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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Sweep...could it have worked even a little?!

12 replies

MummySSB · 10/11/2011 12:23

I've just been for a sweep - first one, at 40+2. MW said my cervix was still fairly posterior and quite tightly shut - 'buttonhole' she said! And said it wasn't budging enough for her to do much - v v disappointed to say t least as I want to avoid induction which is booked for next Tuesday. She said baby not very engaged either...??
Got home and found some blood on my pad and when I wiped - browny blood...do u think it could be any sign of a show?! Or am I being
overly hopeful?!
Really really want to meet my baby now but it's obv not ready to come and I'm starting to feel very upset...have booked myself another sweep on Saturday - desperately!
Any experiences of sweeps that worked will help keep me going..,

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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ThatsNotMyBabyBelly · 10/11/2011 12:30

I had a sweep at 40+1 and was told that cervix was posterior and while she could just get a fingertip in (sorry tmi) that was probably because cervix had not closed after dd1, and she didn't think she had really been able to do anything.

DD2 born 36 hours later!

localcrackpot · 10/11/2011 13:04

I'm 41w today and the MW is due any time to give me (1st) sweep. I'm crossing everything (maybe not my legs) that this triggers off labour because I am utterly worn out with waiting, as is DH. I've been sick all the way through, had to start mat. leave at 33weeks as I was just too ill to keep going, so I've been sitting around for eight weeks. At first it wasn't so bad, but for the last 3-4 weeks I've felt awful, not been able to drive or even concentrate enough to read a book. I listen to the radio and stare around, have a nap... I just want to have my baby so I can look after her and start recovering myself, too. DH is at work but can't start anything major because he won't be able to see it through, so he feels he's just scuffing his shoes...

Ugh. Been drinking milk but I don't know if I can keep it down :(

Praying for a good sweep. Hope yours are surprisingly effective too.

Ilikechicken · 10/11/2011 13:14

Mummyssb - any reason they are inducing you at 41 weeks? You could hold out a little longer. Your choice - you don't have to go with induction just yet (just been through this myself with dc2 who arrived naturally at 41 plus 4)

Original poster

MummySSB · 10/11/2011 16:02

I'm having to be induced at 41w dye to gestational diabetes - thought totally under control and not in medication for it - just hospital policy not to let women with it go over 41w.

Local - how did ur sweep go this afternoon?? Hope urs was more successful than mine!

I've had a bit more blood - very browny, not like spotting but nothing in t way of contractions to go with it - still keeping my hopes up that t sweep triggered something, even tho t mw reckoned it was fairly unsuccessful...

Have been on a fairly long walk and helped my poor hubby clean t windows on his day off! Now time for tea and cake!!

OP posts:

Woodifer · 10/11/2011 18:43

I had a sweep today at 40 + 5, was also a bit posterior, but cervix slightly shortened and average as oppose to firm. Only 3/5 engaged so she said she couldn't do very good sweep, as it works better when baby's head is closer to cervix. Had a bit of spotting afterwards.

Original poster

MummySSB · 10/11/2011 19:47

Oh hope u get more niggles than me - things seems to have settled back down now for me.
I've had my entire phone book contact me to ask if I'm ready to have an 11.11.11 baby - no pressure huh!? And this baby just isn't interested!!

I give up...for now!!

OP posts:

localcrackpot · 10/11/2011 21:38

Hello!
Well, apparently the sweep was quite successful. TMI alert Cervix still long and thick but very soft and MW was able to do a good sweep, feel membranes, baby's head etc. I had a bloody show straight after. Buuut - my blood pressure was high so spent 3+hrs in the antenatal day unit this aft/eve. MWs all lovely, everything clean and nice but I HATE hospitals and am desperate to have my homebirth as planned MW is very kindly coming again tomorrow to take my bp - if it's higher than 140/90 twice in 15 minutes I have to go in and be induced

I don't want to. I'm sure I'll be FAR more relaxed at home. But being overdue already I think my time is limited. I want my home water birth so much...

Original poster

MummySSB · 10/11/2011 22:49

Oh localcrackpot - was pleased to read about your successful sweep and show! But not about t high bp bit - hope your body gets itself into established labour before t morning so you don't need t induction...keep us posted and good luck! Either way you will have your baby soon - yay!!!

OP posts:

localcrackpot · 11/11/2011 12:38

Thanks! Am currently a very happy woman as bp is back down and had another bloody show this morning- next sweep tomorrow! No twinges right now but hoping for the best! (All praise to DH who took a day's holiday to keep me company and had everything so cosy and peaceful that I was asleep when the MW arrived!)

Hope your sproglet shows up very shortly too,Mummy ! Good luck with your sweep tomorrow- let us know how you get on!

Flisspaps · 11/11/2011 12:47

MummySSB Just because it is hospital policy does not mean that it can actually be enforced, so they cannot force you in for induction at 41 weeks if you are happy with how your GD is being controlled and would rather give it a few days more to give yourself a chance to go naturally.

They cannot NOT let you go over 41 weeks - of course, they may advise that they prefer for women not to continue but it isn't up to the hospital to 'let' any woman go over a certain point. It makes me cross that information is given to expectant mothers in such a way that they may not feel that there is at least a choice in the matter.

Rant over.

I hope that this is the beginnings of something for you - sweeps work when you're going to go into labour anyway, and as you're term, that's a possibility at any time :) Good luck!

Original poster

MummySSB · 11/11/2011 13:38

Thanks Flisspaps - I totally hadn't appreciated that they can't force an induction, might speak to them about that tmrw when I go in for 2nd sweep...

I'm currently bouncing quite vigourously on t birth ball in t hope that it gets baby down and softens my cervix a bit - and above all trying to stop freaking out that this baby just doesn't want to come out - hopefully ill manage to give it a bit of a nudge!

OP posts:

Flisspaps · 11/11/2011 13:43

MummySSB - No worries. Expect them to be quite 'feisty' in the approach to get you to agree, which if course is to be expected as consultants only really see pregnancies or births which require their help, and anyone who doesn't want to follow their policies is generally seen as a bit of a PITA. You'll be bombarded with information about the risks of not inducing in general (quite rightly) but very few women, from what I have seen on MN, are given information about the advantages of not inducing (for any reason) or the risks which are specific to their individual circumstances (eg, in your case, GD which is WELL controlled and unmedicated, is your baby showing signs of being large etc)

However, a one-size-fits-all policy isn't the best approach for everyone, and you should at least have the chance to discuss waiting - even until 40+10 or beyond if you so choose. You may decide that yes, induction is the right thing for you and the safest thing for your baby, but you certainly shouldn't see it as being your only option even if it has been presented to you as such :)

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