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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

scared of Sweep

24 replies

iamwhaticallpregnant · 13/02/2013 05:25

I am one day overdue and have midwife app todsy. She didnt say anything about this last tim
e but everyone else is saying i will have a sweep do you think they are right? How bad is it? What will it do?

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Original poster

iamwhaticallpregnant · 13/02/2013 05:26

I can write a lot better than above but am hiding under duvet with tiny phone. Apologies.

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stowsettler · 13/02/2013 07:27

I had a sweep yesterday at 39+6 at the hospital (I have a fibroid they're keeping an eye on). I was really surprised they did it that early, but it may be because I'm nearly 40 (years old, as well as weeks!).

It did sting a bit as she put her hand up and rummaged around at first, but TBH mine was fine. I just did a bit of deep breathing, concentrated on keeping all those muscles relaxed and let her do her thing. Consultant said I was to get my community MW to do another one on Friday. Fine with me, sooner this child is out the better now!

Mind you - don't think it has worked very well! I'm definitely a bit more tender though, so perhaps it's a delayed reaction. Good luck with yours. If your body is ready it can help.

MyGlassIsJustHalfWet · 13/02/2013 07:32

The doctor who did mine was very vigorous but deep breathing and thinking of sandy beaches helped

It did its magic- got dd out!! Started with period type pains straight after which just built up and up until labour.

Good luck, you'll be fine. Hope it works.

tiokiko · 13/02/2013 07:38

You don't have to have a sweep. You're only one day over your estimated due date so unless there are any concerns there's no need to do anything other than the standard checks of you and your baby.

I declined sweeps with both babies as a) I was a wimp about any pain and b) I was concerned about the risk of infection and potential for waters breaking leading to induction.

A MW and consultant both told me that sweeps don't really work anyway until you are more or less ready to go into labour when it just gives your body a nudge to get things going.

Flisspaps · 13/02/2013 07:41

Just to clarify, from stow's message the MW will use two fingers, not her hand!

A sweep is where the MW does a VE and tries to separate the membranes from the cervix in order to trigger labour. It works only if you're ready to go into labour anyway. It can be uncomfortable.

It's up to you if you want to have it - you are more than welcome to decline a sweep.

stowsettler · 13/02/2013 07:42

Of course, tiokiko is right. I had initially decided against any kind of intervention. However, I'm so sick to death of being pregnant all that's gone bythe wayside for me now! First sweep before due date and I even booked in an induction date as well. Although - I may yet decide not to go ahead with that, but I thought I'd have it there as an option if I get that far.

loveschocolate · 13/02/2013 09:01

May be wrong but I think the NICE guidelines state 41 weeks before a sweep is attempted unless special circumstances.

MrsBucketxx · 13/02/2013 09:04

oh if your tall like me they might not be able to reach your cervix of they have small hands,

the one I did have did nothing apart from giving me my show.

ShoeJunkie · 13/02/2013 09:12

I had a sweep. It's not pleasant but not awful either and it did work to get things moving.
But you don't have to have a sweep if you don't want to, the choice is yours - it depends how desperate you are to get baby out!

MrsBucketxx · 13/02/2013 09:18

I did think of this at first

Original poster

iamwhaticallpregnant · 13/02/2013 09:47

Hi all - I am desperate to get the baby is out. She didn't say a thing about a Sweep 2 weeks ago but all partner's colleagues are saying "oh. She'll have a sweep tomorrow!". Maybe they don't know what they are talking about but just wanted to be prepared.
I am terrified of pain and anything invasive ............ BUT do want the baby out asap. Im not very assertive so im really worried about this. Would rather have it start completely naturally but i do feel like that may not happen - but maybe everyone feels like that at this stage. Cant imagine it will just HAPPEN.....

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Original poster

iamwhaticallpregnant · 13/02/2013 09:51

Mrsbucket - that would be a much nicer thing to have today

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glorious · 13/02/2013 11:03

It's really not that bad. I had one attempted sweep at 41 weeks where the baby's head wasn't sufficiently engaged so they stopped because of risk of cord prolapse if waters broke. Then another four days later when everything was favourable and contractions started about 5 hours after that. I had a really long latent phase so actually had another sweep the following day which was a bit painful as I was already uncomfortable and I asked her to give it some welly, but it was totally bearable and it got things going properly! Good luck.

Ra88 · 13/02/2013 11:06

It is uncomfortable and you do have the urge to push yourself away from the nurses hand lol but it's fine it's over very quickly !

MmeLindor · 13/02/2013 11:10

You don't have to have one.

I gave birth to both my DC in Germany, and it is almost unheard of there.

Strix · 13/02/2013 11:29

I had a sweep once. Was warned of "mild discomfort". It fucking hurt. It didn't work. Was then induced (next day). Ended in crash section at 3am yet another day later. I was 42 weeks.

I later learned that sweeps are on effective if you are almost ready to go into labour anyway... at which point why not just wait for nature to take it's course.

In my case that baby was never going to come out my lady bits alive because she was SOOOO tangled up in the cord. What they should have done was a scan to see where the cord was and then gone straight to a (peaceful, planned) section.

So, anyway, I would never have another sweep. It hurt (like Hell) and it didn't work. No thank you!

Original poster

iamwhaticallpregnant · 13/02/2013 11:33

I don't know what to do. I will see what the MW says - she is very very bossy though... and I feel overwhelmed and insecure when i am in any medical setting. We will see what she says later - it doesnt sound pleasant. i just wish the baby would make his move.

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Original poster

iamwhaticallpregnant · 13/02/2013 11:37

strix - you have made my mind up! seems like these sweeps don't do much.

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Strix · 13/02/2013 13:25

Oh gosh.... don't go into labour in a mindset where you are prepared to be pushed around by the midwives (or consultants). Think about what might or might not happene in their, and demand to be part of the desisions.

For example, if you want an epidureal... DEMAND one before it's too late. If you don't want your waters broken, say no. And so on...

FoofFighter · 13/02/2013 13:52

I agree, if you don't want one, don't have one. I shan't be, because they don't work unless you were favourable to going into labour anyway, in which case it would happen anyway?1 I really don't get the idea of them tbh

stowsettler · 13/02/2013 14:36

Well on the flip side, I think mine has done something. I was pootling around quite happily yesterday before I had it done, no discomfort, just going about my business as usual. Since the sweep I've felt very tender all over my bump and things are definitely different down there now. I suspect I'll need another one at least to get things going, but it does feel as if my body's picked up some sort of signal which said, "Come on now, get your act together"...

Original poster

iamwhaticallpregnant · 13/02/2013 16:34

Hi everyone. Update. They wont offer me one yet till 41 weeks (you were right) and she said I don't have to have one. She also said "It only really works if it is your 2nd baby anyway". So I am just hoping my baby turns up before then. I will probably have it at that point just because I will be so so so so sick of being pregnant and will give anything at all a try.
Thanks for all your responses. Strix - you are right and I will try to be assertive. I know my partner will stand up for me when the time is right.

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MmeLindor · 13/02/2013 23:37

That is good. Keep active, do all the stuff that people say brings on labour - none of it did anything for me, but at least I knew I had tried everything :)

And, yes. Be assertive. It is your body, your baby. Don't be too British.

Stixswhichtwizzle · 14/02/2013 12:12

Mine didn't hurt at all and it worked 1st baby, 1st sweep here but I was very stretchy apparently and MW said she wouldn't do it otherwise.

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