Failed Sweep now worried!

[Rosduk]

I'm 40 + 3 and had an unexpected attempted sweep today after a couple of issues i've had recently! Anyway, she said she couldn't get her finger in but the cervix did feel like it was softening up. I was just wondering whether anyone still went into labour naturally after this happening to them or if my destiny is doomed to be induction 14 days late!

It's disappointing because for the last week I have been so convinced I was close to labour and was shocked to find I was nowhere near. Now feeling massively deflated (as i'm sure alot of us are!) and obviously really don't want to be induced!

Any advice or experiences would be great!! x

I was in exactly your position 3 weeks ago only my cervix was less favourable. i was gutted thinking I was well on the way. Is this your first? I ask because here they refuse to do a sweep until you are 41 weeks with your first.

in the end I had a CS and it hasn't been that bad. Have a look at some of the induction stories on here and you'll quickly see that induction isn't always the nightmare some people think it is. Here is a thread I started about induction, dont fear it. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/1202697-Induction-tomorrow-looking-for-re-assurance-and-postive-stories

Anyway I now have my beautiful DS, and regardless of the method of delivery you will love your child with all your heart. Good luck.

It is my first. I don't think they would have booked me a sweep if I had asked she just gave me a cheeky attempt as she was already in the right place taking swabs! I think I just need to look more into induction as it's something I havnt really worried about until now. I'm the kind of person who will feel calmer if I am well researched on the subject and can prepare myself just uncase! it's really an irrational fear of something I don't know alot about! :)

My midwife offered me a sweep at 40 weeks - but said they offer then earlier for a first baby because they rarely work first time, but often do second time. So don't worry!

I had two sweeps or rather attempted sweeps at 41+0 and 41+3. They couldn't actually do a sweep as my cervix was neither soft nor coming forward. It was all a bit of a struggle really to even reach my cervix. I was gutted, particularly as I'd had some stop, start early labour at 37 weeks and I couldn't believe nothing had happened 4 weeks later.

I ended up being induced and in the few days before the induction at 41+ 5 I had started to mentally prepare myself for the fact that delivery may not end up the way I planned it. Once in hospital we started the induction process with 2 lots of pessaries which did precisely nothing! The head wasn't engaged and ds2 showed no signs of wishing to leave. By this stage I had resigned myself to a labour full of interventions but suddenly managed to find my voice and was confident enough to ask for a one to one chat with the midwife in charge who was doing rounds with the consultant. She talked me through what our next options were and what she suspected the outcomes would be. Obviously this was guess work to a degree but I also had faith in her professional judgement. In the end we opted for an elective CS which they were happy to give me. It was calm, not scary and a pain free experience which resulted in a safe arrival and a pretty swift and uncomplicated recovery for me.

It sounds like things are beginning to get ready for you. You have time for your body to do the right preparation. Try to relax and not worry and know that even if delivery turns out differently to how you planned in the long term it will probably matter less than you imagine.

All the best for the exciting times that lie ahead.

Hi - I can completely empathise! Am now 40+6 and baby's head has been engaged for weeks and weeks. Midwife attended for sweep today and I was feeling really positive that it would get things going, given that baby has been in launch position for so long! Both of us were surprised to find my cervix was nowhere near ready & I have to say I've spent the day trawling the internet for information on induction to try to make me feel better or at least in control. As I'll be 42 weeks on a Monday, they've booked me in for induction for 41+3 as they don't like leaving you over the weekend. I have no idea how quickly (or slowly!) the cervix can get ready to go so don't know if I should abandon all hope of starting naturally before then. Just been trying to console myself that whatever happens, this is just a means to a new and exciting future. The thread LisMcA mentions certainly helped cheer me up too! Good luck with it!

Remember that with first babies, the average gestation is 41 weeks, rather than 40.

You are not overdue until 42+1, so since you're only 40+3 now, you have 12 days (a long time in cervix terms!) before induction starts to become the best option. Please try to relax about it; reading up about induction is sensible, but there is no real reason to think you'll end up needing to be induced at this stage.

peedieworky I've just written on your thread too

I had a failed sweep (MW said she couldn't get anywhere near!) with DD1 and ended up being induced. Doesn't mean you will though!

As others have said, read up about induction, and remember that whatever your labour is like, it is a means to an end - your baby. You'll be fine. Good luck.

Also, please remember that you don't have to be induced at 42 weeks (or before) if you don't want to - you can have expectant management and if all is well with you and baby, you can wait for labour to start naturally.

40+3 is very early to have a sweep, I wouldn't worry just yet.