Sweep and VBAC

[robino]

I am due on Sunday and hoping for a VBAC. My consultant arranged an appointment for me for Wed to discuss induction options if I go over (yes, very eager - I've had to be stubborn to be allowed various "concessions" to try and get the birth I want!).

My friend gave birth at the same hospital 3 weeks ago, under a different consultant and had an appointment 2 days before her due date. She was given a sweep at this appointment and went into natural labour a day later.

So, just so I can be prepared - can anybody more knowledgeable than me give me the pros and cons of having a sweep (in particular for a VBAC, and at this "early" stage) so that I can decide whether to take it up or not if it is offered. I'm obviously keen to go into spontaneous natural labour if at all poss in order to improve my chances of achieving VBAC.

I'm so grateful in advance - how did people ever find out enough info to be informed about birth without sites like this pointing them in the right direction?!

bizarrely I was just reading on this subject yesterday

hope this is helpful

good luck with it!

Thanks Franny! Decisions, decisions - it's all too much like hard work at this stage. Am I right in thinking that you are in a similar situation then? Have you made a decision either way?

well I was just reading about sweeps in general - I had ds vaginally at 41 + 3 after a sweep
I was just thinking ahead and wondering what I would do if I go over again - I think I would go for a sweep again around the same time
I am quite keen not to be induced and it did work for me last time - I'm due on Friday

I don't really count a sweep as being induced. I had one at 39 +6 as it happened to be my midwife appointment that day and I asked for one. You are still going into natural labour as you are not having any hormones put into you IYSWIM.

I would definitely recommend it. I had my DS2 later that night which I guess was partly due to my MW finding out I was already 3cm when she did the sweep.

Good luck

I don't count it as being induced, either, but am not sure why people are keen on it before their due date unless there is a medical reason.... it is an intervention, that's the thing, and presumably babies stay inside for longer for a reason?

had a sweep at 40 + 8 and it worked straight away, easy vbac (well, you know what I mean). no particular downside but no need to rush either. bear in mind that one third of babies are born after their 'due dates' (which are earlier in the UK than in France for example anyway - I had 2 due dates! French one was spot on)

tell consultant to take a chill pill (worth it to see look on his/her face )

Bloody hell franny you're due already?It seems like weeks ago you found out you were pg!

Robino, basically, any form of intervention can hinder the labour, if you have a sweep performed though it's likely you're not far off natural labour without it anyway or the midwife wouldn't be able to physically do it.

I had three attempted sweeps with DC3 and ended up having a repeat CS at 41weeks because it just wasn't ready to come and it needed to be out.

If there is no medical reason for baby to be out now I would recommend waiting for it to happen when it is meant to, there is a reason our bodies go into labour when they do.

Good luck

Agreed - I didn't count it as being induced either but I did wonder about the pros and cons of an intervention, especially given that it is before the magic due date. I think I'd definitely take them up on their offer later on, as the possibility of a real induction loomed, to try and avoid one.

robino have they said they will induce you with a VBAC?

Ah Morocco! Telling the consultant to take a chill pill ! She'd fall off her tightly perched bum, and as for her poor registrar who immediately developed an "oh no, you're one of THOSE" looks on her face the moment I started questioning her conventional medical wisdom... I wasn't sure if she was more scared of doing battle with me or the consultant (and I'm really not scary!)

VS - no they haven't said they'll induce me for a VBAC. I'm pretty sure it's not wise anyway, correct? I believe what they said is they want to discuss my options if I go over term (yep, I know that's 42 weeks and they still can't touch me if I refuse to let them and all is going well!).

I'm pretty sure they're determined to try and get this baby out of me by hook or by crook, therefore will suggest induction so I can't have a VBAC because the consultant really doesn't agree with what I want! She's horrified that I'm refusing continual monitoring (I'm really radical ), they're refusing to let me go to the MLU on the same corridor as the labour ward (again, I know that technically I shoud be allowed it but I don't have the energy to argue it at this stage) and they have a hospital policy of artificially rupturing membranes if they haven't done so by the time you're 4cm dilated (not on my nelly!) It's a really enlightened hospital...

And the registrar who called in the consultant, after I'd succeeded to persuade the cons that there was no way I was allowing them to continually monitor me unless handheld monitoring showed up an issue, said, with a sly grin on her face "I bet after all that you'll go overdue and end up being induced anyway". Charming, no?

bloomimg heck Robino as you say a very enlightened hospital. I wonder what their cs rates are? won't be long before they have a target to get them down, maybe worth dropping into the conversation . Don't know anything about sweeps I'm afraid. Good luck with the appointment.

Robino I had a sweep a coupe of days before my due date prior to a VBAC. Went into labout about 5 days later so nothing to do with the sweep. I was just desparate to do anything that would assist with having a VBAC but I know there is a small risk of a sweep causing infection. It's a difficult one.

You sound like you've done your homework on VBACs. Really hope that you go into labour soon and get the birth you want.

oh forgot to mention, you do know the ultimate wind up for consultants for vbacs when you're not getting what you want?

''actually, i was thinking about a home birth''

then run cackling from the room

(I had one hosp vbac and one hbac, no continuous monitoring for either - oooh what a rebel)

robino -- which hospital are you? IME it's fairly easy just to refuse monitoring when you get there, and staying at home for as long as possible statistically increases your chance of successful VBAC. I didn't even bother arguing about monitoring in advance, just didn't get any on the day.

looks like I was all a bit previous with my questions guys! Am in labour! Unless after 7 hours of regular contractions it decides to stop...

Port - the award for enlightened hospital of the year goes to Dewsbury. I was at Pontefract general infirmary for my previous "yes, I know two other midwives have already stuck their hands up you and not spotted it but after 28 hrs and you being fully dilated THAT is most definitely not a head - it's breech" em C/S. Dewsbury is closer and I thought it couldn't be any worse - hopefully I'll be able to let you know tomorrow! or soon, at least...

oh robino how exciting
hoping all is well and that you have your baby with you now

How exciting! Hope it all goes well...

OOh, hope that you are now the proud owner of a VBAC-ed baby! Let us know how you got on!

Thanks for all your messages - now the proud owner of a second baby girl!

V brief details: put DD to bed at 6.30, cooking at 7, thought "hmm", at 8 said to OH "might be having contractions but not sure", went to bed at ten, decided at 11 def having contractions and couldn't sleep, at midnight decided I'd better call my mum so she could babysit DD - had bath, cleaned bathroom and did some laundry (!?), mum arrived at 2,at 5 decided that I needed gas and air so off to hospital.

Midwife said "well, you're dealing with this fine - I bet you're not in established labour yet but I'll just examine you (eek!) to check - ooh gosh, you're actually
4cm dilated, we'll give you some codeine (haha) and we'll give it an hour, see how you are, might send you home yet, could be hours". She stepped out the room, my waters broke, I was instantly in agony and an hour later I was fully dilated and ready to push, Hour and a half of pushing/resting/ nearly falling asleep, out "popped" DD. Only G and A, 2nd degree tear but well enough to go home 4hrs after gave birth - very pleased!

Thanks for all your advice/ help over last few weeks and I hope those of you who are planning a VBAC enjoy yours as much as I enjoyed mine!

Congratulations!
I do love a good VBAC!

congratulations ! great birth story ! you did marvellously. you must be very proud ., my VBAC baby is almost 3 and i still rememebr how good it felt to push her out.