40+4 Booked for induction today but wanted to know if it’s usual to have a sweep first?

[daphine2004]

Hi, I’m booked for IOL today and 40+4. This is my second pregnancy and I had a sweep with my first which did the job.

I’m booked in today as my BMI is high, but I’ve had a very healthy pregnancy - baby is measuring around 13th centile (sp?)
and has been subject to growth scans, but consultants happy with this.

As such I wondered if anyone had requested and received a sweep before the pessary as I’d like to have as little intervention as possible. I know nothing is guaranteed and I’ll do what I feel is appropriate with regards to pain (just G&A last time), but hoping that I can have a sweep today, come home which means another night with my 4YO and then go back tomorrow for pessary if nothing happens. I’ll obviously have this chat with them today, but it’s nice to read others’ experiences.

Thanks.

I’ve always had a sweep at a few days overdue. I tend to cook them for at least ten days longer than term though and a sweep has, frustratingly, never worked for me. You don’t have to agree to induction if you don’t want it, if your body’s not ready it can be a long slog. I’ve had two inductions. My first baby and my third. First was awful, though it could have been anyway as she was back to back, but the pain of induction led me to an epidural so on my back and bonchance of her turning. My third was a wonderful quick water birth. It’s worth an ask if you’d like to try a sweep first, take someone with you who can advocate for you if like me you’re a bit of overwrought when you’re overdue!

@AwkwardAsAllGetout my first was back to back throughout, but fortunately I managed to get him to turn whilst in the pool. It really could have been such a different experience if he had not changed position.

I was offered a sweep at 39+4, but in the back of my mind I also had that we are so close to September and those pesky school dates! First world problem I know, so I’m hoping that an extra day should be okay as long as they’re happy baby is fine.

@daphine2004 you can always request things because it's your rights as it's your body and theres no harm in trying.
I had a water birth with my daughter who's now 8. She was back to back and didnt turn in the water for me but still managed a natural water birth without any pain relief and was in a midwife led unit so no interventions given which I didnt want anyway.
This time however I'm consultant led and have to be in a hospital as 5 years ago I became unwell.they said I wouldnt be able to get pregnant again but some how, by some miracle I'm expecting a little boy. But I'm on chemotherapy and quite a few other things as i have serious health problems, so no midwife led unit for me this time. Fingers crossed i can still have a natural birth though which they said hopefully i should as i have had a natural birth before. Good luck with everything and like I said just ask. I'm a nurse and we always try to do what the patient wants whenever possible. Xx

Was your BMI healthy with your first pregnancy?
Are they inducing you because you're high risk?
If so they won't do the sweep first.

Pregnancy was fine last time and no issues with BMI. I was offered a sweep this time but felt it was a tad earlier than I felt comfortable with.

Anyways, I agreed with the midwife yesterday that is have the induction as they use a hormone which stays in for 24 hours and it’s slow moving. However, for me, it went in at 16:24, was removed due to the intensity and I had him at midnight as there was no time for pain relief!!

Thanks for your advice.