GBS+ - to sweep or not to sweep?

[ilovetosleep]

Hi, I'm 41weeeks today and have a mw appointment tommorrow. She's said I'll be offered a sweep and i'e expressed a little hesitation but she's said GbS is not a problem and that she'll be able to tell if my waters are strong enough to take it without breaking before she does the stretch/sweep.

GBS website is a Bit vague tbh - there is no evidence to say it can be risky, no evidence of any negative outcomes etc etc BUT that in THEORY it could introduce infection to uterus and therefore sensible to avoid.

Has anyone been in this situation? I'm desperate to get this baby out and desperate to avoid induction.... But obviously want the baby to stay safe.

What would you do?

Watching with interest I'm 40 weeks next week and midwife said she will offer sweep I'm still unsure tho

Have you been tested for gbs? It's rather late now, but if you are a carrier then they can give you antibiotics in labour to help. Afraid I don't have much more info than that, but there's a gbs facebook page where people should be able to help!!

Sorry I thought that was clear in title - I am GbS+.

Hence the concern. I think given lack of info I might have to decline but keep thinking soooo many women have sweeps and gove birth without even knowing they are GbS+

And yes am having antibiotics in labour

I can't copy and paste on my tablet from pdf, but the detailed leaflet named "for women who carry gbs" on This Page has a response to the question of sweeps on page 23.

Thanks for the link - Yes I've read that as outlined in oP - it just seems a bit vague to me. there is no evidence to say it changes any outcomes but in theory it could be risky so don't do it. I just wondered if anyone in this situation had been given any more specific advice by their ob or midwife...

I'd be interested to know more about this too - I had a GBS UTI at 21 weeks so am high risk. My obstetrician wants to give me a sweep next week at 38+4 before induction at due date (if the sweep fails, obviously!) because of mild gestational diabetes. I questioned the sweep as a possble infection risk because of GBS but she pooh-poohed it.

I do share your concerns though.

I was GBS+ in my last pregnancy and had 2 sweeps- had not considered it to be an issue then or since. They didn't cause me or DD any problems, but for the first cervix was high and tight so I doubt she got anywhere near the membranes. Then at the second I was already 2cm dilated and labour started later that night so I had antibiotics quite soon after anyway.

I guess I can see why it might be a problem in theory, though, so as sweeps appear to only do any good if labour is imminent anyway, declining them is quite reasonable whatever your reasons. Thankfully not a concern for me this time due to ELCS

Well, I had the sweep. She was very sure that it was not contraindicated, and said that she'd be able to tell if the membranes were 'bulging' (and therefore at risk of breaking) before doing the sweep so was confident they should remain intact. Which they have, so far. Cervix was soft and partially effaced and 1-2 fingertips dilated, so she said she'd be surprised if I didn't go into labour within 48hrs. Fingers crossed!

I have had lots of twinges since then....

I had group b strep in my last pregnancy and the MW gave me a sweep after my waters had gone so a slightly different scenario. I had antibiotics as well but labour progressed so quickly that DD had to have antibiotics for 48 hours after birth as they didn't have time to give me the full course. In any case, neither of us got ill so thankfully all went well.

Good luck ilovetosleep, hope this is it!