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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Been offered sweep on due date - why?

23 replies

ohnelly · 22/03/2010 18:19

Hello im 38+3 so am due next fri (2nd). Today was offered sweep on my due date - this is a new thing apparently. Anyway I said no I would rather go naturally - whats the rush? I dont see the point of this for no good reason or unless I was really late. Are there any benefits for this? Most people seem to be having it done, but dont know why

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tartyhighheels · 22/03/2010 18:21

i had it done - personally for me going to my due date was awful as my other two were early - i am sure i will do it again

missedith01 · 22/03/2010 19:16

I'm being offered this as well and don't really like the idea ... planning a good long chat with the midwife about the whys and wherefores this wednesday.

(This is after an elective caesarian planned for today was cancelled because the baby has flipped and is no longer feet first, but diving for the exit in the proper manner! Now discovered I have forgotten everything I ever learned in antenatal classes ... )

girlynut · 23/03/2010 10:18

I'm quite opposed to sweeps and other methods of inducing labour unless there is a medical necessity. Your due date is only ever an estimate and can be up to 2 weeks out. I told my midwife she wasn't coming near me until I was at least 42 weeks and even then only if there was evidence that my placenta was breaking down or another medical reason.

I'm sure there are stats that show the chances of complications arising or further medical intervention being required increase significantly if the labour is induced.

I don't know why midwives seem so keen to get things started unnaturally. My cynical side suspects it may be related to staff resourcing and the ability to plan how many labours they will have to manage on a particular day!

Original poster

ohnelly · 23/03/2010 11:32

Girlynut - thats what I thought, Surely its better to let it happen naturally. DS1 was 4 days late which was fine by me

OP posts:

nubbins · 23/03/2010 11:59

A rather overenthusiastic consultant convinced me to have a sweep done with my last dd 6 days before my due date. I wish I hadn't let her, my waters went the next day, but it was a further 48 hours before i was really in labour. I don't know if it's connected, but I will be refusing sweeps until I am actually overdue this time.

has your midwife given you a reason for wanting to speed up the birth? Or is it supposed to be for your benefit?

yetanothernickname · 23/03/2010 12:05

My question is; "Why not?"

She might of thought you'd like to have baby sooner rather than later by that point.
You can say no

mad4mainecoons · 23/03/2010 12:29

My MW said she could offer me one on my due date but that if done too early sweeps were less effective.

from what i have read sweeps are most effective at around week 41, when your body is pretty much ready to go and just needs a little nudge to get going.

it may not be the same for you but in our area you are only allowed 2 sweeps before you have a hospital induction so i wanted to save mine for when they would be most likley to work.

if you can bear it i would say no and wait.

good luck

roary · 23/03/2010 12:49

Sweeps only work if you're about to go in to labour anyway. I was desperate to have DD and had 4 sweeps. She was born after induction at 42+3 and the sweeps made no difference at all.
Your cervix has to be favourable and if it is you are likely to go in to labour on your own!

Incidentally my super sensible and great midwife told me she would not do any more sweeps and told me off for having so many (I kept having to get checked at the day assessment unit and persuaded them to sweep me) on the basis that repeat cervical exams raise the risk of infection. Guess what I got after birth? NASTY INFECTION. Will never doubt sensible midwife again.

I don't think there's anything wrong with it, though - I am now of the firm belief that you can't speed your body up to do anything it's not ready to do. Even 2 gels and a syntocin drip still took 3 days to get DD out.

