To sweep or not to sweep that is the question...

[helsybells]

I'm currently at 39 weeks with first baby and have been offered a stretch and sweep next Tuesday (my offical due date). Being first pregnancy I'm just really unsure whether to go for it or not. A bit worried about being squeamish, painful and labour perhaps being more uncomfortable than it would be if it just happened naturally.

I come from a family of serial overdue babies - I was 2 weeks late, my sister 2.5-3 weeks late so have been preparing myself not to get too many hopes up for a timely arrival. I also have a suspicion that they have given me an early due date from my scans earlier in the pregnancy. Calculating from the first day of my last period (Christmas day!! Can't forget that one!) I really think they have got me a bit wrong but they were certain from the scans that baby was further ahead than the calculated due date would suggest.

Having said all this baby does feel extremely "low" at times over past two weeks, exerting really strong pressure etc and I've had a phenomenal amount of BH contractions for some time now plus a few period type pains lasting for a minute or two at times. M/W also seemed to think it was really low at last appointment.

Sooooo... Just wondering what other folk think. Leave well alone or go for it! I'm just totally undecided. A week ago I was miserable and not sleeping at all then I finished work and have started sleeping really well and feeling actually more comfy than I was before. Also of course worried about baby being huge if it's late as I was a big baby and DH is a rather sizeable unit!!

Hmmmmm :(

[PinkPenguin36]

Hi, I am 39+6 with first baby and had a sweep today. It was very uncomfortable but had been told that if it's too gentle there is no point! My cervix was soft and effacing, very posterior so she stretched it forwards. She said I was 2cm. Since I have had some bleeding/ bloody mucus so hoping it was the start of my bloody show. Baby kicked throughout the sweep which made it more uncomfortable especially as midwife was pressing her down towards my cervix so a double whammy! Fingers crossed things get going over the next day or so. If it doesn't work then I will definitely have another at my appointment next week. I would much rather go through it again then have an induced labour particularly as I am hoping for a low intervention birth at local midwife unit.

[AliceHurled]

Haggis, what's reduced the induction rate? Introducing the sweep or leaving it till 41 weeks?

[paperclips]

I had one. I found it is more painful than a smear, but not unbearable at all and doesn't take long, so I didn't mind.

They work for some people. Mine was not a full sweep as she could only get a fingertip in, more of a poke around! I have booked another for tomorrow and hoping she'll then be able to get in enough to do the proper sweep

Even though it doesn't seem to have worked, it made me feel better to know that my cervix is thinning nicely so things are moving in the right direction. I am currently obsessed with my cervix! I've been having loads of "tightenings" and dull achyness, getting stronger every day, they are clearly doing something.

Sounds weird, but I am really looking forward to tomorrow's sweep as I am so eager for news on the state of my cervix!

[HaggisNeepsTatties]

I was talking to my midwife about this today. In our area they don't offer a sweep until 41 weeks (if you want one) and apparently the induction rate has reduced since they start that policy. I'm really keen to avoid induction if i can, so if my cervix is favourable at 41 weeks i'll have the sweep.

[MakeTeaNotWar]

helsy did you go for the sweep in the end? I'm in the waiting room for my 40 week app right now & still thinking I'm going to turn it down

[SmellsLikeTeenStrop]

I had a sweep today, on reflection it's probably a bit more uncomfortable than a smear but it wasn't painful.

I was told by my MW that she wouldn't do one unless my cervix was already starting to soften and dilate etc, it was so I had one. Now just waiting to see if anything happens. I had a sweep with DD and I went in to labour a few hours later, so fingers crossed.

[HabitualLurker]

Having just had one last week (which did naff all, but never mind...) I'd say go for it. Obviously it varies from woman to woman, and according to who's doing it, but it may make you feel better to know that it didn't hurt at all. Was just like a smear, but minus the hard instrument.

Good luck - hopefully you won't be needing it anyway!

[PollyIndia]

My midwife offers a sweep a 40 weeks as she has to, but says not to bother until 40+7 as only really works if baby ready and can bring on cramping and pre labour without actually bringing on labout itself.

So that is what I am going to do I think :)

[helsybells]

Thanks again everyone for the feedback - still undecided. I keep going through moments of "oh I'll just do it" and then, "actually I think it's best to leave be"... Maybe I'll be so busy making my mind up baby will make an appearance of their own accord!!! Let's hope!

MakeTeaNotWar (love your username btw!!! :D) So interesting to hear we are in identical boats on due dates. So maybe if they gave us both 26th September this is because officially a pregnancy is actually just a little bit shorter than the so-called calculators would suggest - I guess a proper NHS scan should be more accurate than an online calculator! ;)

I know what you mean about waiting until 41 weeks too. I'm tempted to do that too and maybe try some other "home remedies" in the meantime!

[MakeTeaNotWar]

helsy thank you for your post as I am in exactly the same position - 40 weeks at next app next Wed and midwife has offered a sweep.

