Sweeps at 38wks and 39wks - How effect ? (Hoping to avoid induction

[TanE]

Hi I have gestational diabetes with my third pregnancy (never had it before) and would love to hear from those who have had sweeps at 38 & 39 wks. Just how effective are they?

I have sweep booked for 38wks +6 and another booked for christmas eve (39wks +4). Consultant has said that as third child and near due date they should be effective anywhere from 6-48hrs after sweep - although she said 2nd attempt was most likely !

Anyone been through this process? Otherwise it's induction for me on 27th December.

1st born at 41wks and 2nd born at 40wks, hoping this one follows pattern and makes it here a week early to avoid induction

TMI....... but nipple stimulation might do the trick and bring the baby early. I advised a relative of this and her baby came a couple of days later and my DS came the same night!

I'm sure there are other threads about it.

Haven't had sweeps but SIL has and she said although it's uncomfortable, it's fine and she took MIL with her to chat to during the procedure.

Have you tried sex, too?

I had a sweep because my contractions weren't very effective with my first and it hurt.

Hi TanE, got my first sweep tomorrow at 38 weeks exactly so will let you know if it works! Personally not holding out much hope as head still not engaged. hope yours goes well x

I had a sweep with my 2nd at 40 weeks and baby came the next day...
I did also have sex, a long walk, a hot curry and a clary sage bath - so not sure which worked best!
I was up for trying as much as possible having managed to hold baby in for xmas so he was born on NYD!

Thanks ladies just hoping to avoid induction.
Will be trying all methods possible once my parents arrive from Spain on Wednesday to look after my two little boys .

hello
I had sweep at seven days overdue.It was quite uncomfortable but bearable. I have since found out that they can (probably should) offer gas and air for the proceedure. having said that, it really seemd to work asI walked out of the Consultants room cramping, (about 3pm) by midnight i could not sleep due to irregular contractions and by the next day (midday) was having regular strong contractions.

I was personally grateful for the sweep as it did seem to have a definate cause and effect (iyswim) and i avoided induction.

I think it the efficacy may depend on how skilled the person doing it is. My friend had one done by the midwife and she said she couldnt really 'feel' as she did it. (not saying allmidwives are not good at the proceedure but just that different people may do it more or less aggressively -prob not a good term but can't think of a better one lol!).

Good luck!

Well I am not sure about this before term in fact it might be dangerous, but I was over due and nearing an induction and my midwife (homebirth) gave me 2 spoons of castor oil and boy did it work had tummy cramps with diarrahoe for the night and my labour began the next morning.

It doesn't work for everybody though.

And it was 2 table spoons washed down with orange juice. Can still taste it now eewwww!!!

No no no no dont have sex! It started my contractions and I had them for 4 and a half days before I actually went into labour!!! Was pretty f**ked by the time the baby came

TanE - just thought I'd update you, had my sweep on Friday (it hurt but not as bad as I thought it would be - certainly not bad enough for me to need gas and air or anything) and had a show and a bit of bleeding since. Head was partially engaged and consultant swept against the babies head which is apparently the most successful way of doing it, but only possible if head low enough. Had lots of braxton hicks but nothing regular so looks like it's still induction on thursday for me. I was 1cm dilated when sweep done and cervix soft but posterior, consultant said that having the sweep done would mean the induction would be quicker and more effective if it didn't lead directly to labour. Hope yours works first time and we both have our babies soon

Toomanyshoes,

Thanks for the update fingers crossed things start moving for you shortly. Will think of you when I have my sweep on Wednesday -hopefully we can both avoid induction

sweeps only work if cervix is ready i think. the one i had in early labour definitly sped things up though. good luck

sweep did'nt work for me as my cervix just was'nt ready and that was 6 days overdue... i would say just like having a smear test, maybe uncomfortable but should'nt be painful as such...but by that stage you would do nearly anything to kickstart things!