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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Your views on 'sweeps'

39 replies

Podmog · 04/02/2004 07:18

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dinosaur · 04/02/2004 22:24

I had a sweep with DS2, but it was another five days before I spontaneously went into labour, so couldn't tell you whether the sweep had anything to do with it or not.

As others have said, it wasn't painful, just uncomfortable.

Maybe it makes a difference if it's not your first baby. My poor mum had one with me and I think it was an absolutely traumatic experience for her

Linnet · 04/02/2004 22:55

Lydia, I'm not sure what they would do this time around I had my dd 6 and a half years ago so maybe now my midwives would also say 10 days before considering a sweep. They might have changed the rules etc. I wouldn't let them do one this time until I'm at least 10-14 days overdue, I think the last one was too early for me. I know that at my hospital you have to be 10 days overdue before they will induce you but I think I'd try and hold out for the full two weeks before considering that. Hoping that I'll go early this time though but we'll see what happens at the time.

Original poster

Podmog · 05/02/2004 08:12

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Blackduck · 05/02/2004 08:53

I was booked in for an induction, but the week before the registrar did a sweep (he didn't actually tell me he was going to do this!). Two days later I had a heavy bearing down sensation, but no more than that. Went in for the induction and ds born in 2 hours. In my view he was probably ready to go, and if they'd left me I'd have had him naturally.
Sweep wasn't awful, well no more than internal exams which I absolutely HATE.....I clench up....

bunnyrabbit · 08/02/2004 16:30

M/W gave me a sweep on the Wednesday at home, went into labour on the Thursday. Momentarily uncomfortable but worth it to avoid being induced.

norma · 08/02/2004 16:48

just curious, but surely it is possible for someone to give themselves a sweep? I'm sure I could do it on myself if I were pregnant, and I'm not double jointed (although I admit I do have quite long fingers)

lydialemon · 08/02/2004 22:27

Embarrassed to say I tried, but couldn't quite get there over bump etc. DH point blank refused to try for me.

miggy · 08/02/2004 22:33

Similar to Quackers-had sweep without knowing for DS1. Went for 10day overdue chc and the consultant said "do you fancy having this baby today then?" I said "it has to come out sometime" and he did a sweep (without saying anything else). Didnt really hurt and didnt know what he had done till I got home and looked in pregnancy books. Went into labour about 2 hrs later so worked for me.

Bekki · 08/02/2004 23:16

Mears I have seen your post to Podmog about having your waters broken.
Have you ever seen a labour that needed someone to have their waters broken for any reason? Or is there no logical reason for needing that procedure in a 'normal' labour?
When would you expect the waters to have ruptured?
Sorry to hijack this.

I think you should avoid the sweep for as long as you can stand it really as it is wonderful to know that your body can go inot labur by itself. Good luck Podmog!

mears · 08/02/2004 23:48

I have often broken waters myself because women have been stuck at say 4cm for 4 hours or more and they are exhausted and demoralised. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. If only you could see what would happen if you didn't break them but that is not possible. I think it would be great if we could move away from doing regular internals because it is not helpful for women to know the cervix hasn't changed in 4 hours. However women ask midwives to examine them and midwives don't have the courage not to examine and see. If however, a woman has had Diamorphine or an epidural the natural flow of labour has been disrupted and you are on an intervention course if there has been no progress.
When labour has started naturally and a woman is contracting well, it is better to be left alone.

Bekki · 08/02/2004 23:55

Thanks Mears. You are right you can't see what would have happened if you'd left it so really theres no point questioning it.
I asked to be 'checked' because I needed to know that this pain was going somewhere. Imagine if I hadn't asked and they wouldn't have realised that I was stuck at 8cm. Nightmare.
Hmmm, I'll try to avoid the manual water breaking next time though.

bea · 11/02/2004 13:31

eeek! coming upto 39 weeks and throughout pregnancy have been monitored to the hilt over high blood pressure! today went into clinic and dr said that if nothing happens between now and next appt (next weds) they'll do a sweep on me! so it's all getting a little too real for my liking (somewhere in the back of my mind i know i'm having a baby... but it just seems a little far away... thus the reason why my hosp bag is still half way packed!!!... but am getting there!!!)

you all seemed to have had experiences with sweeps due to you being overdue... what about when they (they... being docs/ mw/ me included!) just want to quit whilst we're ahead!!!!???

do they work then? should dh cancel his meetings at work? should nearest and dearest be informed of my impending quick 2 hours of labour? (i wish!!!) should i be calling my mother down? (to look after dd whilst i go into labour!!!!)

ta!

Blackduck · 11/02/2004 13:42

Mine was done at 37 weeks (induced at 38 weeks...). Ddin't work (but I think it might have if I'd been left and not induced...)

Enid · 11/02/2004 13:57

had one at 41 + 1 - didnt hurt at all, went into fast and furious labour 36 hours later, dd2 born in under 2 hours, perfectly fine. I'd have another if I was ever in the same position.

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