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Childbirth

How likely is a sweep to work at 41 weeks & 2nd pregnancy?

34 replies

inadreamworld · 14/01/2013 22:53

Midwife coming to do a sweep on Wednesday when I will be 41 weeks. This is my 2nd pregnancy. I was induced on the drip at 40 + 8 with DD. Waters started leaking and I didn't go into labour naturally. I would like to avoid the drip again if possible as it was very painful and I had a pph (over a litre of blood) which I think is more likely when you are induced.

I am worried that the sweep will just give me period pains and be really uncomfortable and won't actually make me go into labour. So my question is - how likely is it to work and should I bother?

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Report

Wuxiapian · 24/01/2013 09:37

Almost 48 hours since sweep and still nothing.

Feeling pretty disheartened.

inadreamworld · 24/01/2013 08:23

Thanks Starlight!! If I ever have another baby then I will think very carefully before accepting induction as 2nd labour so easy compared to first.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 23/01/2013 13:46

OMG, Missed your announcement!

Massive Congratulations. Ooooh, a lovely squidgy snuffly newborn - Yay!

StarlightMcKenzie · 23/01/2013 13:45

Perhaps, but I think induction is more likely with a sweep, because if things are triggered but don't go smoothly because of bad timing, then they need to intervene.

If nothing is happening, then nothing 'bad' is happening either, so you can simply refuse induction on the basis that time is not a medical reason.

inadreamworld · 23/01/2013 13:35

Starlight has a point - it worked for me but I could have been just lucky. But I really really wanted to avoid induction on the drip which I had with 1st baby.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 23/01/2013 09:33

I wouldn't bother. In fact, more than that, I would actively decline if you are hoping for an optimal outcome.

Don't interfere with your body. It knows what it is doing. If labour isn't triggered it could be for a variety of reasons, but most likely because the baby isn't in the right position to put the triggering pressure on your cervix.

If you have a sweep and it tells your body that the baby is in the right position when he isn't, they labour could be longer and more difficult. Also, you risk both infection and waters breaking, and waters breaking with your baby in a terrible position is also something to avoid.

inadreamworld · 22/01/2013 22:57

Hi Wuxia Let us know if it works - mine took just over 48 hours to work (unless I was going to go into labour anyway). I remember midwife said cervix was soft and 1cm open and that she could feel baby's head. She also said she was famous among her midwife team for her success rate at getting women into labour!!!

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Wuxiapian · 22/01/2013 17:51

Hi again.

How are you and baby doing, Inadreamworld?

After much umm-ing and ahh-ing, I decided to have the sweep. It was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. She said cervix was 1cm dilated and forward, but couldn't feel baby's head and that he's still only 4/5ths engaged. Tut.

She's booked me in for induction this Sunday if no progress, so I have only 4 days, effectively, for this boy to make his moves!!

Is there anything I can do to aid sweep?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

inadreamworld · 22/01/2013 14:40

Good point about waters - she didn't bust mine......I would have the sweep as better than induction....good luck and please report back!

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Wuxiapian · 22/01/2013 09:16

Inadreamworld, I have my MW appointment at 1230 today, at 41.2w and I'm thinking to have the sweep.

Her nails are long and it is my concern that she'll bust my waters...

HandMini · 21/01/2013 21:37

Worked for me, first contraction about an hour after sweep at 41 weeks. The sweep did hurt in my case and caused a bit of bleeding.

It did however start a long slow early labour which was knackering. Don't know if that would have been the case anyway (first baby) but I did afterwards think it might have been swifter if I had allowed things to begin at their own oace rather than forced things to get things started with the sweep.

inadreamworld · 21/01/2013 21:26

Thanks everyone - I would try the sweep Wuxia perhaps leave it until 41 weeks plus so it has the best chance of working.....and my midwife had longish nails (and a lovely french manicure) even though they are supposed to cut them short I always wonder if this had something to do with it.....

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CointreauVersial · 20/01/2013 21:04

Oh well done! So much easier if it starts naturally rather than chemical induction. Congratulations!

ClairesTravellingCircus · 20/01/2013 20:57

Congratulations Inadream, glad it all went as you hoped for! Enjoy those newborn cuddles

Wuxiapian · 20/01/2013 20:35

Not contributed to thread, but followed as I'm questioning whether to have sweep with overdue DC2 myself.. But, anyway, Congratulations!!

inadreamworld · 20/01/2013 20:32

DD2 born early yesterday morning after a 4 hour labour, only just got to hospital in time! I eat my words of the previous post - the sweep definitely worked!!!!

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BouncyPenguin · 19/01/2013 03:39

Had sweep at 41 weeks for 2nd pregnancy. Labour started within 48 hrs.

ClairesTravellingCircus · 19/01/2013 02:55

Inadream

It may be a sign tha things are getting started though. I had on and off pains for aweek before I went into labour. That's probably why sweep worked so well.

Fingers crossed for you!

Sossiges · 18/01/2013 21:51

Had sweep in the afternoon and baby by the morning (did lots of other stuff too). Was reluctant to have it as didn't want any interference but was painless and seemed to work.

inadreamworld · 18/01/2013 20:56

Had mild period type pains all day. Got excited when they began as thought labour might start. They have got a lot less now and almost wish I hadn't bothered with the sweep - seems to just have caused a bit of discomfort but not done anything. Roll on induction next week!!

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poshfrock · 16/01/2013 14:54

Worked for me. Sweep at 7pm. First contraction at 12.30am. DD born 3am.

inadreamworld · 16/01/2013 14:20

Won't get induction until Monday at the earliest (40 +12) so a few more days left!!

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CointreauVersial · 16/01/2013 13:19

Good luck!

inadreamworld · 16/01/2013 13:17

Thanks everyine fliss will probably go with induction to be on the safe side. Midwife says they are not allowed to give you such a high dose of the drip in 2nd and subsequent pregnancies due to risk of hyperstimulation of the uterus. So maybe it will be a bit easier this time! But good news you went into labour naturally so there is still hope for me yet!

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CPtart · 16/01/2013 12:06

Worked for me. Had sweep eight days overdue and gave birth later several hours later and very quickly too!

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