On balance I think I am going to ask her to try at 41 weeks. Like you, my last LMP was Boxing Day so by my reckoning, not due until Oct 2 whereas scan gave me Sep 26....don't want waters to break then no labour as a result so going to wait another week (arrrgh!)

[Nottigermum]

The bacteria problem is very unlikely. Whoever does it uses sterile gloves, not normal examination gloves. Be prepared though, I was very anti meddling, prepared for home birth, had acupuncture, hypno birth, etc but ended up with a lot of interventions which ultimately saved DS's life. I think that a sweep is the mildest of the meddling, iyswim.

[mynameisalexdrake]

I had two sweeps, 1 at 40+3 and the other at 40+7, neither did any good and I was induced at 40+12. Although the sweeps didn't work I don't regret having them, weren't painful and over with in less than a minute. I was keen to avoid induction so would've tried anything to get baby to budge.

If you're really not sure you could skip the 40 week sweep and reconsider for the 41 week midwife appointment.

[Midgetm]

I would have one. but I am impatient I found it a lot less painful than a smear.

[PMMummy]

I would but perhaps not on your due date, perhaps a week later if still waiting around. With DD1 I had 2 - one at around 41 weeks which did nothing and another at about 12 days over, which worked but I honestly think was just a complete fluke and she was on her way anyway.
DD2 however is another story - had 4 and quite frankly she would have still been in my stomach to this day, nothing was shifting that girl.
Think I am in the camp of give it a whirl, nothing to lose.

[wigglesrock]

I had sweeps with my first two children and did not make a button of difference - one was 9 days over and I was induced with the second (ps my induction was the easiest of my labours ).

I had a sweep with dc3 two days before my due date, it worked, went into labour about 6 hours after the sweep - the only thing I did differently was to go for a really big walk about 2 hours after the sweep oh and carry a 2 year old who "got sooooo tired". Good luck

[AliceHurled]

I wouldn't. Maybe if it gets to actually be late, I'd consider it, although my plan in acupuncture if I get to that stage. I don't see the point of meddling, and they can push bacteria from the vagina higher up and could catch the waters. But I'm generally pretty anti meddle. I'd much rather just wait until he's ready.

[flubba]

Maybe I was unlucky then, because mine were a lot more painful than a smear, and gave me a few afterpains too or maybe that was more to do with the 12lber I was lugging around

Very exciting for you. Am despite having three ~ I'd love another! :)

[SmellsLikeTeenStrop]

I've had a sweep and it was uncomfortable and felt a bit weird but it was bearable. As traceymac said, it doesn't take long and it's probably no worse than a smear.

I have my 41+ week midwives appointment tomorrow and I'm going to ask for a sweep to be done. I went in to labour the same day as the sweep last time and I hope that happens again.

[Traceymac2]

It is such an amazing experience though, you will forget all of this as soon as you are holding your baby, it's all worth it I promise!

[helsybells]

Thanks so much Traceymac that's made me feel a bit better that it only lasts about a minute. I had some five minute ordeal in my head. I know what you mean about still not feeling ready in labour, I fear I might feel similar though everything is ready at home etc etc.

[Traceymac2]

What an exciting time, my dd3 is now 18 wks and I feel I could do it all again! Then sanity kicks in!

If your cervix isn't soft and effacing, they won't do it any way. It takes about a minute, even if it is uncomfortable a minute isn't long.

Even in labour I felt that I wasn't ready for dd1! it was just too surreal a prospect to get my head around. If you don't want to do it don't but really it is no big deal.

[helsybells]

Thanks flubba. I wonder if the m/w can easily tell if cervix is ready before they go ploughing ahead....? Maybe I'll ask them to proceed with caution??...

[flubba]

I had five or six with DC3 and it made no difference whatsoever. Was blinkin' uncomfortable though.

AFAIK it works if your cervix is ready. But if your cervix is ready, you'll go into labour anyway, so I personally wouldn't recommend it.

[helsybells]

Thanks for the thoughts so far everyone. I really want baby to arrive soon but am just worried about the sweep being painful if things aren't "ready" yet, I guess... I just have this idea in my head of things just coming on naturally at home and that makes me feel a bit more "ok" with the whole scary prospect too. Whereas "making" things happen just makes me feel less comfortable about everything at this stage.

Also, maybe I'm being a wimp but I had a m/w appointment about 3 weeks ago where she couldn't feel baby's head as it was so low and she poked and prodded so much I was really uncomfy and that night I had a terrible night in quite a lot of discomfort. This will be the same person who will do my sweep and she is lovely and very experienced but am a bit anxious that if a simple tummy examination can be that painful what will one of her sweeps be like!!!?

[Nottigermum]

There's a chance that the cervex won't be ready enough - too hard - to do the sweep, so they might try but might not be able to. I went for three sweeps (two for first baby, they couldn't do it because of above reason, and one for second birth and it did speed things along I think).

It's a very mechanical process, there are no drugs involved, and doesn't mean that labour won't start naturally.

With my three, only one was painful I think it's because the midwife had very small hands and she had to push loads to reach the cervex. The other times were not much worst than a smear.

And I would do it again no questions.