40 weeks pregnant - sweep booked

[Naomijay]

Hi everyone,

I'm 40 weeks pregnant today and have a sweep booked tomorrow with my midwife. I'm in two minds as to whether I think it is necessary.
I have had no symptoms of early labour or change in how I'm feeling for the past two weeks. Also I'm convinced that my due date in general is early as I usually had longer cycles with my period (every 35 rather than 28 weeks) so I don't want to rush anything.
Also selfishly, I do secretly want him to be a September baby so that we have longer with him and he's a bit more ready for school (although not to point that I'd delay it!)

On the other hand I've heard quite a few positive things about having a sweep at this stage so any balanced advice would be incredibly useful. Has anyone had one already? Considering having one?

Thanks. X

I had a sweep with DS. I'll be honest and say it made me cry. I felt violated and it was incredibly painful. It didn't work and I refused sweeps with my other DC. The MW was horrible and rough and dismissed my tears. She told me that if I found a sweep painful I would suffer in "real" labour.

I understand that if your cervix is ready it may help but I don't believe there is any real evidence that they work.

If you keep the MW and the induction "police" at bay for a few more days, you may get your September baby.

Good luck.

they tried to do 3 with me (DS finally induced at 40+12 and arrived eventually at 40+15!!). They couldn;'t even do a sweep the doors were so firmly closed! I personally found it painful and violated too. I definitely would not do one again this time round.
I think if baby imminent then it can help bring on labour. However, i'd argue if that baby was imminent then you prob don't need a sweep! If baby not ready then i dont think there is any point at all - also wasn't aware until i got to midwife it was possible doors were so closed they might not be able to do and it's since happened to numerous friends too. I'd give it a few more days and see how you feel esp if you'd rather hang on til Sept and think your EDD is early.

Personally i wouldnt have a sweep, especially at 40 weeks, on a technicality you are over due til 42 weeks as a normal pregnancy runs to 42 weeks.

If you are undecided, then i would cancel it. Some reasearch shows they can just cause lots of contractions that aren't achieving anything

Mae sre you are keeping an eye on kicks and movements

40 weeks is due date, no? (DS2 is only 8mo but I'm already forgetting ) seems early to me. At our hospital sweeps are discussed in the prolonged labour clinic, which you get an appointment for once you pass 41 weeks. I opted for a sweep around 41+3 just to give it a go, and because I had trust in my MWs (they've always been very good). Fortunately my experience wasn't negative, not dissimilar to a smear test but without the brushing sensation, a bit weird and uncomfortable in the sense that someone's there but not painful or a difficult experience - I do feel a lot of that comes down to my MW, who was very supportive, gentle, understanding.

It did nothing for me though. They gave me the option of a second sweep at 41+6, my induction was booked for 42+0, and I decided not to bother. I don't think I'd go for it in a future pregnancy if it came to it. Maybe I'm being a bit woo but I do feel like you just sort of know if something is going to happen or not, and I just felt like DS2 wasn't coming 'naturally' (or spontaneously, I guess) and did the sweep because I thought I should, which is a silly reason. With DS1 on the other hand, who was a few days early, I just knew something was going to happen, I could just feel it (pre-contractions).

If you're not confident of it then don't bother. Your baby will come, you're not yet overdue, and if it gets to it I personally found the induction experience quite good - no rushing to the hospital in pain as I was already there!

Good luck

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful. Think I'll give it a miss and think about it for next week.

You can always ask your midwife to examine you before deciding about a sweep. Mine asked if I wanted a sweep on my due date and I suggested she examine me and see whether it was feasible - it wasn't because my cervix was closed and not soft enough. She repeated a week later and was able to do one - not that it has encouraged mine out, I'm booked for induction tomorrow, but I felt it was worth a try.

My midwife was gentle and it didn't hurt - I found it similar to a smear test, but I don't find those too uncomfortable. I think it's more likely to be painful if you're tense or if the midwife persists in trying when your cervix isn't ready.

Had a sweep with first, and wish I had said no (but I didn't know you could say no).

Would not have one again; your choice. You're not overdue yet.

Good luck though, you'll be meeting your baby soon!