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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Midwife did a sweep last night without asking

352 replies

Katnisnevergreen · 17/12/2018 09:10

Hi all, I’m just after some advice. I went to the maternity unit last night with bad contractions (am 39 weeks) which had been building over the past few days to every 3.5 mins.
When the midwife was checking to see how dilated I was, it was really painful, like trying to get away painful, and I could really feel her moving around.
When she finished she said ‘I’ve done you a sweep too...’
is this out of order as I didn’t ask or want one?

OP posts:
IrisSings · 17/12/2018 09:25

Please make an official complaint especially on behalf of any other women she might do this to in future. She clearly thought she was helping but actually she should have asked for your consent, ‘sweeps’ are not a magic procedure to induce labour if they were they’d work every time - they are not necessary and should only be carried out at the woman’s request/with her permission. We all collectively need to start speaking up on behalf of ourselves and each other so that healthcare professionals listen to us.

EmeraldShamrock · 17/12/2018 09:27

She definitely should have asked you, it is painful and invasive. Though your back ache is probably part of labour, I don't remember bleeding after the sweep though?
How exciting, wishing you the best of luck it seems like you will have your baby soon, best of luck Flowers

Namestheyareachangin · 17/12/2018 09:29

It’s the only maternity unit near by and I thought it would be wonderful as it’s new, but now am worried about the rest of the process.

That's because your trust has been broken and is exactly why what she did was so wrong. You need to feel you can trust these people to care for and respect you. I would raise your complaint urgently through PALS so you can get some kind of assurances this was not what was supposed to happen and won't happen again during your labour (procedures being performed without seeking consent).

Although if you haven't the stength for that right now, I would offer you comfort in that I had some terrible experiences with antenatal care (I was induced so spent some time on the antenatal ward, care was shocking) but as soon as I was in active labour and moved to delivery my care was WONDERFUL, the midwives were so supportive and gentle and kind and respectful (even when I wasn't behaving in a terribly respectable way, chucking up everywhere and crying!) and the consultants I met as the situation progressed were also measured, respectful and approachable. I hope this midwife is just a bad apple and you won't meet anyone else so damn unprofessional in the rest of your care.

PanamaPattie · 17/12/2018 09:29

I’m sorry this happened to you. If you feel strong enough, you really should complain about this MW. It’s not acceptable to have any procedure without informed consent. The MW has assaulted you. Please make sure this MW knows you are unhappy. Women must be given respect during their pregnancy and childbirth. It’s really not on to be viewed as a vessel and not as a person with rights over their body.

TheOrigBrave · 17/12/2018 09:30

I am absolutely appalled.

  1. That this was done to you w/o your consent and 2) the amount of women on this thread who think it's OK.
FestiveLemur · 17/12/2018 09:31

Bloody hell OP. Carrying out a procedure without consent is assault. And sweeps when you are not ready hurt like hell. Sorry you went through this. I also felt violated when my midwife refused to stop. It is a violation and it's horrible. Flowers

Perhaps she took implied consent from some massive fucking stretch of imagination...? And perhaps it came from a well meaning place... but she absolutely should not be doing that again.

DonderandBlitzen · 17/12/2018 09:33

She should have asked your permission.

SoyDora · 17/12/2018 09:34

It is absolutely not ok to perform a medical procedure like this one someone without consent. There was absolutely no reason for the midwife not to ask the OP is she wanted the sweep to be performed.
There was a thread on here recently where a poster claimed to be a medical professional and seemed to have no idea that consent was required for internal examinations whilst in labour. It is.
OP it’s your body. I would definitely be raising this.
Incidentally, a sweep is classed as ‘an intervention’. There is evidence to suggest that any form of intervention can lead to a cascade of interventions in labour. This is why some people refuse sweeps at all.

WinnieFosterTether · 17/12/2018 09:36

As PPs have said, she should have asked permission.
When you called back, did you tell them about the backache? Not everyone has massive contractions. I had backache and by the time I persuaded a midwife to check, I was 5cms dilated, within 2 hours, I had given birth.

XXcstatic · 17/12/2018 09:37

It does not matter if the midwife thinks it is in the posters best interests or even if she thought it was necessary to save the OP’a life (it’s wasnt necessary to save her life) medical professionals need to seek informed consent where possible. The midwife will be well aware of this

This. I am a GP. If I was doing vaginal swabs on a woman and decided to do a smear as well, to save her going through 2 examinations, but didn't ask consent, I could be in big trouble - and rightly so. Patients have the right to choose what happens to their own bodies - even if we HCPs think they are making the wrong choice. This is always important, but even more so for intimate examinations.

OP, I would encourage you to complain. I understand you might not want to do so now, in case you get the same mw for your delivery, but please write an email now that you can send after you have delivered. And commiserations - I am so sorry that this sort of thing still happens to women - makes me ashamed to work for the NHS Sad

StoppinBy · 17/12/2018 09:38

She was 100% unequivocally out of order!!

What she did was not ok and it may actually make things worse by irritating your cervix. I had two long labours - the first one a midwife did a S n S and I still had two more days of 'prelabour'.

Second labour no one would have dared touch me without asking first Wink

You need to raise this with the head midwife, it is not ok!

