39+4, head 4/5 engaged, sweep tomorrow...

[addictedtofrazzles]

Am expecting DC2 at the weekend and have been in lots of discomfort for the last fortnight. Head has been 4/5th engaged for two weeks, I have lots of period-type pains and endless BH. I have a sweep tomorrow (and reflexology!)...can anyone give me hope that this may work and how long did your labour start after a sweep?

Thank you !

Trying to remember - I think it was 2 days but I had my sweep at 41+2.

Best of luck x

Eeek - another 2 days...not sure I have the patience to wait till lunchtime!!!

Thanks for your reply

39+2 = sweep at 9am and called hubby home at lunch as contractions every 8 mins.....I am glad the midwife didnt tell me until after though - she has a reputation for giving good, deep,thorough sweeps!

I was given one a few days early as I had a rough few days in and out of the unit, protein,high blood pressure, 3 x 24 hr urines etc etc.

Eventually had my DC in theatre by vontuse as he hadnt quite turned and was stuck!
good luck
xx

Why are you having a sweep before your due date ?
I`d leave well alone until 41 weeks unless you have a problem which necessitates induction which is really what your midwife would be doing should your waters break during or after the procedure ect .
Your baby may not be ready for another 3 weeks :-(
Sorry to sound so glum but a sweep has been researched tobe most effective when done no earlier than term plus 7 unless medically indicated .

For various reasons...A 10lb baby first time round (am only 5'4!) and a sizeable bump this time round (another 2 weeks of 'growth' scares the hell out of me!), have been nearly fully engaged for a fortnight and suffering from SPD so even getting anywhere is a struggle and am housebound, can't look after my son properly (21 months) as can't carry him/catch him...

I have two IM looking after me and both were extremely surpirised I hadn't yet given birth.

Anyway, cervix still very closed, no sweep was possible and I am mourning still being pregnant with a large glass of Rose, takeaway and the wafting aroma of clary sage

unless your cervix is favourable the sweep is pointless and can be really unpleasant.If your cervix is favourable then the sweep is pointless as you will be going into labour soon anyway.You would be better off having some accupuncture,or leaving it all a bit longer.

Had sweep at 11am on the Fri, had loads of period pains on and off. Labour started at 3 on the Sat afternoon and DD2 born at 1030pm that night. Good luck

Helly - just returned from accupuncture and I hate needles...! I have gone to bed each night thinking 'tonight's the night', but at least now I have got my mind around the idea that it is not the night, now I know how closed the cervix is!!! Out of interest, in your experience, is reflexology or accupuncture most effective?

Thanks Warmseabreeze - will have my fingers crossed for a favourable cervix next week and hope that the baby'will be delivered afterwards!

...have just added a few pineapples to my ocado delivery!

whats with the clary sage ?
I`ve bought some lavendar but just interested in other aromatherapy ideas ?

I've never had reflexology,but I've had accupunture for years,and my practitioner used to attend births.I was chatting to one of the women he'd helped and she said he could pretty much predict to the hour how things would progress.It is powerful stuff so I hope it helps you.There is a school of thought that any intervention can disrupt the hormonal process of birth and for this reason sweeps and even accupunture are both considered far from ideal,but my personal feeling is that accupuncture will work along with your body in a much more gentle way than a sweep,which is a rather violent start to labour.Good luck for the birth!

Apparently it can bring on contractions. TBH, I don't like the smell very much so burn it with lavender, which I find much nicer. I don't really understand aromatherapy, but it is meant to be effective (although, clearly not in my case!!).

Thanks Helly - the lady I saw today was lovely. Will go back next week if needs be!

Sorry i thought 4/5th engaged was not engaged and that 1/5th or 0/5ths was deeply engaged (what it says in my maternity notes anyway???) If you are 4/5th engaged then head not down that far?

I might be wrong?

My error (?) - the head is 1/5 palpable (?) so 4/5th engaged. Whichever way is right, my poor pelvic floors are suffering!

I had 5/5ths on my notes when I had my sweep at 39 weeks, I'd had period type pains for a couple of weeks and was deperate to go into labour, as after my c section they couldn't induce me and really wanted a natural birth, the midwife told me that if it was going to work it would work within 3 days... it didn't work for me but the period type pains are such a good sign.... the night I went into labour I was so tired and miserable I went to bed and my husband shouted " get out" to my tummy, soon as he reached the bottom step on the way to the lounge my waters broke! I hope she always listens to her father like that! My baby was never engaged, 5/5ths was on my notes, it means they can feel 5/5ths of the head above your pubic bone.