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

Original poster

40 week appointment - sweep concerns

17 replies

pinkflamingo561 · 07/10/2020 10:55

I'm 40 +3 and have my 40 week appointment this afternoon.

I've decided I don't want a sweep yet, due to low success rates, concerns over bleeding and waters being broken, and would rather wait another week to see if baby comes of their own accord.

Can they examine me to see how dilated I am without doing a sweep? Will they try and convince me to have the sweep?

OP posts:
ImaSababa · 07/10/2020 12:02

I was given one without my consent during an examination, so make sure you say you DON'T want one!

Original poster
pinkflamingo561 · 07/10/2020 12:19

@ImaSababa

I was given one without my consent during an examination, so make sure you say you DON'T want one!
This is what I'm worried about. I'll just make sure I categorically say that I don't want one.
OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 07/10/2020 12:20

Yes categorically state you do not consent to a sweep.

Ask them what your bishops score is.

slidingdrawers · 07/10/2020 12:37

There has to be a rationale to do a vaginal examination on a non labouring woman. Your midwife may be prepared to do one for "maternal choice" however she may not if you decline a sweep.

Original poster
pinkflamingo561 · 07/10/2020 12:56

Thank you. I'll ask and see what she says.

OP posts:
MrFlibblesEyes · 07/10/2020 13:09

I had my exam at 40 weeks exactly and the midwife said that she wouldn't recommend doing one as I was showing no signs of being ready for labour and would only do one if I insisted! Baby came naturally at 40+5 with no sweeps

Original poster
pinkflamingo561 · 07/10/2020 16:28

She asked if I wanted a sweep and I said no. She did however then say I wouldn't get one at 41 weeks due to covid, which I hadn't realised. I didn't ask about the examination as I was then just worrying I'd made the wrong decision.

OP posts:
Viletta · 08/10/2020 01:28

@pinkflamingo561 I'm 40+4 with a home birthing team. Also decided to decline induction and sweep. Mw said not to worry and chill till week 42. If nothing then I can do a sweep or induction or just carry on with monitoring. Really hope for a natural labour, so far I've got no signs of it coming. How are you getting on?

sarahc336 · 08/10/2020 06:21

I don't think they do routine examinations anyway. Only a sweep with an added oh your cervix is feeling xyz etc
You don't need a sweep if you don't want to xx

Original poster
pinkflamingo561 · 08/10/2020 08:59

Mine has already given me an induction date for 42 weeks. She said I don't have to have it though.

OP posts:
MeadowHay · 08/10/2020 09:05

Sorry to say but I also had one without consent. I was 39+6 at the appt and I was in early labour already. The midwife suggested she do an exam and a sweep to move things along. I said I would like an exam to see what's going on but I wasn't sure about whether I wanted a sweep. She was all breezy like "ok well let's just have a look first and then we can see what's what". She then examined me and did the sweep, before telling me I was 2cm and hopefully the sweep will have helped speed things up. I was in shock tbh and so was my DH. I think the only reason I didn't feel utterly violated was because I convinced myself that I actually would have consented to it anyway once she'd told me I was dilating. Not that that excuses her behaviour.

shittingthreeeyedraven · 08/10/2020 09:06

I was given a sweep without consent and was highly distressed by it. Do make sure you clearly say in advance out loud. I had it in my notes and she did it anyway. Then when I complained to PALS, denied it and nothing was done. It’s outrageous how we lose our consent as pregnant women. Just be explicitly clear what you do and do not want to happen to you

shittingthreeeyedraven · 08/10/2020 09:34

Sorry OP, I didn’t mean to scare you or worry you. Just be aware that midwives can have a tendency to do first and ask later xx

Original poster
pinkflamingo561 · 08/10/2020 10:01

Don't worry, she asked first so I didn't have it. I didn't get an examination either though, but I didn't ask whether I could have the examination without the sweep.

OP posts:
Viletta · 08/10/2020 11:22

@pinkflamingo561 hope things will start naturally before your induction! My 42 weeks fall on the weekend. Midwife said they would prefer to induce on 40+10 so that I have a couple of days and the baby is out by 42w. I think I would prefer a monitoring at 42+10 and induction at 43+2 or so if nothing is happening.

slidingdrawers · 08/10/2020 11:43

OP, I'm sure your midwife has mentioned this already so you can make an informed choice that there is good quality evidence that inducing at 41 weeks as opposed to 'waiting' reduces stillbirth rates, neonatal unit admissions and caesarean sections.

Make sure you keep a close eye on movements going forward.

Original poster
pinkflamingo561 · 08/10/2020 19:41

@slidingdrawers thank you. I have done some research, and there is a reduction in stillbirth rates etc, but it doesn't seem by that much.

OP posts:
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