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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Will the midwife give me a sweep on my due date if I ask?

27 replies

user1465877498 · 11/12/2016 20:59

My due date is Friday and I'm a first time mum. So uncomfortable, anxious, got terrible nausea and haven't slept for more than 2 hours a night in almost 3 weeks. Just feel I'm totally running on empty and really just want my baby here now. Do you think on my midwife appointment if I ask for a sweep she may give me one on my due date? I just have a terrible feeling I'm
Going to go very overdue as my bump is still high and have had no labour symptoms. Don't think I can cope with another 2.5 weeks of feeling so dreadful :( xx

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BristolLFR · 11/12/2016 21:02

I'm due on Thursday and my midwife to sleep me at my last appointment I could have one at my 40w appointment.

I don't think they can do anything before your due date without direction from a consultant, but once you've got to your due date you're fair game.

I'm desperate not to have a Christmas baby so reckon I'm going to go for it.

BristolLFR · 11/12/2016 21:04

Sorry, auto correct there, that made no sense!

My midwife offered me a sweep at my 40w appointment during my 38w one

DubiousCredentials · 11/12/2016 21:08

Same here. Was booked in for sweep at 40wks but didn't ever make it that far with either dc.

mistletoe1 · 11/12/2016 21:12

I've got my next Midwife appt on Wednesday at 40+1 and she's said she will do a sweep if I like. Am also only going for it to try to avoid Xmas!!

user1465877498 · 11/12/2016 21:17

Fab thanks all so much! I've got my appointment Tuesday so will be asking if I can have one on my due date :) yes with the run up to Christmas now I'm hoping this will make the midwives eager to help lol! Xx

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mistermagpie · 11/12/2016 22:43

Mine automatically booked me to do a sweep on my last due date so I don't see why not. I never made it that far though, DS was born at 38 weeks despite me having a high bump and his head never engaged until I was in labour (I had a midwife appointment two days before and head was 'free' ). Just wanted to give you some hope that you don't really need signs of labour for ages beforehand!

user1465877498 · 12/12/2016 06:01

Thanks so much feel so much better now! Got the worst insomnia and I've had hyperemesis the whole way through :( plus close to Christmas some of my family live away and can only make it down on certain days etc so would love for her to be here ready for then. Good luck to everybody due around the same time xx

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Elland · 12/12/2016 10:25

I'm due Wednesday and my midwife said they can do a sweep at 40 weeks for first babies and 41 weeks for second, third etc.

I'll definitely be taking her up on the offer, no signs of labour here either!

Nikki2ol6 · 12/12/2016 10:58

I had no signs with my first baby and I seen my midwife 5 days before labour and she told me I would go to 41wks... this was in my 38th week. So I went home quite upset that I would go passed my due date, the next week in the 39th week I went into labour. Have you been wanting to clean a lot?

user1465877498 · 12/12/2016 12:13

I've been cleaning loads for weeks now I'm just totally exhausted :( just feeling worried that I'll go past my due date because I honestly don't think I will have the baby by Friday. Seeing midwife tomorrow so going to ask her if I can have a sweep on Friday if still no sign x

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silkflowers · 12/12/2016 12:52

I had a sweep with both of my two DC - I gave birth on the same day with both of them! With DC1 I was a week overdue when I had it and DC2 I was a day before my due date but baby had dropped so far down that my midwife was happy to do a sweep.

I think if your cervix is not ready then it may not work but definitely ask her to have a look / feel and she will tell you whether you should have one or not.

A word of warning though:
With DC1 the sweep was agony (worse than the actual birth!)
With DC2 I barely knew she had done the sweep.

So as it is your first, brace yourself as it may not be pleasant (that said, everyone is different). I would still do it all over again but wish I'd known that it would hurt that much! xx

Princesspinkgirl · 12/12/2016 12:59

No sweeps here till 41 weeks 😑 I'm 38 weeks and aghh

user1465877498 · 14/12/2016 07:05

Just thought I'd update everybody of my experience. Saw midwife yesterday at 39+4 who told me I would not be eligible for a sweep until 40+5 even after I begged as apparently you can only have them 5,7 & 9 days overdue. I left the appointment frustrated with her saying 'see you next wednesday' as if there was no hope I'll have baby on time. When I got home I rang my local birth centre where I will be having the baby and spoke with a midwife there (bearing in mind they all work under the same health board) and told her how uncomfortable I am, worried about being in over Christmas etc. She booked me in for a sweep on my due date Friday :) just goes to show there's no rules regarding it xx

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DubiousCredentials · 14/12/2016 10:01

I hope the sweep works for you then! Good for you for phoning up. If you don't ask, you don't get!

Good luck

chocolateshortcake · 14/12/2016 10:19

I had a sweep at 38 week appointment. Don't see why she couldn't do one then?

QuilliamCakespeare · 14/12/2016 10:20

I'm having a sweep at 40+2 next week and had one at 40 last time. The policy must vary by area...

BristolLFR · 16/12/2016 10:57

Hope it works for you.

I had mine yesterday, but midwife said it was a bit pointless as cervix was so high and closed. Gave it a prod regardless hoping it warms it up for another on Monday.

user1465877498 · 16/12/2016 11:23

Was it horrendous? I've got a feeling she's going to say the exact same to me :(

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BristolLFR · 16/12/2016 13:10

Not horrendous, just uncomfortable.

As my cervix was still so high up she had to get quite far in, was very erm, manual...

user1465877498 · 16/12/2016 13:23

Yikes! Got mine at 3 o'clock dreading it but hopefully it will get something moving for us? X

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DubiousCredentials · 16/12/2016 14:35

Good luck.

user1465877498 · 16/12/2016 15:41

It was fine! Not painful just uncomfortable similar to a smear. She found my cervix and managed to do the sweep, but she said I'm not dilated at all yet and it's still closed so hoping this will start something! Booked in for another Monday if no movements xx

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PeachBellini123 · 17/12/2016 09:56

Fingers crossed for you OP. I'm 38 weeks and midwife has offered me a sweep if baby's not here by the next appointment (my due date).

Can I ask: did people take someone with them? I've read that some people take their other halves but mines working and would rather him take time off when baby's here than beforehand!

user1465877498 · 17/12/2016 10:12

I did take my other half with me but to be honest I think it was a bit of a awkward experience for him haha. But I took him because I was nervous and didn't know what to expect, I'll be having another Monday and wouldn't be scared to go alone :) xx

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PeachBellini123 · 17/12/2016 12:16

That's good to know. Yeah I'm not sure he'd be much help anyway!

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