Please calm me down, being such a wimp about a sweep

[StrangewaysHereICome]

Hi I am 40+8 and the mw has just phoned to say she is coming to do a sweep at 11am. She didn't give me any choice, just that she is coming. I know i don't have to have one but I am in a pickle. I so want to get things started, but have found all previous VE's in previous labours so extremely painful I know I will cry. That with a combination of no sleep, hormones and embarrassing piles that I don't want anyone to see . I feel a bit cornered tbh. I want to avoid induction as I wnat a homebirth.

Help me pull myself together.

Just say no.

Google "Mary Cronk phrases"

She is offering you one, it's not compulsory. You can say no thank you, the WHO class term as 37-42 weeks, I am not overdue yet, I will reconsider your offer in a few days.

Shes can't do anything without your consent. Like Pork says overdue isn't till after 42 weeks. The baby will come when it's ready. Get reassurance that baby ok then wait. You could say 'I want to go into labour spontaneously and am not yet 42 weeks so as long as baby is fine I want to wait.

In the meantime lie somewhere and relax and focus on your baby. Explain why you want them to come soon, tell them you're ready... sounds a bit bonkers but can work! Try all the other things too, lots of snogging good, clary sage oil on belly etc etc

I would say no, too. I don't like the idea of sweeps and have always decided not to have one (though went into labour before appointments before). Definitely say no if you don't want one. It won't necessarily bring the birth on anyway.

The mother feeling safe and relaxed is the one of the things that some people think can help labour to start. Even thinking about a sweep is distressing you.

I'd say "no thank you" in your situation.

Thank you everyone. I know I don't want one - the mw caught me on the hop this morning on the phone by not giving me a chance to get a word in. Hope she won't be cross at a wasted trip.

Thanks again for the advice.

ps love Mary Cronks phrases!

Well [quite proud of myself emoticon] I did refuse, as I just knew deep down it's not what I wanted. She did a check over, baby is fine, my bp is up though (no doubt the worry). But she insisted on booking the induction for Saturday and was quite short about the fact that they wouldn't attend me for a homebirth after that date - but I do know that is not the case. So I might go to hospital on Saturday for monitoring and then take it from there but I am not going to be bullied into an induction.

Please baby pop out before Saturday (but not tonight as stroppy mw is on duty!!)

Thanks again for the advice, and helping me to trust my instincts.

Gosh she sounds a bit of a bully and yes you are right, they cannot refuse to attend you.

Best of luck sweetheart, everything will be fine x

you could contact the AIMS helpline to know your rights if you have to deal with this person again. www.aims.org.uk/ COuld also try to speak to head of midwifery this woman sounds awful. good luck.

Good for you for sticking to your guns

Your MW does seem a bit stuck in her routine so to speak. My old MW was the same when I was PG with DD2. When I was 10 days overdue, she rang and left a voice mail on my mobile saying she'd booked me in for an induction for the Thursday and that I was to report to front desk for 8am to start induction! Errrrm...I agreed to this when exactly?

Good luck, you are woman, let them hear your roar

Mary Cronk is formidable and so were you by the sounds of things!

Well done. Yes, no need to be bullied into an induction, the midwife sounds very process-orientated which is old-fashioned (but probably very common). I have already been booked in for my induction date (and I'm only 5 months pregnant...) - because i'm elderly (40) - told the consultant that I wouldn't have the induction, and she said we could 'discuss it' at the appointment. Ha!

Well done. I am not at all sure I will consent to sweeps this time as they were just painful and didnt achieve anything. My body laboured when it was ready. Heres hoping you will labour naturally by Saturday!

My friend (who is on MN somewhere!) has just had a HB at 14-16 days overdue (depending on which way of calculating dates you do.) She had to battle them for it, though! Good luck.

I'm not due until June 12th. I'm not sure I like the sound of a sweep myself. I would rather wait until baby feels ready! So a sweep is only something that is offered that you can say no too?

One of my clients had a homebirth at 43 weeks. The consultant midwife at the local hospital was very helpful.
Hope things start for you soon.
Selina

You have been heroic and already being a good mother. Well done! Now, have a think if everything is ready, if you need to do anything at all or you think anything is annoying you and then settle down and get a good night's sleep.

Thank you everyone again for all the advice and support.

Well our little boy arrived (without needing a sweep or induction) at 7.45pm on 10th March weighing 8lb 10oz. After 17 hours of stop start prelabour with painful contractions and just TENS, I got to 4cm by 7.15pm. 25 minutes later my waters went and one push later out he came! A lovely homebirth although the mw was halfway up the stairs, the second mw didn't make it in time so DH had to assist!!

Such an amazing experience although I do admit I lost heart a bit after being told I wasn't in established labour despite really painful contractions coming every three minutes .

Still on cloud nine . Thanks again everyone xx