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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Would you have a stretch and sweep or not?

41 replies

mrsm22 · 28/05/2014 20:47

Hi
I am nearly 38 weeks pregnant and my midwife has been talking about a stretch and sweep if/when I get to 40 plus 5 days overdue. I know what it is and what the midwife does but am not sure if I would like to have one or not.
I would like to know if anyone has had one and if it worked for them? And also, is it very painful as I have heard that it can leave you quite uncomfortable?
Many thanks in advance for any advice.

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WyrdByrd · 28/05/2014 20:50

It's very uncomfortable when it's being done, but didn't notice being particularly in pain or anything afterwards and it's no worse than the internals you'll have once you're in labour anyway.

Having said that, I had two which did nothing whatsoever and declined a third!

Nyborg · 28/05/2014 20:51

I had one which didn't work particularly, but nor was it especially painful. Definitely a bit odd, and not something I'd do for fun, but not appalling either.

PicandMinx · 28/05/2014 20:55

I've had one. I wasn't asked for my consent. The doctor hurt me and I felt violated. I sobbed with the pain for hours afterwards. It didn't work.

LJBanana · 28/05/2014 20:56

Hi,
I've had a few.
1st DC the day before due date, I had high BP and I was kept in hospital after a routine appt. had a sweep and started in labour that night. Actual sweep quite uncomfortable. Periody type pains after.

2nd DC went 11 days over. 1st sweep a bit uncomfortable but not as uncomfortable as being overdue. Didn't work, 2nd sweep, uncomfortable went into labour following day.

3rd DC. Went 9 days over had sweep not too bad didn't do anything. 2nd sweep incidently by the same mid wife as did my second sweep with DC 2 fecking horrendous- went into labour 3 hours later.

It's up to you, it's a bit if a shock when it happens as the mw often touches the babies head and if you think too much about it,it makes you feel a bit hot and bothered. If your fed up and uncomfortable though, you might want all the help you can get.

Good luck.

EyelinerQueen · 28/05/2014 20:58

I had one when overdue with DD and it was fucking excruciating. Like seriously actually worse than the birth.

I'm 31 weeks with DC2 and will be refusing any offers of another one. No way.

LiveInABox · 28/05/2014 20:58

Uncomfortable but not painful, no worse than a smear IMO. And it worked for me - started contractions that night!

I wouldn't worry about it until you're at the 40wk stage, you might go into labour yourself anyway. And by the time you get there you might be so fed up you'll try anything! For me, I was willing to try it because I wanted to avoid being induced if at all possible. Keep an open mind

Nunyabiz · 28/05/2014 21:01

Just had my second today (40+2) First was a week ago. Had 2 with Dd1 as well (39 weeks and 40 weeks- she was born at 40+4) I'm pretty desperate to get this baby out so I will do just about anything to be honest.
First was a little uncomfortable but I sucked it up. When it's over it's fine- no real pain- just a little resonating feeling that something has been there. Second one (today) was hideously uncomfortable... But I think that was more to do with the midwife who did it. But again- once it's over it's fine.
I'm not sure if it's worked yet... Will be bouncing on the yoga ball tonight!

Universal · 28/05/2014 21:02

I did both times and they worked. When you go overdue the concern is for the baby as the risk grows each day. Put it this way - I'd rather have a sweep than an induced labour. I went into labour naturally after each sweep and despite it
being painfull look back with fondness on the experience pf giving birth naturally.
Congratulations and good luck.

TheScience · 28/05/2014 21:05

Nope, wouldn't and didn't have one - no convincing evidence they work and felt it was an unnecessary risk.

Universal · 28/05/2014 21:05

It's your body. If you decide to go for it and change your mind just tell them to stop.

PetiteRaleuse · 28/05/2014 21:05

No. I'd have an ELCS.

PetiteRaleuse · 28/05/2014 21:06

I did have two. Went onto induction when they didn't work. And induction didn't work...

Nunyabiz · 28/05/2014 21:10

The science- what risk?

TheScience · 28/05/2014 21:12

Risk of breaking your waters, and then the additional pressure of having to go into labour within the hospital's timeframe or be induced as there is an added risk of infection.

OhMyActualDays · 28/05/2014 21:13

I don't want to scare you but I second violating and excruciating. I would never have another. Didn't work either!

Nunyabiz · 28/05/2014 21:15

Risk of infection after waters break you mean? If your waters break and you don't have any progression?

mollysmummy1970 · 28/05/2014 21:16

I had one on my due date and found it fine, it was more weird than painful but I think it's an individual thing because my friend found it painful after me reassuring her it wasn't. I didn't find any internals at the hospital during labour sore either.

I'm not in any way good with pain either, I nearly passed out getting a coil in and I hate hate hate smears. Think I was ok with the sweep because it's fingers and not horrible pointy instruments like a smear.

I suppose it depends how fed up u are. My due date was 2days before Xmas, and my dad works away and was home until the 5th jan, so I was just desperate to have him ASAP to give my dad as much time as possible with him.

It didn't work, I lost a huge bit of plug and was a but crampy after but that was it.

Good luck with everything

TheScience · 28/05/2014 21:17

Yes, that's why hospitals will push you to accept an induction (timescale depending on individual policy) after waters go. It was an extra risk that wasn't worth it for me.

Pollaidh · 28/05/2014 21:19

First one was painless and didn't do anything except a bit of blood and mild cramping a couple of hours later.
Second was extremely painful and seemed to have worked as I went into labour 24hrs later - but maybe I would have done anyway as I was well overdue.

bouncinbean · 28/05/2014 21:21

I wanted one because I wanted to go into labour as I was being told I would 'have' to be induced a couple of days later. Two different midwives tried to do it, but unsuccessful - think I have an odd shaped or positioned cervix. A registrar then tried and was able to do it but my god it felt horrible. It worked and my contractions did start that evening.
BUT I honestly feel it was wrong - my baby wasn't ready to come out and I had a long and protracted 60 hour labour that ended on a drip and with a ventouse.
In hindsight I should have simply refused the induction and insisted on monitoring, and only agree to induction if there was a clear indication of baby distress or problems. I would do this next time, but looking back I was definitely pressurised to fit to a timetable, and to my mind giving sweeps is trying to get you to conform to a timetable. And bear in mind that timetable was determined at 12 weeks on the size of your baby at that point in time and doesn't allow for individual deviations.

Universal · 28/05/2014 21:22

I meant the risk of the placenta not functioning as it should post due date. Sorry I didn't mean to cause alarm. If you do go overdue just make sure you are monitored. