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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

When do you get a sweep?

17 replies

sarahsyrup · 15/02/2010 08:39

Had DS at 37 weeks, currently 39 + 5 DC2, I had thought I might have this baby early too, but guess history is not going to repeat itself (maybe that was just my wishful thinking). However don't have midwife app until 40+1. Do I ask for a sweep, or does it have to be offered to me, and at what point will they do it. I heard someone at toddler group saying that she always booked in a sweep for her due date with subsequent pregnancies after her first baby was 2 weeks late.

Any advice ladies? Is it up to me to be proactive about getting this baby going, or will they make you wait till more than a week overdue before they help move things along for you?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

mummyof2byapril · 15/02/2010 08:51

I had a sweep at 40+3 and it sent me into labour, had baby at 40+4.
Ask for one, it's simple.

My friend didn't feel comfortable with the midwife doing it so did it herself.
If you can find your cervix, you lightly circle around it with your finger which can disrupt the membranes and get things started.

Original poster

sarahsyrup · 15/02/2010 09:38

Thanks mummyof2byapril, I'll have a go DIY style, and ask for one too when I see the midwife. Fingers crossed.

OP posts:

TakeLovingChances · 15/02/2010 11:10

I'm due my 1st baby on 4th March. Hadn't even really heard of a sweep and didn't know much about them.

I had a routine appointment at 36 weeks and was told my next appointment would be the day before my due date and was offered a sweep. I nodded and left the room.

Went home and looked online (and on this site) to read about what a sweep actually was! Lol!

I'm going to take it, but am hoping my baby may arrive earlier than that naturally.

tartyhighheels · 15/02/2010 11:12

you can just ask what their policy is on it - often midwives had their own limits to what they are prepared to do - with dd2 i had a sweep 'on the quiet' to get things going, worked a treat.....

it is always really hard to wait when you have had a baby early - seems an eternity

rubyslippers · 15/02/2010 11:12

it seems to depend on where you live as to the protocol

i was offered one at 39 weeks - i had already had a show so things were on the move

mummyof2 - my sweep wasn't a light circle. It was brutal. They walk the cervix forward - it isn't gentle at all ...

BlauerEngel · 15/02/2010 11:13

I'm tempted to say when your chimney gets dirty, but that's just being facetious.

izzybiz · 15/02/2010 11:19

I had my first 2 babies at 38 weeks, so when I went past thet with DC3 i felt "overdue"!

My MW did a sweep on my duedate and I went into labour that evening, take it, they don't always work but as this is your 2nd it may be successful, good luck

izzybiz · 15/02/2010 11:20

Mine certainly wasn't brutal!

Eglu · 15/02/2010 11:20

I had one at 39+6. I asked my mw and she was happy to do it.

Good luck

DrSkidaddle · 15/02/2010 12:05

I've only ever been offered one at 41 weeks... wasn't painful but didn't work (sex seemed to work much better with both labours)

indigobarbie · 15/02/2010 12:16

Can anyone advise - I was told I couldn't get a sweep last week (40+4) as the baby wasn't engaged. I am back tomorrow to see if it has engaged and then I might be offered one then. If not, I believe I am in for a pessary induction if I wish on Thursday?>

Thanks xx

mosschops30 · 15/02/2010 12:22

I had 3 sweeps with ds1, none worked and I was induced with pessary at 40+15.
I had 5 sweeps with ds2 which started from 38 weeks, again none worked, I was induced with propess, then prostin, then ARM.

You cant really have a sweep if the head is not engaged, its that head pressing down on the cervix which starts it dilating, well particularly with 1st babies. Also if they start things off and the head is too high then there is a chance of cord prolapse.

If you dont ask though you dont get, however Im now under the impression that if one doesnt work then the rest arent going to. I must have had about 20 VE's before they did the ARM and nothin was gonna move ds2

Original poster

sarahsyrup · 15/02/2010 13:10

Great, if I ask for one when I go, will she just do it there and then sort of thing. Or do I have to book it?

OP posts:

Eglu · 15/02/2010 15:22

I got mine done there and then. She said she could do it then or I could wait until my appt. with the consultant at 40+5, as he apparantly had better success.

I opted for there and then, and was found to be 3cm dilated already.

mummyof2byapril · 15/02/2010 16:09

That's amazing Eglu :-)
lol
I was in hospital in agony when 3cm dilated, and yet you can just cansually have a sweep and find you're 3cm dilated!

My midwife offered me the sweep and did it there and then, stuck her fingers in for a few minutes, certainly was WEIRD, but worked.

happymatleave · 15/02/2010 16:22

I was 39+6 and requested a sweep when I had an appointment with the consultant. I had both my previous dcs early so like you I felt overdue.

Just the same as Eglu I was already 3cm and the sweep really kicked things off. DS2 was born at 0136 the following morning.

I think that if you've already had a baby then your cervix never goes back to 0cm. Not totally sure about this though.

TakeLovingChances · 16/02/2010 07:16

happymatleave at our antenatal classes we were told that once you have a baby the cervix never fully goes back to 0cm.

I was wondering. Do you think women who have had spontaneous early labours are more likely to have a higher success rate with having a sweep in later pregnancies, or is it just totally random?

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