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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask about sweeps TMI

52 replies

LouBlue1507 · 24/07/2016 00:09

Hi Ladies

TMI alert but I could do with some advice...

I'm currently 41+1 pregnant and very fed up and deflated!
I've had 3 sweeps so far and due a 4th on Monday, due to be induced on Wednesday..

I have found the sweeps very painful and I'm not sure whether it's worth going for a 4th??

1st sweep at 40 weeks - no effect

2nd sweep at 40+4 - Had contractions on and off for days (2-3 mins apart at one stage) but stopped!

3rd sweep at 41 weeks - Lots of blood loss after and losing my plug but no contractions.

I really don't know if I can face going through a 4th sweep to be left disappointed again Sad It's so draining. But then again I'm gutted and sad at the thought of having to be induced!

What do you think I should do?

(I'm 2cm dilated, cervix is soft and central)

Thanks x

OP posts:
Tftpoo · 24/07/2016 14:45

I have a 16 week old who was 12 days late. I was due to be induced on a fri morning and gave birth about 24hrs before the time I was meant to go in so she made it just in time. For me, I think that knowing and accepting that the induction was to start on fri was enough to get labour going - I'd been so stressed out by the whole is this/isn't this labour thing for 12 days that I'd worked myself up to a point where I think my mental state was what was preventing it from happening. I had a lot of sweeps too (4 I think). So maybe it was the last sweep that worked or maybe it was just the fact that after so much stress I just relaxed a bit that made it happen. I had a home birth in the end.

Good luck, I hope it all goes well whatever happens.

Original poster
LouBlue1507 · 26/07/2016 07:15

Update

Hi ladies just a quick update...

I did decide to go for a fourth sweep yesterday.. It was far less painful and I learnt I'm now 90% effaced instead of 50%! Midwife also said there barely any ply left. Good signs!

But I don't think the sweep has/will work.. I've had no pains or contractions Sad Looks like my body is ready for labour but baby isn't! She doesn't want to come!

Induction early tomorrow morning Sad I just hope it'll be a quick(ish) one and not a 3 day process like my MW warned! Don't know how I'll cope with my partner having to leave me Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
LouBlue1507 · 26/07/2016 07:16

** Plug

OP posts:
AtAt · 26/07/2016 08:52

Good luck Lou hopefully baby will make an appearance before tomorrow

babypeach · 26/07/2016 08:52

Good luck op those are all very positive signs. Try and relax as much as possible and keep gently mobile once in hospital. There may be a bit of waiting so bring lots of stuff to entertain you!

Cornettoninja · 26/07/2016 08:53

I had an induction at two weeks overdue, started at 11am and I had DD by 9.30am the next day - it won't necessarily be drawn out Smile

I know where you're coming from with the disappointment. I had no birth plan at all but had envisioned spending early labour in my own home with distractions to hand and the space to get my head straight.

As it was I was kept in. The upside is pain relief is offered pretty early and I took full advantage Grin I won't lie, I'm still not fully at peace with the whole birth but the bigger picture definitely makes it ok. DD and I are both here and healthy.

Sneeze182 · 26/07/2016 09:24

Your partner won't be sent home if you're in labour, only if nothing happening- no point him watching you sleep all night, you want him tested ready to wait on you hand and foot 😂

AGruffaloCrumble · 26/07/2016 09:45

Don't be too scared of induction. Both of mine have been under 4hrs as I was ready which it sounds like you are. Last time I went into labour as soon as the pessary touched me Blush

carrielou2007 · 26/07/2016 10:11

Sweeps didn't work for me but I wanted to try to go into labour if I could rather than be induced. I was induced for all 3 DC for being overdue, I didn't want but for me I decided I didn't want to wait any longer.

Dd1 went in on a tues, she didn't arrive until Fri, ds1 took 3 hours, ds2 was in labour within 20 mins of peasary, my body got better at it Grin

All 3 DC I had anterior placenta, all 3 back to back, 1 and 2 born face up dc3 EMCS. Not how I imagined giving birth would be but looking at them now at 3, 6 and 9 doesn't bother me anywhere near as much as it did. Good luck Flowers

Ebb · 26/07/2016 10:32

Good luck with your induction. I hope you have a speedy labour.

I was one of the lucky ones. I had a sweep at 39wks at 11.30am and baby arrived at 8pm that evening after a short, intense labour. However the Consultant said my waters were bulging and I was ready to go so I think baby would have come that weekend anyway.

FretYeNotAllIsShiny · 26/07/2016 10:38

My dd was induced (for medical reasons) with all three of hers. What really helped was walking. As soon as she could be back on her feet after the pessary, we went for a walk around the hospital grounds. She had all three vaginally.

Btw, you cannot fail at giving birth. Whether you have inductions,pain relief or a section, none of this is failure. It's simply a different path to the same result. Good luck and congratulations!

Flisspaps · 26/07/2016 14:26

Btw, you cannot fail at giving birth. Whether you have inductions,pain relief or a section, none of this is failure. It's simply a different path to the same result. Good luck and congratulations!

This a thousand times!

OhMrBadger · 26/07/2016 14:51

I was induced at 40 + 14 with DS 1. I'd had 2 sweeps; after first I had a show, after second my waters broke but labour didn't get underway. So I ended being induced (I was booked In anyway). Went on drip at 8am and baby born about 4am next morning. Weirdly the thought that I may have in some way 'failed' didn't even enter my head until I was having DS2 when I felt so, so strongly that I didn't want to be induced. That time I had a sweep at 40 + 2, my waters broke a few hours later and I went into labour.

Now I know that in no way did I fail. In fact I'm bloody chuffed that I managed to squeeze out a 9lb bruiser who was perfectly happy to stay exactly where he was!

Good luck OP!

alltouchedout · 26/07/2016 14:57

I had a sweep with ds1. I was at that point 40+12. A bit of discomfort, a bit of blood, some mucus. A few cramps. The mucus continued for the next couple of days but labour did not start. I went in to be induced at 40+14 and he was born 2.5 hours after my labour finally got going at 40+15.

With ds2 I was due to refuse and have a long argument with the midwives about the lack of need to have a sweep at 40+10, but I went into labour instead. I was offered one at EDD with ds3 and laughed at the suggestion. I don't see much point in them, tbh, and certainly none at all when you're only just term.

QueenArseClangers · 26/07/2016 17:00

Don't know if it's too late now but if you have an electric breastpump whack that on.
Always works a treat for me to ramp up/start contractions. Flowers

Original poster
LouBlue1507 · 26/07/2016 17:16

Thank you all for your lovely replies Flowers

I've stopped stressing and just sitting back with a cuppa now Grin

Will be back tomorrow at some point with an update hopefully 😁 Wish me luck! Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
LouBlue1507 · 28/07/2016 03:49

UPDATE

Hi ladies!!

Our beautiful Amelia was born today at 6:30pm following an induction! She is amazing and we are in love!!

I had a brilliant labour and the induction was no where near the nightmare I imagined!! Grin

I arrived at 6:45am and given a pessary to start contractions.. It was uncomfortable, like someone cutting you with paper.. I was told at that time my cervix was unfavourable and a 3 on the bishops score table.

I had instant backache and was contracting within half an hour.. Gentle contractions nothing too painful. Went for a walk with DP and came back.

By lunchtime my contractions were painful but not unbearable (all in my back).. I used a TENS machine which only helped a tiniest bit..
Just after lunch some dickhead bloke brought a kebab and chips to eat on the ward Angry It stank and made me puke my guts up!

There was a positive! I got moved to a private room hehe Grin In this about 2pm my contractions were a lot stronger, I was examined again and was 2-3cm dilated, but now a 7 on the bishops score table and MW removed the pessary..

By 4pm my contractions were painful! Like ouch! They came thick and fast and I started to struggle and asked for some pain relief.
I'm given gas and air to help and oh my days! What a god send! It didn't reduce the pain so to speak but kept me calm and I was able to breathe through the contractions without having a meltdown!

At 4:30pm, I'm wheeled to the delivery suite and by 5:10 I was 7-8cm dilated!

I pushed little Amelia into this world at 6:30pm using only gas and air and 2 hours active labour! I've always been a pudding when it comes to pain but honestly labour wasn't THAT bad.. It's hard to describe but it wasn't pain but pressure I felt.. I honestly found the sweeps a worse pain!

I was very lucky and needed no help and only tore a tiny bit! No stitches! Grin

Baby Amelia is doing well and I'm just shattered!

Thanks for all your support ladies! I hope other ladies enjoy my positive induction story! x

OP posts:
FlorisApple · 28/07/2016 04:33

Brilliant! Congratulations! That sounds like a wonderful outcome!

Champagneformyrealfriends · 28/07/2016 04:49

I'm so happy for you and relieved it went well! Congratulations Smile

JudyCoolibar · 28/07/2016 06:15

I'm so glad I had my children before sweeps became the norm. Two were induced due to high blood pressure and the inductions worked within 24 hours, one was born naturally at 40+9.

AtAt · 28/07/2016 07:26

Congratulations!!

Tinklypoo · 28/07/2016 07:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FretYeNotAllIsShiny · 28/07/2016 13:31

Congratulations! Really glad all went well for you all xx

icklekid · 28/07/2016 13:45

Congratulations such a great story and pleased you are all doing well

Thingmcthingyface · 28/07/2016 14:28

4 months ago I had first DC at 43 weeks, planned home birth, straightforward labour if a little lengthy for my taste! Private midwives very comfortable with this due to low risk pregnancy. I have a long cycle and they used a different method to calculate my due date, which ended up bang on. (NHS DD calculator assumes 28 day cycle only and ignores family history- I had 35 day cycle and was born at 43 weeks)

NHS Drs were very aggressive about induction at 41 plus 6, it was hard to decline but so glad I waited. When DD arrived she was clearly not post dates, just a slow bake. In Spain and France full term is 41 weeks and induction is not till 43 weeks. Many countries just have a due month. You can decline sweeps and induction and ask for extra monitoring.

Research 10 month mamas etc? Risks of going over 42 weeks are much more nuanced than NHS would have you believe, you can find info yourself.

That last week or so was crazy stressful! Hang in there!!!

Now I wish I'd been left alone to chill and sleep rather than fending off sweeps...Each to their own, you have to balance your risks and fears but personally I will always be grateful I wasn't induced at 42 because I wasn't ready.