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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Feeling guilt for giving birth at 37 weeks after a sweep

74 replies

AOMum · 07/08/2023 18:03

I have a beautiful 7 week old baby at home and despite this, I am feeling some guilt and worry after her labour.

She is my rainbow baby (I dislike this term but don't have a better term) as I lost my son last year at 33 weeks. As a result, my pregnancy with her was incredibly difficult as I had a lot of anxiety and I was so worried I would not get to take her home. I would go into triage often for heartbeat checks as I was so worried her movement had reduced, even though I feel this was mostly anxiety induced rather than actual reduced movement and I would openly say this to the midwives.

At 37 weeks on the dot, I had another anxious episode, went into triage and as they checked her heartbeat (which was fine!) they noticed I was having some tightenings which I was not feeling. The midwives and a doctor then suggested I have a sweep. I'm not sure why this was suggested to be honest - I think it was that I was having tightenings, I had been on such a journey and my fear of reduced movements. The midwife said "I think you need your baby now, it's been one hell of a journey for you"

I asked if having a sweep at 37 weeks was harmful to the baby. I was reassured that baby was fully developed and from the looks of it, something was happening anyway. I said yes and during the sweep I was told I was 3cm dilated. I had some period cramping until about 5pm in the evening and then everything stopped. I then woke up at 3am with a mild pain, was in hospital at 4.10am where I was 4cm and gave birth at 5.56am. I had an hour and a half labour and pushed for 4 minutes (so quick!). She was born a healthy weight but did have jaundice which she needed to be under the lamp for.

Since then however, I have a lot of guilt. I've read that at a baby born at 37 weeks is at more risk of developmental delays, health issues ect. I'm annoyed that I allowed my anxiety to lead my brain. Lots of questions are now unanswered for me. Did the sweep work? Would I have made it to 40 weeks with tightenings and 3cm dilated or was she on the way anyway? If she was meant be born at 37 weeks I can accept that as it was naturally her journey but I feel guilt if the sweep brought her birth forwards by weeks.

Hoping for some reassuring words of wisdom (please only comments made out of kindness - us mums kick ourselves enough already)

OP posts:

Restinggoddess · 07/08/2023 19:01

Please stop with the guilt - stress isn’t good for anyone, you are overthinking - get counselling if need be

Today I took my 84 year old mother out for her birthday- she was born at 33 weeks in 1939 weighing 3lbs
She is as sharp as a tac and shows no sign of letting up, your little one will be fine - please new mums, calm down and enjoy motherhood

GetOurraMeWay · 07/08/2023 19:02

My best had both her kids at 37 weeks - just went into spontaneous labour. They're both lovely healthy kids.

Allthegoodusernamesareused · 07/08/2023 19:05

My 37-weeker is now a happy, healthy, successful 19 year old.
You have nothing to feel guilty about. Congratulations, enjoy your new baby.

Ladyoftheknight · 07/08/2023 19:06

It sounds like you did the absolute best thing by getting that sweep! You were already dilated and in labour (it's normal to not feel much/anything going on at that stage) and you had a lovely healthy baby.

Have you spoken to your midwife/family about this guilt? If you chat to a HCP and ask to go through your delivery notes with them they can explain that you did nothing wrong, and that birth at 37 weeks is perfectly fine for babies like yours. They can also explain how safe your baby is with you, which you might like to hear.

You have done so well, congratulations x

shivawn · 07/08/2023 19:09

I had multiple sweeps between 39-42 weeks and none of them did anything to encourage labour.

CarolDunne · 07/08/2023 19:10

My maternity hospital in Dublin no longer preform sweeps as they have no scientific evidence that it moves Labour on

donkra · 07/08/2023 19:13

I was induced at 37 weeks after concerns about the pressure in the cord and it has never for a second occurred to me to worry about DC being born "early". 37 weeks is full term and a baby born after labour at 37 weeks is not typically considered unusual or at risk in any way whatsoever.

Olika · 07/08/2023 19:18

I had emergency c-section at 37 weeks with very short notice as they had to bring her out and she has grown to a healthy and energetic 16 month old. Please don't feel guilty about anything. As pp say your baby would have come anyway. She is here now and I am sure you will have amazing time with her. Congratulations

HiCandles · 07/08/2023 19:21

37 weeks isn't early, it's full term. And you were 3cm already, baby was coming at 37 weeks regardless of the sweep!

weegiemum · 07/08/2023 19:22

My 3rd dc was induced at 36+6 as I was becoming increasingly unwell due to pregnancy affecting my kidneys. I was told that it was full term and there wouldn't be any I'll effects and there was none. It was an easy delivery and she was healthy.

She's 19 now and just qualified as a beauty therapist!

RoadSignFool · 07/08/2023 19:28

Please don’t waste another second reading anything about the effect of being born at 37 weeks, no idea where you have found this information but it sounds like your baby is lovely and healthy, congratulations! Your anxiety is understandable but you should take a step back and realise that if it’s not 37 weeks you may be worrying g about, next it will be breastfeeding, or weaning, or sleep patterns, plastic vs wooden toys, screen time, school choice, number of activities- there is always SOMETHING to beat yourself up about as a parent. Try to find ways to stop anxiety getting the better of you, with professional support if needed (after all, it sounds like you got exactly that from the doctor and the midwives when you presented with anxiety).

