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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Not sure about 2nd sweep

11 replies

hotcrumpets · 15/08/2007 18:30

I am 40+4 today and had a sweep on Monday, which has obviously not worked

I am booked in for another one on Friday, but DP will be working about 4hrs away that day and i'm not sure about risking going into labour with him that far away. DD was only 6hrs start to finish and I would be really upset if he missed it.

Has anybody got any experience of going straight into labour that they feel was a direct relation to having the sweep?

My midwife was really surprised the first one didn't work, she said I was already 3cm dilated with less than 1cm of cervix left and she could touch the babies head and waters. Does that sound like labour is going to be pretty soon anyway? If so I think I might just not bother with the sweep, on the other hand I don't want to get to 40+10 and have to start fending off induction talk as I am having a home birth.

Arrgghhh what to do!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

gegs73 · 15/08/2007 18:34

I had two sweeps.

The first one I think started labour off slightly, as I had period like pains then got contractions around 20 hours later. They gave me a second one was when I was about 3/4cm dilated and I did have DS2 within about 6 hours of this, but think it would probably have happened within that time anyway. I don't think the sweep would set you off really quickly unless you were already starting labour with contractions but not 100%. Good luck.

DaisyMOO · 15/08/2007 18:40

What about asking to have a sweep on Saturday instead, you could offer to go into the hospital to do it if necessary? I personally probably wouldn't risk the sweep if your dh is going to be a fair distance away. I bet you'll have gone into labour waaaay before 40+10

Original poster

hotcrumpets · 15/08/2007 18:48

gegs, I had some period pains after the first one but then nothing...

Daisy, hadn't thought about that, might give her a call and ask

or maybe she might do it tomorrow instead of Friday? is there a certain amount of time they have to leave in between sweeps i wonder?

OP posts:

hayley2u · 15/08/2007 19:01

when i had my sweep with ds1. i went into labour in the early hours of next day. could your dp not take the day of just in case, i know id be gutted as my dp works away and i' lways scared i'll go into labour when he away.
maybe you could try some natural methods before that as you sound on your way to it anyway

MrsScavo · 15/08/2007 19:06

I had a sweep Which didn't work, at 40 + 6, despite me being 4cm, and the midwife having a really good streatch. I wanted a home bith, so didn't go into hostpital at 40 + 10, but decided to hang on. I went into labout that night, and DD was born at 40 + 11

NineUnlikelyTales · 15/08/2007 19:10

I am surpised your MW wanted to do a sweep, given that you were not even remotely overdue on Monday.

It sounds to me like your labour will be soon, your body is definitely preparing itself very well.

A sweep will only work if you would have gone into labour within 24 hours anyway, so if it were my decision I would not have the second sweep until it was really necessary. Sweeps carry the risk of breaking the waters and also introducing infection. In my case it gave me 24 hours of niggly contractions starting 5 minutes after the sweep began, which left me exhausted when labour proper began.

Best if luck whatever you decide

DaisyMOO · 15/08/2007 19:15

I think if they work they're supposed to do so within 48 hours - might be a bit risky if you'd like to avoid going into labour on Friday.

sushipaws · 15/08/2007 20:06

I went into labour an hour after my second sweep, but it didn't get serious until 12 hours later.

Good Luck

Original poster

hotcrumpets · 15/08/2007 20:17

I've just spoken with DP and he has managed to change his rota that day so he will only be about 45mins away

Think I will go with the sweep, I think she offered so early because she knows how much I don't want to be induced and is trying to keep me from being hassled by the hospital.

Incidently I had to go to the hospital the other day for some monitoring and was told by one of the midwifes there that they are not really busy at the moment and if I asked could probably be induced now if I wanted so I think they might be a bit induction happy at my hospital.

OP posts:

hayley2u · 15/08/2007 20:39

hotcrumpets thats great news, one less thing for you to worrry about now, good luck xxxx

NineUnlikelyTales · 15/08/2007 21:25

Hotcrumpets that is terrible about the hospital offering to induce women unnecessarily I wonder if the women know what a stupid idea this would be?

Look after yourself and good luck

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