What the earliest you can have a sweep?

[PSL1990]

I am booked for a c section at 40+5 if I've not gone into labour before then. My preference is a vaginal birth but as I've got bad SPD, I'm not going to push back the planned c section date, I'm in too much pain. I want to maximise my chances of going into labour before 40+5 and I want to know the earliest a hospital could let me start having sweeps. I know a sweep won't necessarily start labour but I'm willing to try it. My last baby was born at 40+12 and ended in an EMCS.

I have a similar history to you in that previous delivery was EMCS at 42 weeks following failed delivery at 40+12, and I’m now 38 weeks, booked in for a section at 40+6 and will see what happens before then. My consultant has signed me off for sweeps from 39 weeks, which I think makes sense as it’s the earliest they’d want to do a section at barring other medical reasons.

Sorry, failed induction - clearly a failed delivery!

I had no medical reason for induction/early sweeps so my midwife was happy to do one after 40 weeks with my second. Had them at 38 weeks with my first as was stuck in early labour with strong contractions for days and it was to try to get it established (second one worked).

Earliest they say is around 38 weeks... But every midwife is different so it's all down to them. Some will do it then and some won't untill 40 weeks
I've been told by my consultant to Ask my midwife to do one at 38 weeks for me. I was either 38 or 39 weeks with dc2 when I had a sweep it did sweet FA.

@MyCatScaresDogs are timings are v similar! I worry that with a c section booked for 40+5, I've not given myself a proper shot at spontaneous labour given my last baby was born at 40+12. I mentioned this to my consultant (who originally suggested booking the c section for my due date!) but she didn't seem concerned. Did you talk about this at all with your consultant? I'm not sure whether mine actually thinks I have a chance at spontaneous labour before 40+5 or whether those timings just suit the hospital better

I've been offered one at 37 weeks by my consultant (am currently 35 weeks) but baby is breech at the moment so that depends on him turning!

@PSL1990, I asked for 40+7 but no availability so went for 40+6. My rationale is that I’m very half-hearted about VBAC but the thought of booking a section before due date just made me feel really sad. However, a presentation scan for suspected breech revealed that baby is quite large and my understanding is the likelihood of VBAC (never mind a straightforward VBAC) goes down after 41 weeks, plus I don’t fancy trying to push a ten pounder out. So this seemed like a good compromise.

Consultant would have been happy to do it at any point between 39+1 and 40+10, I think...

@MyCatScaresDogs I was just the same actually - not 100% on board with VBAC but didn't want to book before due date. My first baby was 9lbs5oz and this baby is already measuring big at the end of the second trimester. I'd not heard about the 41 week mark for VBAC but down make sense, I guess same way as with a first time natural birth. Will you start sweeps at 39 weeks?

@PSL1990, my midwife has offered but my view is no - if the baby decides to come of his own accord, fine, but I’m not keen to do anything to tip it one way or another. I’m being quite “whatever will be, will be” at the moment. I have said I’d like her to examine me to get a sense of whether things might be imminent or not, but nothing further. That’s for me personally rather than a recommendation though!

How about you?

I got the impression they would happily have left me to go to 40+10 or 40+12 but I know I would refuse induction and I’m concerned about the baby’s size (77th centile but tummy looks big...) hence me not wanting to go past 41 weeks. I don’t want him to get even bigger!

With dc3 I had one at 37 weeks, 38, 39, 40 blah blah
The bugger was dragged out at 40+16

My dc2 was 40+15

I have late babies