Sweep help!

[bronzedproseccolover]

Evening!

I'd like some views on a membrane sweep. It's my first pregnancy, I'm due tomorrow but no sign of baby. Midwife told me on Friday she would like to try a sweep this Thursday ( I'll be 40+2 ) but I'm not keen.

Did anyone else refuse a sweep?

They probably won’t do it at 39 weeks unless permission from the obstetric team as guidelines usually say only from 40 weeks otherwise

@Pipa42 they do, it’s common practice at 39 weeks all you need to do is ask your midwife at your 39 week appointment.

Maybe if your trust have different guidelines (to elsewhere) to say they are allowed without obstetric approval?

Although NICE do now say they can be offered routinely from 39 weeks so guidelines may have been updated to reflect this in some trusts. I don’t think my local trust generally does before 40 weeks but maybe as usually do appointment at 38 and 40 weeks

I declined sweeps (weirdly they offered them from 38+5!) as wanted to give baby the chance to come of her own accord. Had to be quite forceful in declining as the 'later' it got the more the hospital kept warninf about risks of stillbirth. Went into labour without any intervention and baby arrived completely well at exactly 42 weeks.
The dates ren't that reliable anyway!

In our area we wouldn’t offer them at all before 40 weeks unless reason e.g. diabetic, previous caesarean etc and the woman being recommended not to go to 40 or 41 weeks

My first labour started naturally on the day the sweep was due - had to cancel it an hour before it was meant to take place. So even on the day there is hope!