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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

membrane sweep

27 replies

wools · 15/10/2006 10:54

I'm 3 days overdue and am having my second membrane sweep this afternoon. I had my first on Wednesday. Has anybody had any positive experiences of going into labour after a sweep. I'm due to be induced on Wednesday and am very keen to avoid it if possible.

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angel01 · 15/10/2006 11:02

hi ya {smile}
i had a sweep then had a show for 3 days,felt contractions then nothing. i was eventually induced 6 days later.
my friend refused induction! and had her baby naturally 20 days later,apparantly they can't make you be induced they just dont tell you there's other options!
good luck!xxxxxxxx

SCARErenity · 15/10/2006 11:02

According to my mw sweeps only work to 'jump' start' labour if your body is ready anyway. Their policy is not to do sweeps until you are at least 7 days overdue.

For what it's worth my experience of sweeps has been mixed - didn't work with DS1 or 2 (he was induced at 10 days over), but it worked with DD (sweeps at 7 and 10 days, born 11 days o/due)

With DD I had a sweep on the monday morning, and woke up about 1.30am on the tuesday morning with contractions - she was born 9.55am Apart from being a bit quicker than DS1, it was no different from that labour.

lulumama · 15/10/2006 11:03

hi - didn;t want to leave you unanswered.....

sweep will work if you are going to go into labour within 24 - 48 hours anyway! did anything happen after the first sweep ....what was the cervix like- dilated at all, effaced, favourable..

lulumama · 15/10/2006 11:03

just x posted with 3 others!!!

SCARErenity · 15/10/2006 11:07

Hang on, just worked those dates out.....

So they gave you a sweep on your due date and want to induce you when you are only 6 days overdue????? Unless there is a solid medical reason (crap placenta, diabetes or whatever) tell them you'll only consider it at 14 days over (or whenever you feel really fed up with being pg ) Don't let them force you into something just because it's 'policy' or convienent for them - your baby, your body.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

Original poster

wools · 15/10/2006 11:09

Thanks everyone.

Lulumama, doc said before 1st sweep that cervix was soft but still long and posterior so I guess I've got some way to go yet. It's slightly dilated but that's because I've had children before - she said I was dilated enough to break my waters so I'm guessing between 1 and 2 cms.

OP posts:

WaitingForGodKnows · 15/10/2006 11:10

Wools, is there a reason why your sweeps are so early?

Original poster

wools · 15/10/2006 11:12

Thanks scareenity - Yes I am being bullied into it somewhat. They wanted to induce me the day of my due date but I managed to get a week out of them. It's all down to my age (42) and hospital policy.

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edam · 15/10/2006 11:12

Did she break your waters? I think if your waters have gone, they have to deliver the baby within a certain timescale - a few days IIRC. Confused about why they are doing this so early though - should be at least a week 'overdue' before they start this sort of thing (and normal length of pregnancy is 38 to 42 weeks so 'overdue' isn't really, IYSWIM).

Original poster

wools · 15/10/2006 11:15

Edam - she didn't break my waters because she knows I'm keen to hang on and give nature a chance. Agree with you - I don't think I'm overdue - my babies are always on the late side in anycase.

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WaitingForGodKnows · 15/10/2006 11:16

Oh FGS (not at you, at hospital policy)

There is no clinical justification to support inducing a woman purely on the basis of her age. What is your mw saying about this? She should be standing up for you. Tell them you will not be needing a sweep until you are 7 days od.

lulumama · 15/10/2006 11:17

if your body is starting the natural labour process - which it is if cervix softening...then they should give you time to go into labour naturally, especially if you have had kids before...did you go overdue...

as edam pointed out a pregnancy can be from 38 -42 weeks and be within the normal range...

ask if you can come in for daily monitoring of the baby instead to check placental function

BEWARE - if you have another sweep, the waters may be broken 'accidentally' , thereby taking the decision out of our hands as to whether you want to be induced .

if you do not feel comfortable, do not have another sweep done...

Original poster

wools · 15/10/2006 11:17

Just to add - it's the hospital policy to induce but all the midwives who I've spoken to there are totally sympathetic towards me and do not think I should be induced. The doctors are a different story though.

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lulumama · 15/10/2006 11:18

well, at least midwives are on side....if our babies are on the late side...refuse the sweep and ask for monitoring of the baby instead....

Original poster

wools · 15/10/2006 11:19

Lulumama - didn't realise that waters could break with 2nd sweep - thanks for warning me. I'm being monitored every other day and I've had a scan to check placenta blood flow and amniotic fluid which was all normal.

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edam · 15/10/2006 11:20

Agree with Waiting, your age is irrelevant. Hospital policy my arse, this is your body and your baby and you aren't truly overdue until 42 weeks (unless you decide you want to get baby out before then).

If they try to tell you they are concerned about baby, tell them to monitor him/her. Then you'll know whether there is actually any reason for concern.

lulumama · 15/10/2006 11:21

if you are having monitoring and all is well... what's the hurry...

Original poster

wools · 15/10/2006 11:23

WaitingforGodKNows - It is very frustrating I agree. I'll have a chat this afternoon with midwives and see if this induction date can be put back.

OP posts:

WaitingForGodKnows · 15/10/2006 11:23

WaitingForGodKnows · 15/10/2006 11:31

NICE guidelines on induction of labour

Original poster

wools · 15/10/2006 11:34

Thanks WFGK - I'll have a look at the guidlines.

OP posts:

mears · 15/10/2006 11:38

wools - I am apalled you are being bullied into induction because of your age. It is absolutely your right to decide whether or not you want induced. The doctors have a responsibility to give you information in order for you to make an informed choice. I cannot see how they have actually done that. Where is their rationale for induction? The monitoring you are having indicates the baby is fine.
Sweeps should only be performed around 41 weeks in order to be successful.

curlew · 15/10/2006 11:58

I was 43 when I had ds and they tried the induction line on me too, but the midwives were very much on my side against the doctors. I was monitored for the last week before my due date and everything was fine. I went 5 days over, then my bp started to rise. I had a sweep at 4.00 in the afternoon, and went into labour at 6.30 the next morning. DS was born at 9.47am - 19 minutes after we got to the hospital. The person doing the sweep said "If you feel anything starting, get here quickly" I heard, but ignored. DS was nearly born in the Canterbury ring road in the rush hour. No different from my other labour - just much much quicker!

firsttimemama · 15/10/2006 12:56

My sweep experience was very positive (in every way). I saw the consultant ob as a routine appt at 40+3. Up until then I had had no signs of labour, no show, no back pain, nothing. The Dr booked me in for induction at 40 +10 (if nothing had happened before then) and asked did I want to try a sweep? - "okay", I said. Sweep was done at 12 noon Friday - pains started at 2:30pm that afternoon (what turned out to be labour pains- I thought it was just cramps at first due to the medalling) contractions all evening/early morning - hospital at 6am baby delivered at 6pm. 1st Baby. I was very happy. I think the consultant had magic fingers - he did say I was 1cm already and that obviously helped. It was a little more painful than I might have imagined and I think that helped also - he was a fella and I think a little more thorough than I imagined a woman might have been, but it certainly did the trick -IMO much preferably to hanging round another week and possible induction.

angel01 · 15/10/2006 13:33

i have to add that although it's "hospital policy" that doesn't mean they can force you to be induced! my friend had the same problem and still refused point blank to be induced so she was monitored daily instead... i think when they realised she wouln't budge and had read the guidelines so knew what she was on about the shut up.

please don't let them bully you! we all have the right to a positive birth/labour!

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