If you refuse a sweep will they still induce you?

[heartmoonshadow]

I am a way off yet as only 25 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child and I was induced last time at 36+3 due to pre-eclampsia. I think one of the doctors did a sweep on me juring an exam although he didnt say that he had and he bruised me quite a lot. As a result for my pessaries and ARM I had to be given G&A just so they could examine me, I had an epidural for the birth so no problems with exams during labour.

Anyway I am petrified of having a sweep and worried that should I require induction this time should I go over they may refuse unless I have a sweep which I really don't want.

Any ideas?

I refused sweeps with my first and went into labour myself 8 days late. I refused sweeps with my second and was induced by pessary at 2wks late.

No-one can do anything to you without consent, even induction. It may feel like you have no choice, but if you make your views clear in your notes then they must respect them (unless there is a life or death situation).

After coming on MN a week ago, and reading about VEs and sweeps i had the courage to tell my MW that i did not want a sweep. She had previously told me she was "going to do one" i.e. did not ask me if i minded or if i wanted one! She was fine with my decision and told me that a lot of women don't have them - which made me wonder why she told me she was going to carry out an unpopular procedure rather than putting it on the table as a option. The same thing happened 2 minutes later when she told me that if i didn't go into labour soon she would book me in to be induced - which as i am a VBAC candidate should very much be something that is discussed (due to increased risks to me and bubba) rather than being told that this is what was going to happen to me. Not impressed!!!

Good points made by all I suppose it just comes down to being bloody minded and standing by my decisions I just hope I am as brave if it comes to that!

I told my midwife I definitely didn't want to have a sweep (this is all in the future - I'm 32 weeks), and after she'd said 'Well, it's to lessen the possibility of a much bigger intervention', I said 'What are the other options?' and she said she'd seen acupuncture have some success in starting labour, and suggested a couple of sessions, as I approached my due date, with a midwife who practices acupuncture on the side.

She did also add that in her experience, your body had to be 'ready' for a sweep or there was no point in having one.

Lol, can i just add that when my MW told me she would carry out a sweep, she palpated my belly and told me the baby was really high. I though WTF is the point doing a sweep then!!!!

helsinkihelen whats a VE and what did you read about weeps? Can you link the thread? Ive been told a mw is coming round next week to do mine and wasnt even asked...!

VEs are Vaginal examinations. Some people say they are more painful than contractions - i dunno as i have never had one. A lot of people seem to think that sweeps are only helpful if your baby is just about ready to be born - i.e. low down, otherwise they think they are painful and unnecessary. Am sorry, i can't remember the threads i saw the conversations on (and obviously they are only other people's opinions) but after having gone through some un necessary painful interventions when i had a miscarriage i think that a sweep and VE is something i'd have a problem with. If you feel uncomfortable about a procedure you have every right to say no to it - even when it's not presented to you as though you have any option but to do it!

Oh i feel so silly for not knowing that! ;) I had 2 sweeps with my second, didnt hurt at all, just REALLY uncomfortable (and undignified) but i dont think it did much help. I was worried I had missed some new info that they werent good for you or something! I thought i had read somewhere about possible infection but not sure where i read it...

Absolutely. I refused them, didn't think there was much evidence for them. I was induced at 40+12 after waters breaking at 40+11.

I had a failed sweep with DD2 - as in they couldn't reach anything. I was still booked for induction at +15 without any suggestion that they had to try again on the sweep (actually DD2 came along on her own in the end).