Midwife couldn’t do the Sweep

12 replies

Jan0107 · 18/07/2018 11:17

Hi, I am 40+1 and mid wife couldn’t reach my cervix when doing the sweep. It was really hurting. And she booked me for an induction after 12 days and another sweep in the middle. Anyone out there who couldn’t do the sweep, yet went in to labour without induction.

OP posts:

Lmj25 · 18/07/2018 14:38

When I was pregnant with my 1st it really hurt when she tried to do the sweep too so she just stopped in the end. I was booked for another a week later but went into labour then day before and had him the day I was due the second sweep a week over due x

mayhew · 18/07/2018 20:10

As a midwife it is quite common that I can't do a sweep
: the cervix is so high and tucked back it's hard to reach (even with my long fingers) . It's so unready for labour a sweep makes no difference
: I can reach it but it's firm and tightly closed . Same as above.
: it's so sensitive that the mother can't bear the sensation. It's not worth suffering for something that is not guaranteed to work.
: woman is anxious and cannot relax her pelvic floor. Same as above.

Most women will go into spontaneous labour by 42 weeks whether or not they have a sweep. Slightly more will if they have a sweep, but not everyone.
Sweeping reduces the likelihood of needing induction at 42 weeks, so it's worth considering if you get to 41.

OpposableThumbs2 · 18/07/2018 20:46

Mine couldn't do a sweep on the first attempt at 40 weeks. A week later she managed to do the sweep and I went in to labour a couple of days later.

Timeisslippingaway · 18/07/2018 20:53

I had a sweep with my first, it was bloody agony. I was 10 days over due and labour started almost straight away I didn't have my baby for another 2 days it was shit. With my second I refused the sweep. I was booked in for induction for when I was 10 days over due. That night I sent my other son to my mother's to sleep over as we had to leave early for the induction but baby decided he wasn't being induced and he came himself. I went into labour at 3am, went to the hospital at 5am and he was born at 8.02am and we were home for 8pm that night. Coincidently he was born 2 minutes later than my appointment to be induced 8am. I was so relieved as I hadn't had the best labour the first time and had heard nothing but bad things about being induced. I would always refuse a sweep if I had another.

SoyDora · 18/07/2018 20:58

Yes, had a sweep and 40 weeks with my first and it was completely unsuccessful... cervix closed and high. It was really painful too. I went into labour naturally at 40+6.
Declined a sweep with my 2nd and had the baby at 40+2. I will decline a sweep with this one too.

Original poster

Jan0107 · 19/07/2018 07:51

Thanks all for your comments.

OP posts:

thismeansnothing · 19/07/2018 08:07

Yup. I had three attempted and failed sweeps as like you she couldn't do any of them as she couldn't reach cervix. The last attempted one was at 42+0!!!!! Went into labour naturally at 42+3

PrincessConsuelaBannanaHammock · 19/07/2018 08:09

Failed sweep at exactly 40 weeks, went in to Labour at 40+4. I had convinced myself by then I was going to need induced as I had no signs at all I was going to go on to Labour! Good luck

Wicket2016 · 19/07/2018 13:19

Hi, I'm in a similar position op (this is my first baby). I had my first sweep last week, couple of days off 40 weeks. It was very painful and didn't make any difference . I had the second on Tuesday and am now 41 weeks. Hasn't made any difference (or not that I can tell, no show etc). The second was less painful, mw said she could feel baby's head and I was 1cm dialated. Have got an induction booked for next week. I've had an easy pregnancy so far and am trying really hard not to be impatient , but the waiting is starting to get me down. I'm so uncomfortable and frustrated. I hope you have more success with yours x

PerditaMacleod · 25/07/2018 13:33

The midwife tried to give me a sweep when I was 6 days overdue, it didn't work but I did go into labour the next day.

Nomad86 · 26/07/2018 19:06

Same thing happened to me. I'm really tall and she said that was why. I ended up in spontaneous labour at 40+10, had a really easy birth with no interventions. Try not to worry, it doesn't mean you'll have to be induced.

Aw12345 · 28/07/2018 13:24

Just had this same thing... I'm being induced on my due date (consultant has advised against going over this date) so had an attempted sweep at 39 weeks. Baby's head nowhere near pelvis, not possible to do sweep. MW said may be better to give up on induction and just go straight to caesarian. Sigh. Only 1 week to go to try and get this baby on the move.

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