Possible Induction??

[RainbowBlue]

Hi all... I'm a newish member expecting my first and currently at 38 weeks plus 2 days. My EDD is 3rd Jan and have just had a midwife appt today during which I've been told I'm measuring as 36 weeks. So
I had some questions, apologies if they sound repetitious or silly but any help is much appreciated:-

1. My next midwife appointment is booked for the due date and I've been told to be ready for a membrane sweep that day. The midwife told me to research it and said that I could refuse if I wanted (I waited 2 hrs to be seen so I know she didn't have time to explain - another story entirely!). so what exactly is this sweep? Have you had one and would you recommend it? I'm booked in for a hospital birth so would you recommend waiting as long as possible or just get things moving?

1. My next hospital appointment was booked at 41 weeks, so should I expect to be induced at that appointment if the sweep doesn't work?

1. Is the fact that I'm measuring smaller a worry? Particularly given that I'm only 4ft 11, my husband is not tall either and also we're

South Asian and I understand Asian babies are generally smaller.

Thank you in advance for any help. This has just raised some concerns as I hoped for a natural birth, however my mum had 3 c-sections with us lot, the first of them was an emergency so I wondered if I might face the same?

Thanks again!

I didnt have a sweep so cant really help on that but my understanding is that the midwife feels your cervix with her fingers and trys to move things if she can. From what I've read it is rather uncomfortable and similar feeling to a having a smear but can help get things started but only if your body is ready. As I said, I didnt have one as my waters broke at 38 weeks but I would have said yes to having one as I would have happily done anything to get things going towards the end.

I doubt your appointment at 41 weeks would be to induce, it will be to discuss inducing if you havent gone into labour already. They will probably monitor you and may offer another sweep.

Try not to worry about measuring smaller, the measuring of your bump is only a guideline - not an exact science.

I'm no expert and hopefully someone more helpful who has experienced this will answer your post.

I had a sweep when I was a week overdue with my DS. Like ChristmasCake said, the MW sticks her fingers in your fanjo and sort of sweeps them about, trying to separate the lining of the cervix from the membranes around the baby. (Google it for a better explanation) It is kind of uncomfortable, but similar to a smear test and nothing to worry about. I had mine at home and it took less than five mins. Sweeps do work for some but they are usually only effective if you are sort of already favourable for giving birth - slightly dilated, soft cervix etc. In my health authority the standard is to have a sweep done at 41 weeks, then another one a couple of days later if no success, and induction not until 42 weeks. You also definitely have the choice to refuse induction (or a sweep) and wait it out.

From my own experience I can say that the sweeps are fine and worth having, but it is better to wait it out and hopefully go into labour naturally rather than be induced. I had to be induced at 41+11, and I know it gets very hard towards the end and you're just desperate to have that baby out, but induction is really not at all pleasant and very gruelling (although I know some women will say that their experience wasn't so bad). If I could do it all again and had the choice I'd have waited as long as possible. If it comes to it do read up on what to expect with an induction and what your choices are regarding pain relief etc.

And don't worry about the size of your baby, growth scans and bump measurements are notoriously inaccurate, there's no proper way to tell until your baby is born.

Good luck with everything, hope it goes well.

I had two sweeps but my cervix was not favourable and so they were painful! Then had to be induced as had GD. That did not work either and do had a csec! Take it as it comes! Don't rush!

I was huge enough for mw asking me if I was having twins! Out came a 7lb baby and loads of water....this after scans showed a HUGE baby apparently! 10lb plus they guessed!

Sweeps attempt to move things along, but not always.
Don't close your mind to anything and dont worry about size. Enjoy sharing your body with another human a little longer!

1. A sweep is just what the other have descirbed. A midwife will sweep her fingers around your cervix. Sweeps are only really effective if your cervix is already favourable, if it isn't they're a bit pointless. They don't hurt, just feel a little incomfortable.

1. You won't be induced at your 41 week appt but they will plan dates with you at that point. I have been induced with two of my children and both times it was fine. First time, labour was just over three hours, second was an hour and a half, I had no pain relief or intervention either time. Long, agonising, complicated births are not always a feature of induction, yes, there is a higher risk of intervention being necessary but it's not a given.

1. Pay no attention to the dates thing really, it's an estimate. I had all sorts of "your baby is far too big/small" worries from medical professionals and had three perfectly average sized babies.

The most important thing in all of this is to remember it is down to you what happens. Be in control of things by arming yourself with lots of information and not going through with any procedure unless you are happy that your questions have been answered, you are comfortable with it etc, unless it is a medical emergency. Enjoy the rest of your pregnany

Thank you for all the messages so far . Have been doing lots of research and talking to both my mum and MIL. I think the sweep sounds very intrusive and not convinced that it's the right thing for me...but there's still time to get fed up and ready for help lol

I have just had a sweep 4 hours ago. it hurt like hell but this is probably due to my cervix not being favourable as I am 39 weeks and 4 days. i had it done because they're inducing me tomorrow as I'm losing fluid around the baby.

I measured small at my 36 week scan (for low lying placenta) and so I've been rescanned weekly since then to check the baby's growth. It is fine but my fluid was half that what it should have been.

My MW and consultant did say that fundal height is not that accurate after 36 weeks because the baby moves down into the pelvis and this can affect the measurement.

Oh poor you! Relax and smile! Baby will be here soon, all will be well

I've had two sweeps so far, one at 40 weeks with my community MW, barley felt a thing not even uncomfortable really. My second one was Tuesday (41 weeks) with a Dr on the Maternity Assessment Unit, she told me my MW had probably just given me a tickle and she could give me a proper one that would bloody hurt but should get things going. She did it in three stages, first warm up see what's going on, second to get her fingers inside my cervix, that took me from 1cm dilated on entrance to 2cms dilated all the way through. Third stage she swept the membranes and felt the baby's head. It was bloody uncomfortable but it didn't hurt, I kept breathing and I tried to say relaxed. Dr seemed annoyed she hadn't made me cry It hasn't done anything though so far apart from a load of spotting.

I've had my 41 week appointment with my MW and still not been booked for induction, mainly because of my feelings about it, but baby and I are healthy and I've agreed a review at 40 + 13 which is Monday for me, I think.

So try not to stress about induction yet a lot can happen before your 40 week appointment, sweeps aren't too horrendous and you don't have to have them done. I'm also 4 ft 11 by the way

Thank you so much for all the messages they really helped calm me down and think things through

I have had some bloody show over the past 2 days, bright red yesterday and more stringy and brown today coupled with some cramps and back pain. Also stomach feels very heavy and full (almost like really need to go to the toilet - don't know how else to describe - first baby lol ). So waiting to see if baby is going to make an appearance soon