membrane sweeps

[sallyrosie]

I am desperate to go into labour, just fed up with PG and want baby out. I am also desperate to avoid induction, but if they offered to induce me tomorrow would probably go for it just to get the PG over with. 2nd baby, induced at 42 weeks with first.
I am 39 weeks now. Saw MW this morning who totally ignored how I am feeling. At my request she examined me and said cervix is very soft and dilated 1-2cm but still quite posterior and 2cm long.
I asked to go back next week (40 weeks) and have a sweep done but she refused saying that wasn't their policy and they would only see me at 41 weeks.
Why not? What harm would it do to sweep the membranes at term? Any MWs out there able to answer?

sallyrosie - not a mw but I was exactly the same as you (apart from I wasn't induced first time around). I saw mw this time at 39 weeks when she wouldn't even examine me. The next appointment I could have was at 41 weeks when she said she would give me a sweep. Turned out I didn't need one as 2 days before my appointment, labour started.

Ironically, for my first child, I was given a sweep at 39 weeks by my then mw, and again at 41 weeks but I still went 8 days over!

hi -not a midwife - but sounds like cervix 'ripening' now anyway, so by next week, may well have gone into labour or a sweep would be more effective. I had a sweep at 39 weeks ( after crying at consultant's appointment and demanding they get the baby out NOW!!!-- whole other story there though....! ) had show the next day but no baby for another week!!! so they come when ready. a sweep will release prostoglandins - a hormone that helps kick start labour, but was told a sweep would only induce labour if was going to start within 24 - 48 hours anyway ! as my situation shows!! don't be disheartened , can you see a different midwife?

Sallyrose...not a midwife...but I suppose that with any internal examination or sweep there is a some element of risk to introudce germs, which could cause problems!
Also, I suppose in the end it just is better if the Baby comes when it's ready, as otherwise you may face other complictions!