Do early sweeps ever really work?

[kaymondo]

I'm 36 + 6 with DC2 and am trying for a VBAC after a failed induction at 42 weeks with DS.

Saw the registrar at the hospital last week and she's said that my community midwife can give me sweeps from 37 weeks to increase the chance of me going into labour on my own. I'll give it a whirl as I really want to avoid another section but am not that convinced that it will do much - had 2 sweeps last time and they did nothing, despite me being v overdue, so can't see how doing one 3 weeks before my due date is going to help.

Would be interested in hearing other people's experiences though and would LOVE to be proved wrong!

Hi, I had one on Saturday at 38 weeks and nothing.....I felt a bit crampy but since then no other symptoms at all. I swear I had more before the sweep. Ive read so much into them and from what I can sumise, your baby will come when s/he is ready, regardless of the sweep...having said that, good luck and I hope yours works out for you!!!

I ha a sweep Friday everything sounded so promising 60% effaced and 2-3cm dialated but stretched to 5, still sat here now with baby happily playing ping pong with my bladder!!!

I have no evidence, but I believe baby will come when ready too.

The human body is an amazing thing, and "knows" what to do.

Hello - As Oneofmyturnscoming on says, the human body is amazing, and will know what to do. I hate to be negative, but I am not convinced by sweeps. My first pregnancy was 2 weeks overdue. At 41 weeks I had 3 sweeps, each 2 days apart (I think) and it did not work.

This time for medical reasons i was swept at 38 weeks to try and bring things on. 3 bloody times, 2 days apart again. On the first and second attempt, as soon as my very matter of fact, and experienced midwife did not proceed as she said they could only attempt a sweep if the cervix was ready, slightly open. On the third attempt my cervix was apparently 1cm open. It STILL did not work. Grrr. I did EVERYTHING to try and get things going. I think the body will go when it's good and ready. Also, my cervix was 'compromised' having had surgery 1 year before, and I was told I would not reach full term. I went into premature labour at 24 weeks, where they found my poor old cervix to be soft and low down or whatever, and quite ready (they kept him in there). Considering the poor battered old thing had been through the wars, it still saw off those sweeps.

Why did your induction fail? Is there anything you could do maximise the chances of it working this time so you can have a VB? I've been induced twice, and the second time it didn't go to well at first (took 2 days) and they tried to get me to have a CS, but I declined - luckily all was well with the baby so i was in a position to refuse. x

Induction failed as just didn't progress past 2cm, despite having pessary, ARM and on the drip for as long as they allowed - 2 days of it before the decision was made that c-section would be best and TBH by that point I was 40+16 and tired and just wanted baby out. Like I say, I had 2 sweeps last time to no avail so am not confident of early ones doing any good, but am working on the basis that I've got nothing to lose so may as well try it. I am convinced that my only realistic chance of a vbac is if I go into labour naturally - at this stage I haven't decided whether I will opt for another induction if it comes to it or just go for a ELCS. Felt like I had the worst of both worlds last time with long, tiring and painful labour and then long painful recovery too!

Meant to say, I tried to stay active, stood up and on birthing ball, no pain relief other than gas and air so I'm not really sure that there is anything else I could have done to help things progress. If anyone knows of anything else I could have done then would be good to know for this time!

I think it depends. I honestly think a sweep will only work if your body is ready anyway. Obviously that varies from woman to woman.

The other worry with a sweep is that it could start things off BEFORE your baby is ready to come (perhaps she/he is in the wrong position) which could cause complications.