Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

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

Flip

Original poster

anyone decided against having a sweep done?

24 replies

lovechoc · 09/07/2010 11:07

at my appointment with MW yesterday I told her I do not want a sweep done because when I was pregnant with DS1 I just was too anxious to have it done, the MW tried a few times but it got to the point where she just said 'so i think I'll book you in for induction in a few days time then'.

With DS2 I've decided I don't want to get a sweep done but happy for them to induce me if need be - has anyone else skipped the sweep due to anxiety?

Hoping I'm not the only one out there!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

lovechoc · 09/07/2010 11:08

luckily with DS1 I went into labour spontaneously and so the induction wasn't needed afterall - went into labour day before scheduled induction. Hoping this may be the case for DS2 aswell.

OP posts:

strawberrycake · 09/07/2010 11:30

I skipped it at 40+1 and later consultant had a right go at me at 40+10 implying it was my own fault as I'd refused a sweep. I felt bullied into one and she gave me one. It didn't work and I was induced at 40+14. Keep in mind that some european countries don't offer them at all because they few them as having a high infection risk/ being potentially useless.

thatbuzzingnoise · 09/07/2010 12:37

that the consultant treated you like a recalcitrant child. I would hope I would have stopped her and ask her who the f*ck hell she thought she was speaking to. She basically physically assaulted you.

I refused a sweep because I did not want anyong rummaging around my fanjo. I had issues with mental trauma in my first birth and didn't want anyone to touching me during the second.

muslimah28 · 09/07/2010 12:52

i refused a sweep initially. then i got to 40+7 and very fed up and so i went for it. i don't think it made a difference, and in the end i was induced at 40+12- tho DS didn't arrive until +16....

what the sweep did help with tho was preparing me for the internal exams. so i'm glad i had it so i knew what to expect for the induction.

Original poster

lovechoc · 09/07/2010 18:37

feeling reassured that others decided against it. seems it doesn't always work for everyone anyway. I'm okay about being induced just before the 42 weeks - I had the cytocin drip with DS1 near the end when the contractions weren't doing what they were supposed to, so I know how painful it is.

OP posts:

Original poster

lovechoc · 09/07/2010 18:39

strawberrycake that's shocking the way you were treated - being bullied into something is not the way to treat any woman, it's frightening enough as it is without a consultant have a bullying attitude and feeling forced into something.
The midwives I spoke to yesterday said I don't have to have one and it's my right to refuse if I choose to but I have to bear in mind that I will need induced if labour doesn't happen spontaneously. Which i've accepted.

OP posts:

Flisspaps · 09/07/2010 19:48

lovechoc you don't need to be induced if labour doesn't occur spontaneously if you don't want to be. It WILL start at some point!

BunnyBaby · 09/07/2010 20:17

I would refuse. The midwife who did mine got me to raise my hips and DS1 slid out of my pelvis and turned posterior.

So I had the show the following day, and then false labour until day 17 when I was induced and had a 26 hour labour. DS1 was born without instruments, however, the labour was lengthened by the fact that he turned through 270 degrees to get back to his original perfect position, which accounted for the marathon labour.

Will be saying no, no, no this time

thatbuzzingnoise · 09/07/2010 20:19

agree that you don't have to be induced. A normal pg is between 37 and 42 weeks so you are not biologically overdue till over 42 weeks. That is when in France they consider a woman overdue. We have become fixated with 40 as 'term' here and stress out accordingly.

all the best wishes and imagine a stillness. let the world take a pause and wait for your baby.

My dd2 was 10 days late and made myself believe that she was waiting so that dd1 and I could have a bit more time together, just the two of us.

littler1 · 10/07/2010 15:58

I refused one and DD came on her own 2 days later, I'm glad i didn't have one as the pain from my first examination during labour was worse than giving birth, v uncomfortable just finding the cervix as it was so posterior, i can imagine if the MW had had to try and sweep aswell it would have been unbearable. It's your pregnancy no one elses so make your own decisions, as someone else said NORMAL pregnacy lasts up to 42 weeks.

strawberrycake · 10/07/2010 17:58

You are so vunerable and suggestable when overdue. I hadn't slept properly for weeks as huge and was so tired. It's a shame consultants have this attitude as it's a time when woman are least likely to be up to standing up for themselves/ presenting their own logical arguments. Normally I'd have no problems telling someone like her to f**k off and leaving. It was hardly because my husband was present and went along with her scare stories. She tried to book me in for an induction RIGHT AWAY but I managed to refuse that stating I'd go home and get some proper sleep first. I mean sweep and induction in the same evening, the point of the sweep being??? Personally I blame the sweep for the fact I ended up with a womb infection during labour (I had no waters left which wasn't picked up on before attempting ARM in labour).