AnotherOriginalUsername · 17/12/2018 09:38

The delivery team I had asked for consent for every little thing, almost annoyingly so. When the doctor about to deliver your baby in an emergency due to an almost non existent heart rate starts with 'im just going to examine you, do you consent, I may have to do do an episiotomy, do you consent' it's hard not to shout "just get him out safely!"at them Blush

AlletrixLeStrange · 17/12/2018 09:39

It's not just out of order it's illegal.
I would beg you to report this as I can guarantee you are not the first nor last she has done this too and as women we need to fight for body autonomy and remind everybody that we have the damn ability to make our own decisions. (I say this as a student midwife who has seen such illegal things happen and always stood up for women when they feel unable to do so themselves yes, the doctors hate me)

mikado1 · 17/12/2018 09:40

I would be so furious and upset. I think that is disgraceful. I was offered at 39, 5 and refused. No problem, said midwife, give me a shout next week and if you get to 10 days over we'll bring you in. Along came ds the following day. No bloody need.

Melamin · 17/12/2018 09:40

Definitely tell them you want to be informed. Talk to the senior midwife/pals and get it on your notes and birthplan.

I don't know what the obsession with sweeps is - they don't work that often anyway. When I had mine, the emphasis was on not doing anything unnecessary and I only had vaginal examinations to check dilation and these were quick and painless.

Talk to them now and get them to understand that you are now very worried about the birth them doing things to you without your consent. Hopefully some good will come of it for you.Flowers

I know the temptation is to gloss over it and keep your head down, but it will be better to talk about it.

PixieCutRegret · 17/12/2018 09:40

OP I'm so sorry this happened to you. Despite what other posters say you have a right to decide what medical professionals do to your body. I would absolutely complain, this attitude towards women and their bodies needs to stop.

I had several sweeps with both my DSs and they did nothing to speed things along despite being very overdue. I would never bother to go through the pain of them again, I would have been fuming if a midwife took that choice away from me.

Try to relax OP, you were unlucky this time but hopefully in labour you will have a lovely respectful midwife for the main event Flowers

ChikiTIKI · 17/12/2018 09:43

This has happened to me too while I was in labour. I had a huge bloody show and was told "it was from the sweep I did" when I hadn't been asked or told at any point that someone had done one to me.

Later on, even though I wrote in my medical notes that I wanted a c section if assistance was required... They arranged and conducted an instrumental vaginal delivery without discussion, warning or request for consent. It wasn't an emergency it was for delayed second stage. I had severe PTSD for about a year after and had 17 psychotherapy sessions to deal with it.

I think you need to call the ward and tell them what happened. Tell them you are fully aware of what informed consent process is and that you expect it to be followed.

I'm having a miscarriage at the moment but if I ever have another baby it will be a c section and I will still be printing out and inserting information leaflets explaining the process of informed consent in to all of my notes from the beginning.

brizzledrizzle · 17/12/2018 09:43

There is no way that her actions are ever acceptable. You had not consented and your body is not something that medical 'professionals' (I use this term lightly for the midwife you mention) can just decide to carry out medical procedures on.

TruckLoadOfSubtleGlitter · 17/12/2018 09:44

OP that's absolutely shit.

I'm 39 weeks (third child) and really have to gear myself up for having a sweep because I know they can be quite painful. To have one done without your consent it's abominable and shocking.
I would be complaining if I were you.

Roomba · 17/12/2018 09:47

You really should make a formal complaint about this - although it's probably the last thing you want to be worrying about right now. Some medical professionals seem to think that they can do whatever they like to pregnant and postnatal women because they'll somehow appreciate it later once they're holding their lovely baby. Well no, however much they feel they are doing the 'right thing' medically and however much they think they are helping, you cannot give any treatment without Informed Consent. This didn't happen here so legally you have been assaulted.

Even if you are eventually alright with this happening, some women would be really traumatised by this, so you really need to bring it to the supervisor orlf midwives' attention if nothing else. You don't have to do it right now, but when you're ready. You should have received details on how to complain to the supervisor of midwives at your booking in appointment of your area is like mine (I was given a leaflet and told this is what to do if you have any complaints about your treatment at any point).

MyBreadIsEggy · 17/12/2018 09:48

100% not ok.
She carried out an intimate medical procedure without your consent.
Definitely report it.
Just because you’re having a baby, doesn’t mean your body becomes public property for medical professionals to do what they want with it.

haloumi · 17/12/2018 09:48

Invasive procedures require consent and consultation, unless life threatening or the patient is unable to give consent.

Well out of order.

(And probably grounds for disciplinary action)

LemonChiffon · 17/12/2018 09:49

The same happened to me in labour. She was checking how dilated I was and afterwards said 'I gave you a bit of a sweep while I was there'. I was a bit annoyed about the lack of consent but had she asked I would have said yes - anything to speed things up! And it did work, the contractions got much more intense and frequent straight afterwards.

But that doesn't excuse her doing it without asking. In fact in the same labour, but different midwife, I think they put a catheter in without getting my consent, though I'm a but hazy on the details of that.

ChikiTIKI · 17/12/2018 09:49

Also when you're in labour, if you don't like the way you are being treated by someone, you're perfectly within your rights to request someone else. Can you talk to your birth partner and make sure they are on board with what you want?

GrabEmByThePatriarchy · 17/12/2018 09:50

That's appalling.