Sweep at 39 weeks, is it safe?

[BingBo]

Hi I'm not far from the due date (37+1 weeks). Because of my age (over 40, but 2nd pregnancy), the doctor suggested sweeping at 38/39 weeks and inducing after due date.

I'm not familiar with the sweeping method. Is it really a low risk procedure that can be entrusted to whoever?

What makes us hesitant is that DH and I are (a little bit) short of confidence in the MW at our GP. And plus fear of the risk like infection and etc.

So far this pregnancy has been alright and I've been clear from any complications.

Yes, it is a straightforward and low risk procedure, although not guaranteed by any means to get your labour started!

Hi, I’m 41 and gave birth 3 weeks ago (3rd child). I was so fed up of being pregnant that at my 38 week growth scan (38+4) I asked for a sweep. The consultant did one and the baby came two days later. I also had a sweep with my second child (midwife did that - I was overdue by that point). On both occasions though I’d been having false labour pains for a while- is it seemed to me that my body was pretty ready- the sweep just helped things along.

It is safe, but very unlikely to get you into labour.

Infection is not a problem as the membranes are still intact.

Thanks, ladies!

I wish there's another scan , but they've only offered till 36 weeks. No more from there...

I'm still considering if ending dragging till the due date, shall I take the offer if induced procedure or not... Not sure which way it's best for the baby...

If you mean in terms of technical skill, it’s a very basic procedure and I wouldn’t be particularly concerned about needing a massively specialized person to carry it out, chances are your midwife, however problematic, would manage a sweep just fine.

However, I personally found my experience of a sweep to be very painful and it felt quite violating. This was with a consultant I absolutely trusted in every way. It surprised me hugely to feel this way as I’d never had a problem with smear tests, treatment of miscarriages etc before then. I think I’d find that level of intimate procedure to be quite upsetting if I didn’t have a very positive relationship with the practitioner, so while your midwife is almost certainly perfectly capable, being uncomfortable with her is a good reason to decline if that’s what you decide.

Sweeps are pretty low risk but also fairly low benefit. There is of course the small infection risk but that can be mitigated by hygienic procedures. The evidence that they actually do anything is fairly weak. I’m normally all for accepting medical recommendations but I don’t think I’d bother with a sweep again.

I would however accept the induction offered. The attitude in UK tends to downplay the very real risks of pregnancy at a later age. I’d definitely accept guidance on this. If you strongly want to avoid medical induction, by all means have the sweep - you can ask for your doctor to do it or ask to change midwife - but I’d probably just jump straight to induction if I were you. But that’s entirely personal preference based on my experience of how a sweep made me feel. It’s a very safe and low-risk procedure.

Best wishes. And remember the massive importance of monitoring your baby’s movement at this stage of pregnancy, all the more so due to your age. Don’t hesitate to get any concern checked out.

I had a sweep last week at 38 weeks. Midwife surprised to find I was already 4cm dilated and head funky engaged!

Had some pains start around 3.30, drove to hospital at 5. Into birth pool at 6.30 and baby shot out without even a pushing stage at 7.20!