my 3 that is at 42 weeks).

therewearethen · 30/01/2013 17:37

So if I decline and bump still hasn't made an appearance by 42 will they insist on me being induced? Obviously if she says baby should come sooner rather than later I'll have it but I feel fine, just not very comfy trying to turn in bed due to the SPD

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Chloe55 · 30/01/2013 17:43

In some countries the normal gestational range goes up to 43 weeks, if you are comfortable you can decline induction, its the placenta that begins to deteriorate after a certain time but they can monitor your baby closely. The health professionals will push for induction but its essentially your choice.

Missingthemincepies · 30/01/2013 17:46

Not at all. You can choose expectant management and not be induced (usually involves daily monitoring in the hospital). But you would need to be very sure of your decision as there is likely to be quite some push for you to accept induction. Talk to your mw about it. Some trusts induce at 40+10, some 40+14. Little evidence to support induction at either date, but I personally wouldn't feel comfortable going over.
No one can force you to do anything you don't want. Even NICE guidance says you should be offered expectant management if you choose not to be induced.

Anchorwoman · 30/01/2013 18:05

I wouldn't, on the basis that none of mine worked, baby was nowhere near ready to come out so made no difference and it bloody hurt.

RoxyLady · 30/01/2013 18:08

Personally I wouldnt bother. I certainly wont be with my second pregnancy.
I was given about 8 sweeps in all over the period of two weeks.
5 of them being in one day. Bad experience..... so therefore because of this I dont like any examining me in anyway.

Oscarandelliesmum · 30/01/2013 18:19

As a veteran of 19 of them (optimist here)
over three babies! I would say not to bother false hope in my experience, they come when they are ready. With my last pregnancy the midwife gave me a bishops score of 8,
only for it to drop back to 6 as my son clawed his way further back into my uterus....womb clingers, the lot of them!

Flisspaps · 30/01/2013 18:23

I had one with each of my DC. With DD I was induced at 40+15, DS turned up before we got to arguing about induction.

They cannot insist on induction at any point, that is your choice alone. There are risks to going past 42 weeks, there are risks to an induction and you should be informed of these by your MW before you make a decision .

therewearethen · 31/01/2013 11:21

Well I went and had it, wasn't nice but over within a minute and not as bad as I feared. I've got 2 more 'tries' before they book for induction which I really don't want!

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Missingthemincepies · 31/01/2013 12:12

Good luck! Really hope the sweep does the trick for you.

therewearethen · 01/02/2013 21:58

Well it worked! Woke in the early hours and had a DD within 3 hours! Thanks for everyone's advice and words of wisdom x

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katiecubs · 01/02/2013 22:19

Wow brilliant news congrats!! Was that a lot quicker than your previous birth?

Am 38 wks with 2nd and really hoping for a shorter labour!! X

Missingthemincepies · 02/02/2013 08:39

Congratulations therewearethen! Hope you're enjoying newborn cuddles at home by now. Really pleased the sweep did the trick for you, so much better than induction!

therewearethen · 02/02/2013 16:43

I had my 1st in just under 7hrs so both very quick! Hopefully your second will be quicker to katiecubs! Good luck, let us know x

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