Can I Request my Sweep a Little Earlier?

[LikeAnAdventCandleButNotQuite]

I'm due this Friday, the 16th, and am currently completeley symptomless as far as Labour goes. I know baby is head down, and can feel it grinding against my pelvis, but that is it. No show, no Braxton Hicks, nothing.

Last time I saw my MW, she said if baby is not here on its DD, then she will offer a sweep on the 23rd Dec, followed by induction on 28th. Now, I know I can opt out of these procedures if I wish, but I would rather she did them. However, I know if sweeps are successful, they work within 24/48 hours, which means if it works, bingo, labour will start Xmas Eve/Xmas Day?!

Is it possible for me to ask her to do the sweep earlier, potentially, any time from DD onwards? I really dont mind being IN hospital over Christmas, but to have Christmas Day on 'tenterhooks' will not be ideal, especially as we are at my DParents, and there are a heap of people visiting from Down South. Also, my DH doesn't drive, so DM has kindly offerfed not to drink incase she needs to drive me to the hospital (happy to get a Taxi), so she'll have the stress of entertaining while possibly having to dash around with me too.

I just feel like I would be a hindrance to people to go into labour on the 25th, and having a sweep on the 23rd increases the likelihood.

Anyhow, after all that, has anyone else asked for and been given a sweep earlier for non-medical reasons?

Most trusts won't do them before 41 weeks simply because they are only worth attempting if you're close to going in to labour spontaneously anyway.

You can ask for it to be done earlier, but they won't necessarily say yes - and there's every chance you could go into labour on 25 or 26 December anyway

When had DD my MW muttered something about NICE guidelines and that you could request a sweep after 38 weeks. I was going to look up but said document was hundreds of pages long. Anyway I requested and got a sweep at 38+ weeks (she thought I had been in slow early labour for weeks) so I guess it depends on MW and trust. You could ask though.

Not sure it worked as DD born 40+1

HTH and good luck!

I had a sweep on my due date and da was still 5 days late. I had also had one the week before as bp was going up. Having one in no way guarantees 2/3 days the labour will start so don't worry about Christmas. And as ur due around then anyway u must be on tenterhooks all the time!

Ds I mean!

My MW offered me a sweep at 39 + 6, I accepted and DS was born on his due date. She said she would only do it if I was favourable (I was actually already 3cm dilated).

Well, Ive just seen my MW for the last time, but chickened out of asking for an earlier sweep (due to it being an entirely non-medical excuse!)

She's on hol from Fri which also means my actual sweep will be with some locum midwife but she did say I can refuse a sweep if I don't want one when I see her.

She advised sex, and lots of it as sperm contains exactly the same hormone as a sweep releases, so whoopee for DH

Might have to just try that and fingers crossed!!

Been getting 'periody' type cramps most evenings for the past few days now, so hopefully body is prepping for labour

I was under consultant led care as not much water and had an appointment on my birthday and made a comment about it being the best present if I could have her on that day consultant told me to hop up on the table and did one I was 38 weeks. It didnt work but she tried it.