Sweep offered at 40 weeks?

[hairytaleofnewyork]

apparently this is policy in my area with first babies.

I am presuming I can just say "no thank you" and that'll be that?

I don't see any need to rush things along without clear medical need so would rather just wait.

Anyone got experience of this?

Yes you can say no thank you. I had one at the same time as you but it had no effect. I think if you are close it might kick things off. Entirely up to you ufvu want to say no

Thanks. Can I ask to be examined to see if I'm close? (been reading about it works if you are 2cm and cervix is soft).

Yup, offered here too. Currently trying to make the decision. Sometimes LOs so bloody violent in there it makes me want to cry, but she's OP at the moment, so heck, I dunno, dont' want to spark things off if there's a chance she'll go back to LOA.
You are 100% entitled to say no and the MW probably won't bat an eyelid. It's just there to give false hope I think. Mine raised eyebrows when I asked about it at a 39wk check (high BP)...but it's something I want the facts about....will find out more Wed I guess!

Oeisha - I feel the same - really not sure what to do.

Want to meet my baby, want the discomfort to end, don't want to go "overdue" but don't really want to have medical intervention if it isn't needed - I am about what to do!

I will be begging for my sweep at 40 weeks! And I will get as many in as I can until I go into labour. I was 40+13 when I had Dd, really don't want to do that and sweeps are better than induction.

One of the reasons I'm doubting is that the average gestation on first time babies is 41 weeks and 3 days apparently - so not actually due at 40 at all - that's just the estimate they put on it.

I might feel different at 41 or 42 weeks - and they can't force you to have induction (I really, really don't want to have an induction).

Hell, I might feel differently on Tuesday!

I should add I've been reading about hypno birthing which advises against unless there's a need.

Pfft. I think they only work if you are on your way as it were. They really are not that bad. 41+3 seems a load of crap as people have babies at many different stages. You don't have to have it done, I think I was 41 weeks + last time when I had two a couple of days apart.

Where is the evidence for 41+3 being the due date?

i had sweep with dd on due date and was in labour hours later - highly recommend!

Was just something I read. I can try and find it again. Got a
feeling it's in Mogans book on hypnobirthing. In France "due" is 42 weeks after lmp. In the uk "due" is 40 weeks after lmp.

Recommend why, sunny? Was there a need (danger or discomfort or something else) to speed things up?

Were you examined to sSee how close you were?

www.birth.com.au/Induction-for-being-overdue/When-is-my-baby-due

This is quite interestimg.

Hairy if you are still happy being pregnant then wait, I just know that sweeps are a lot less invasive than induction.
I have to say that article has done little to persuade me that 41+3 is the typical gestation. As far as I can see there is little indication of the sample size they used or research methods.etc
Also an examination really doesn't tell you how far you are, or how ready unless you are 9cms. Generally they do tell you if you're dilated and effaced with a sweep.
Thanks for the recommendation Sunny I intend to give birth at around 38 week, if that doesn't work then on my due date, post sweep is perfect. :o

Thanks purple. This is the thing, I really am on the fence about a sweep and really am not sure whether to have it or not.

Some of the stuff I've been reading is about how we medicalise birth in the uk and actually it's better for everyone to allow things to happen when ready. I've also read a lot about 40 week weeps not making a blind bit of difference.

I really don't want induction though as I've heard they can make labour very painful and i want to have as little intervention as possible (due to previous traatic medical experiences of a gynae nature) - although I plan to take pain relief as and when I need it.

I think the edd thing for me is really about the fact that it's simply an estimate - pregnancy typically lasts from 37-42 weeks and every one is different.

Oh and apparently an exam can show whether your cervix has dropped, is soft or has dilated at all - all indications of nearing labour. In fact NICE guidelines recommend looking for these indicators prior to a sweep at 40 weeks.

Sorry to Hijack but i've been wondering if you can get a sweep early? I'm 38+4 and have been in pre labour since monday! MW was convinced i'd have a baby by now but not got any further than i was on Monday :( i've got a MW app on wed at 39 weeks do you think if i beg they would do a sweep early?

Again sorry for hijacking but starting to feel like shit :(

You can ask Kiki.

Hairy yes they do check these things, it is not an accurate indicator of when you will go into labour. As sadly Kiki has shown!

I personally wouldn't mind having sweeps, but would rather avoid any pain relief above entonox!

argee with purple there is no accurate way to tell when you will go tbh i think it might be worse when they give you an estimate i spent 48 hours from thursday waiting because MW told me 24 - 48 hours she'd expect me back in labour ward and i'm still stuck where i was! I was happier not knowing tho i didn't know that when i didn't know.

I now already feel like i'm overdue even though i'm 10 days early i wouldn't bother asking at all if you do get a sweep don't count on it working or you might end up disapointed like me.

I wouldn't bother. I had one with DD at 41w, and went for induction at 42+1.

You're not 'overdue' until 42+1 anyway, and they only work if you're going to go into labour shortly anyway. Having one only to find that your cervix is still fairly closed and high might leave you feeling low, or stressed that the baby won't ever come out, and stress is known to prohibit the onset of natural labour. The cervix can change so quickly anyway, that it's not even a particularly reliable indicator of when you might go into labour. They can also introduce infection or cause the waters to be broken in some (rare) cases.

I too have seen on many websites that 41+2/3 are the most common dates for a first time baby to be born.

there was no reason for me to have sweep- i just had one to avoid induction really. I had dd1 on my due date and my midwife appt for dd2 fell on due date so they did sweep on my due date and i had her at 3am the morning after so i was probably not far off - although both were over 8lb born so good weights.

I was also slightly nervous of going too far over as 2 friends has had stillbirths from being left too long - 17 days over.

The due date is very important for determining induction date - i had used ovulation kits whilst trying so 'my conception dates' were already a week earlier than the scan date so didnt want to wait too long after official due date

In the hospital near me - no one goes more than 10 days past due date now - when i had dd1 in 2005 it was 14 days. - not sure of the change

The hospital near you can't force people into induction at 40 +10 - it may be policy to suggest/encourage induction - but it is the woman's choice.

If I get to 42 weeks I would accept induction, personally but I hope I will go into labour before that.

Having done lots if research I think I may accept a sweep at 40 - I have midwife tomorrow and turn 40 weeks on weds so I may be offered one tomorrow.

Good luck, I bet you will have it done and then wonder why you were so concerned.