Sweep?

[sparklekitty]

Ok, seeing mw tmrw. I will be 38+5. I am having a big baby (97th centile on all the charts) and been having cramps, some contractions, loose bowels etc for just over 2 weeks (mw raised eyebrows and double checked mum and DH were around at last appointment and left saying I might not see you again)

What are the chances of her giving me a sweep? I'm desperate to get this LO out. Will she refuse until after DD and am I just being stupid trying to hurry things on? I've not slept properly for almost 3 weeks now coz of pains/pre labour-y type symptoms and I'm fed up :(

Is this your first baby? Just wondering about the size. It can be really wrong. I was measured as having a HUUUUGGGE baby, well over 9lbs, probably get stuck - was in fact 6lb.

Personally I think it is madness to rush it - sorry. Babies come any time from 38 to 42 weeks - depending on your cycle - the idea anything over 40 weeks is late is utterly daft. Your baby knows the right time. Trust your body and baby is my advice. I was 42 weeks when I asked for my first sweep - I had 3 and an acupuncture induction in the end and baby came in own swwet time. It will happen.

AFAIK in our area they would say no until at least the due date.

Yes, is it your first baby? Everyone I know who had growth scans had babies at least 1/2 pound off what was predicted. One was told she had a big baby and got a 7lber

Hiya, just chipping in to say I've had a sweep today at 37+5 weeks as have been having growth scans (they were thinking baby was small but now think she's normal) but I'm in so much pain and they just offered me one as classed as full term so I took the opportunity, nothing happening as yet but have been booked in for an induction in a week at 38+5 if she's not here by then, guess it just really depends on your consultant - I have already been induced twice at 39 weeks tho so that may be why they offered it to me early again x

I was told DS was 9 1/2 - 10 1/2lbs.

He was 11lb 7oz.

I doubt you'll get a sweep until 40w, doesn't sound like you need it anyway.

I had a sweep at 38wks as I had a previous biggish baby and shoulder dystocia during delivery. They were adamant this ds2 wasn't going to be big but I kicked up a fuss and had a sweep.

It didn't work and he was born a week later after induction weighing 8lb3oz

It depends on the midwife. I was offered one with dd2 at 37+4 I was ill at the time and previous baby was 6lbs 15oz at 40 weeks (and I was measuring on the small side again!)

To be fair when she saw the weight if my previous baby she said 'maybe not I could get killed'

Other midwife wasnt that keen at 39+4 but I insisted at that point....

I'm 39+4 with DC2 and my consultant refused to do anything until I'm 10-12 days overdue!
So I've booked in to see the midwife at the GP next week and am hoping she'll do a sweep. I assumed that from 40 weeks you could be induced/ have a sweep by choice but it seems to differ per consultant/ midwife then.

Yeah this is my first. I figured they'd probably say no. Not going to kick up about it, just wondered if they might offer. Been having labour type symptoms every night for the past 3 nights, starts in the evening then seems to stop around 1am-ish. I'm in pain with sdp and just fed up.

I know she'll come when she's good and ready and I shouldn't rush her. I guess I'm feeling anxious about her size. I know the weight is pretty dodgy but last scan (36 weeks) all her leg/tummy/head measurements were very top of average. I'm quite small and DH is very tall so think she probably will be on the large size.

Fingers crossed for natural labour soon

If you're worried about size then asking the midwife if she thinks it's a big baby when she palpates can provide some extra insight. DS was measuring about 9 lbs but my midwife correctly thought he'd be much lower after she'd had a good prod.

I was offered a sweep yesterday at 40+1 I turned it down as I just didn't think it would help either physically or psychologically. I was 2 cm when I had my first sweep with DS and everyone kept telling me the baby would come within hours, it took 8 days and the drip!

I have one booked for next week with my community midwife, but still hoping I won't need it.

I've also been having lots of contractions each evening so know how annoying it is, but just hang on on there the end really is in sight.

Thanks. I asked the mw last time I saw her and she said that she thought it was a fairly big baby (although not as big as the scan suggested). I guess its just a waiting game now, I am not the most patient of people so finding it all quite frustrating!

Your baby is not 'late' at 40 weeks - induction carries many MANY risks - often played down due to increased, but still minute, risks of going 'overdue'.

Yeah mw said they do sweeps anytime after 41 weeks, not before. Not measuring ahead of dates when measured bump so I'm becoming less worried about size. Think maybe she's long as apposed to wide iyswim.

I know she's not 'late' till 40+14, I also know that she'd be perfectly safe and healthy if she arrived now and I'd rather have her now rather than later.

I do understand the impatience, but having been induced, even and having had a pretty straight forward event free induction compared to many, I'd say just hang on in there.

I'm not up for full on induction tbh, I would rather wait. My mum was induced with me so I know it is sometimes not the most pleasant experience. I guess I just want something to help things on the way.

I wouldn't 'help things on their way' tbh. Sweeps also carry risks.

1. Risk of infection
2. Risk of waters breaking which can mean both that within 24 hours you'll be expected to be on a drip.
3. Risk of waters breaking meaning that the baby doesn't have the waters to get into the optimal position.
4. Risk of the waters breaking meaning that the labour will be more painful earlier on as the head bangs directly on the cervix.
5. Risk that labour is triggered with the baby in less than ideal position, causing a higher level of pain during labour and a longer labour.

All these above risks, increase the chances of other interventions, which carry higher risks.

To me, these risks were worth avoiding regardless of my impatience.