They want to sweep me at 38 weeks! Risks?

[FluffyJawsOfDoom]

I'm under consultant care for an underactive thyroid and at my 35 week appointment today the consultant suggested I have a sweep at 38-39 weeks.

I was a bit shocked and of course the appointment was a rush so I didn't get time to digest and ask questions, and I'm left thinking this seems very early? I thought sweeps were done 40w+? I really don't want to a sweep at 38w but would consider 39w, but I wonder if there are any downsides or risks associated with it?

(Fwiw she also booked in an induction for when I'm term +10 so there doesn't seem a massive rush to get baby out iyswim; she didn't seem concerned at all )

I'm not sure of the risks. I am diabetic and was told at at 38 weeks they don't let diabetics go full term (having failed to mention this to me before as I happily assumed all babies would be late and I had weeks to go!!!). Anyway I think I was about 38 +2 and had a sweep then, DD was born exactly a week later, although I have no idea if the sweeped helped or not. Obviously it is a bit different as they wouldn't have let me go that far.

You could ring up and ask to speak to someone with your questions if you would like I'm sure they would be happy to speak with you?

Sweeps only work if cervix is favourable I understand.
I had a sweep at 41 and 42 weeks with DD1 and nothing.
Had a sweep at 38 wks with DD2 as she was big and it all kicked off 48 hrs later.....

My consultant wanted me to have weekly sweeps from 37 weeks to encourage me to go into labour, but my community midwife refused to do them as she said her professional guidelines would only allow her to sweep once I was overdue. Her view was that early sweeps didn't do any harm, but no proof anywhere that they work so no point in subjecting me to unnecessary procedures. I have to say I tend to agree having had 2 sweeps at 41 and 41 + 4 with DS to no avail!
Having said that, I'll be asking her to give it a go tmw when I see her - 40 + 2 now and want baby out!

Thanks MrsHercule - I have a midwife appointment when I'm 38 weeks anyway and will discuss it with her then. I definitely don't want to have one til I'm 39w plus if there's no urgency, so there's time to think about it!

37 weeks is considered full term. So I don't think 38 weeks is early. I suspect your consultant would prefer baby out with minimal intervention and takes view a sweep might get things going.

I was Induced at 39 weeks for medical reasons and the helpful midwife I saw the day before for monitoring suggested a sweep I hopes I would go into labour naturally without induction. It didn't work unfortunately and I had a horrible induction. Next time, as it's unlikely they will let me go to full term and I will not be induced again I will be happily accepting sweeps ahead of time in hope of avoiding c-section.

A sweep will only work if the cervix is favourable. A sweep also carries the risk of infection and PROM.

In your position, I'd refuse too.

Thanks so much everyone. The more I think about it and the more I discuss it, the more I want to refuse one til my 40w appointment I see the community MW (who would be doing the sweep) at 38w, hopefully she'll agree with me and delay it til my due date!

Badgerina what's PROM?

Premature rupture of membranes ie breaking your watres.

When I read up on this the research seemed to say that it only "worked" if you were about to go into labour anyway, ie pointless