If it helps, I was born about 6 weeks early and never had any developmental problems - I’m a highly educated professional these days. My friend’s daughter was born at 27 weeks and has just aced the 11+ selective school entry exam and is a lovely young girl.

fuckmyuteruslining · 07/08/2023 19:29

My oldest is 25, I've me5ca shot load of pregnant and new mums in my time. I've met a very few like you who had a sweep and the midwife has said it all looks good and then they've delivered. I've met a metric ton of women who it's done nothing for!
She was on her way, the most this did was help your labour progress effectively,

AngelinaFibres · 07/08/2023 19:33

My eldest son was delivered by elective cesarean at 37 weeks and had jaundice ( stuck in breech position, Christmas days away. They didn't want an emergency over Christmas ). He is 31 this year. 6ft tall, masters degree, straight As at A level, top uni, married to a beautiful American woman who is a doing a PhD, just bought a house, earns lots of money. I had severe hyperemesis and weighed 7 stone when he was born ( no anti sickness drugs then) so breastfeeding didn't work and he had formula from a week old. Oh and I had 17 scans during the pregnancy because they kept finding issues. He was born entirely perfect. Enjoy your beautiful baby Op. All will turn out just fine xx

Neolara · 07/08/2023 19:36

Two of my 3 were born at 37 weeks. Both older teenagers. Both no issues whatsoever. 37 weeks is full term.

Lookingatthesunset · 07/08/2023 19:40

All three of mine were born by elective section at 38+4, so not much later than your little daughter. They all had varying degrees of jaundice (eldest was the worst and only one to have to go under the lamp). They were between 8.7lbs and 9.7lbs. All healthy, happy and in their 20s.

Talk to a HCP. You've had such a difficult journey to get here. Enjoy your baby girl x

Blossomandbee · 07/08/2023 19:43

Please be kind to yourself, you didn't go in demanding a sweep, you were medically advised to. They wouldn't have recommended it if it would have put your baby at unnecessary risk.
At 3cm dilated with tightenings it does sound like you would have gone into labour by yourself very soon anyway, or at least your waters might have gone.
From my experience, sweeps only work if you're about to go into labour anyway. Your body was ready.
Congratulations and enjoy your lovely new baby

maidmarianne · 07/08/2023 19:45

There is very little evidence that sweeps do anything more than slightly speed things up if you're already ready. You were 3cm dilated so you were in the early stages anyway. Maybe it speeded it up by a day or so, nothing more.

I totally understand why you're feeling bad, it's an enormous responsibility bringing another human into the world. But your baby was ready to come out. They weren't premature, some are just ready sooner than others.
And congratulations!

ChequeredPastel · 07/08/2023 19:48

Evidence shows sweeps only work if you were 48 hours from going into labour anyway xx

RagzRebooted · 07/08/2023 19:48

Blahblahgingerbreadlady · 07/08/2023 18:04

Hi, just wanted to say that there is incredibly poor evidence that a sweep brings on labour. It sounds like the baby was coming anyway. I’m so sorry for your loss and congratulations on a beautiful healthy baby.

Agree with this.
I had sweeps with all of mine, none of them within 5 days of the sweeps! I think they only work if you're pretty much there already and even then only to speed it up by like 24hrs if that. It feels like just something they do to make you feel like they're helping!

Sunnysummeragain · 07/08/2023 19:48

You were 3cm dilated and having contractions. Your baby was already on her way.

Congratulations.

Stop reading negative stuff and if you think you may need support from the maternal mental health team seek it soon. I saw someone around the time of both my DCs been born and it was very helpful.

RagzRebooted · 07/08/2023 19:50

Also, I was only 2cm dilated when I got to hospital over 18 hours after labour started, 12 hours after my waters had been broken by the midwife at home and I was 10 days overdue!
Your baby was already coming.

BendingSpoons · 07/08/2023 19:54

I had 3 sweeps with my first. I think the last one kick started labour but it would probably have started soonish anyway. 3cm and tightening definitely sounds like your baby was on its way. Many women try for a sweep and get told it's too closed and they can't do the sweep yet.

Louoby · 07/08/2023 19:58

I wouldn't worry, your birth story can't be changed and you should feel happy you walked away with a healthy baby.
I have 3 children. First baby, sweep failed twice and was induced which also was slow and needed the drip.
Second baby, went into labour naturally 40+5 after two sweeps - one was the day before he was born.
3rd baby, two sweeps and neither worked. He was born 40+12 naturally but 5 days after the sweep.
Please don't feel guilt or sad. 37 weeks is full term, perfectly safe for baby to come then.

LakeTiticaca · 07/08/2023 20:04

My son was born at 37 weeks. He has a masters degree.
Don't worry x

Vick99 · 07/08/2023 20:19

My daughter was born at 37 weeks, after a sweep during which I was told I was 4cm dilated. It's never occurred to me that the sweep caused my labour - my daughter was coming anyway, sweep or no sweep! It may have sped things up slightly, that's all. I've no doubt the same is true for you.

Be kind to yourself - you've been through a lot. The vast majority of 37 weekers will be absolutely fine. Having said that, I'm sitting here cuddling my son who was born at 35 weeks, also worrying about whether he's "normal" - we Mums always give ourselves something to worry about!

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