Original poster

lovechoc · 11/07/2010 16:02

strawberrycake you are so right about the being vulnerable when overdue. I felt like that last time and didn't question the midwife when she said it was a good idea to get induced a few days later. I think you just feel like it has to end at some point and if it means listening to a professional then so be it.

Sorry you had such a rubbish time of it.

I suppose it's fair enough to wait 42 weeks to let nature take it's course - calculations over the due date can be wrong and so that means that your body will release the baby when the time is right. Trying to take one day at a time just now..

OP posts:

hippopo · 13/07/2010 12:49

I just refused a sweep today largely due to this post and another similar one going on at moment too but also research that I had done. I am only 40 +4 and felt it was too early as if I am not ready then it will hurt and be uncomfortable and it I am ready I am likely to go into labour on my own in a couple of days anyway!

Have said I will consider one on Monday though when I will be 40 +10, two days before induction is booked in!

Original poster

lovechoc · 13/07/2010 18:41

hippopo glad I'm not the only one! I'm 40+2 and although I'm desperate to have this baby I also do want to be left alone to get on with it, or at least give my body a week to go naturally. Good for you sticking to your guns - hope your baby comes long before induction day though!

OP posts:

hippopo · 15/07/2010 11:49

Thanks lovechoc feeling quite positive today (yesterday not so).

Well I am doing all I can, just had acupuncture at hospital, got reflexology in an hour at home, managed to have sex last night and will try again tonight , drinking loads of rasp leaf tea and eating pinapple - have I missed anything?

Have provisionally booked myself in for sweep on Monday (40 +10). Just been berated my a MW for refusing the one at 40 +4 she tried to tell me baby would be here my now if I had said yes, silly decision ect. Told her to butt out, it was my choice and I felt I had made the right one and I was not going to discuss it with her anymore. Why do some people feel they can talk to you like this, especially a vunerable pregnant women a week over due date!!!!!!!

katiepotatie · 15/07/2010 11:55

Didn't work for ds, had one at 4 days and at 8 days (both excruciating) didn't work, ds arrived +12 days.
Would definately refuse if I had another

Firawla · 15/07/2010 13:33

i refused for ds2 as i had it for ds1 it didnt work & found it quite painful. they were fine about it just said if you change your mind call up and you can come in for it. he came a few days later anyway did not have to be induced. they come when they are ready, i wouldnt get a sweep in future i dont think

ReasonableDoubt · 15/07/2010 13:37

I wouldnt ever have a sweep again. I don't believe in them. I dont really understand why they are given. Babies come when they are ready, and if they aren't ready, a sweep wont make much difference.

I had two done (bullied into one at 40+1, had another at 41+4) and they did diddly squat. I'm at a loss as to why so many MWs see them as some sort of fantastic new intervention. odd.

Original poster

lovechoc · 16/07/2010 13:52

hippopo I'm also on the raspberry leaf tea but have to go in for an internal exam on Monday if nothing happens before then.

I have been having false contractions since 3 this morning - they just tailed off at around 7ish so I'm back to square one it seems. Glad I didn't phone the MLU or I would have looked a right t*t.

Will try pineapple for an afternoon snack shortly.

Good luck I really hope you go into labour (naturally!!!) soon.

OP posts:

maresedotes · 16/07/2010 13:59

I had one the first time round (didn't work) and refused the second time I was pregnant. The doctor I saw had just finished his lunch and the room smelt of his food and I didn't want him anywhere near me. He also didn't make eye contact and could barely be bothered to talk to me. I know this makes me sound very precious but honestly I'm not! He was very rude when I said no and told me that when I visited the following week I would have to have it done. I returned the following week and still said no. Different doctor and she was very understanding.

lovecheese · 16/07/2010 19:16

Agree with thatbuzzingnoise - no-one was going to be messing around with my fanjo either. No way Jose.

treedelivery · 16/07/2010 19:18

Loads of people turn them down.

Lods of people ask for them from 34 weeks too. Horses for courses and all that.

Flisspaps · 16/07/2010 20:07

hippopo Well done for telling the MW to butt out!

hippopo · 20/07/2010 21:08

flisspaps thanks am proud of self too.

lovechoc when you left your message around 2pm on Friday I was at the pushing stage and little Henry born at 2.48pm on Friday 16th July! I had the homebirth I wanted, didn't need the bloody sweep and he is gorgeous!

Hope everything working out ok for you, thinking of you x

Flip