Early sweep - any point?

[Rjd13]

Hi all,

This is my second pregnancy. I've had a 36 week MW appointment today and have been referred for a growth scan as measuring on the 97th percentile.

I had gestational diabetes (boarder line) with DS1 and ended up being induced at 38 weeks due to size only, GD totally diet controlled. Labour was pretty hard going.
Pessaries Monday - Wednesday, only got to 1cm, 3 attempts to break waters, drip, episiotomy, forceps, 2nd degree tear, ongoing issues due to all that 2 years on. DS was 98th percentile, 8lb7 born.

I've already stated to a consultant that I don't want to be induced again due to all the intervention, but at the time of that conversation there wasn't a reason to think I might need to be. I've been tested twice and don't have GD this time.

The midwife was talking today as though early intervention is likely and said I could try an early sweep. Anybody have experience of an early sweep? I just can't see it being effective early when it took so long for the pessaries to get me to 1cm last time and I'm worried about it leading to a similar situation as first birth.

Sorry for the long post, I don't know whether I should push for a section rather sweep. My preference this time has been natural birth in birth centre but looks like that could be out of the window :(

I had a sweep at 37 and 2 days and a second at 37 and 5 days. Lost my plug two days after the first and went into labour the day after the second. Went from 3cm to ds being born in 2 hours.
Best of luck to you

And I should say, I was already 1-2cm at first and 2-3cm at second sweep. They could have broke my waters but there was a queue for that on labour ward so sent me home. This was my second vaginal birth, the first was induction that took 2 days. I think things can progress much quicker second time round.

I really don't get the point of sweeps. They say it's to avoid intervention but it is an intervention in itself. There's very little proof they do anything and a lot of women find them very unpleasant. There is also an increased risk of infection. I refused mine, but you need to do what makes you feel better. Some women feel better thinking they've tried something.

I'd do the sweep. It only takes a few minutes so it's worth a try.

I don’t think they do much unless you’re already making some progress. I had one at 40+3 with DD but was already having contractions. I had 3 sweeps with DS2 (1st one at 39 weeks) and it was only the last one when I was already in labour that did anything.

I think it depends what they mean by early. I was offered (and refused) a sweep at 38 weeks with my first but baby was already 9 and a half pound by then so I just opted for a c section

It’s worth a try, I had one and it done nothing! And can’t say I know anyone who it’s worked for you! You may be a lucky one