EggyAllenPoe · 23/03/2010 12:57

it can introduce bacteria where it shouldn't be. unless there is some issue that makes her want to bring this forwards, i really don't see why anyone would do this. NICE guideline - induction@42 weeks, not before...

the av woman in the uk has a gestation more like 41 weeks anyway (if you are a Northern european type)

so i guess i would ask - why?

expatinscotland · 23/03/2010 13:00

I had it done, but I had a large baby (9lbs., 5oz. and I'm not a large person) and they weren't all that thrilled about my blood pressure. It worked for me, but things were favourable. I later had to have an IV push of Labetelol during labour because the BP spiked up and epidural didn't bring it down.

nosferatu · 23/03/2010 13:00

I had it but when I was already overdue. Mind you , If I could go back now, I'd be anything rather then overdue again. Luckily my second came 2 days before the dd.

thedollshouse · 23/03/2010 13:07

I will be having a vbac birth and have refused induction and artifical rupture of membranes as I feel that they will increase the liklihood of me needing an epidural (I really don't want one) which will then increase my chances of needing an emcs. The doctor asked if I would be prepared to have a sweep, I have done a little research but can't find anything that says that a sweep is likely to lead to medical intervention. Does anyone know if this is the case?

PlumBumMum · 23/03/2010 13:09

Agree with Roary they usually only work if your ready to go

With dd2 I had an appointment on my due date, and when examined I was 3 cm, the doc gave me a sweep and she wasn't born for another 5 days

Bettymum · 23/03/2010 13:09

I had one at 41 weeks with DD, things kicked off...and went quiet, I had another one the next day, things kicked off...and went quiet. I may have had another one the next day...then they broke my waters...then I ended up on a drip. From start to finish it was first contractions Wednesday afternoon to DD being born Sunday morning. Everything was stop start, stop start with a cascade of intervention. There's no way on earth I'd accept a sweep on my due date (I'm 38 weeks tomorrow), I'd rather let nature take its course unless, of course, there is a medical reason for induction such as placental breakdown or distressed baby. And believe me I'm ready for the baby to arrive .
Also I think if you were in France, your due date wouldn't be till 41 weeks anyway, so why sweep at 40 weeks?? As mentioned above it won't do you any good if done too early anyway. Anyway, hope all goes well for you.

Arcadie · 23/03/2010 14:09

I'll be begging my MW for mine on my due date (3 days time). I am fed up of being induced at Term + 14 and would happily do ANYTHING to get a baby out without needing an induction in hospital...

roary · 23/03/2010 14:15

The dollshouse as far as I know, the reasons syou are more likely to have an epidural when medically induced are: 1. the reasons for the induction in the first place (people are induced for all kinds of reasons some of which may lead to more painful labours anyway) 2. the fact that your contractions do not naturally become more intense - they tend to start at a higher intensity 3. labours can be prolonged so people have epidurals for rest.

None of those things would be true with a sweep, which will only start things off if they're pretty much ready.

BTW, plenty of people are induced and don't have epidurals, and plenty of people who have epidurals don't have CSs, so don't worry too much!

EggyAllenPoe · 23/03/2010 14:22

i think also you need to bear in mind that dues dates are not accurate, and at best within two weeks tolerance - i think being over keen to do some kind of induction could result in babies coming when not ready.

DS, at 41+9 was guesstimated at 39 weeks gestation...so not vastly undercooked, but another week wouldn't have hurt...

the current 'due dates' are worked out on 40 weeks which is inaccurate, as 41 weeks is the actual average gestation for british women (if not tinkered with).

in some countries they do almost no inductions...

thedollshouse · 23/03/2010 14:50

Thanks Roary.

smilehomebirth · 23/03/2010 16:57

Association of Radical Midwives have an interesting discussion about this here.

Original poster

ohnelly · 23/03/2010 18:31

Hmm thanks for all your comments - the midwife did not give me any reason so im glad I said no. I might consider it if I end up being overdue by a lot but hopefully will go naturally like the first time

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missedith01 · 23/03/2010 18:35

Good luck!

Original poster

ohnelly · 24/03/2010 11:45

Thanks wah!!!

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sandk · 24/03/2010 12:23

I was in a similar boat with DC2 - offered sweep at 40+2. It seemed to be more about processes rather than any medical need - the local system was weekly midwife appointments until 41 weeks at which point they automatically refer to the local maternity unit, who then discuss induction and book appointments for this.

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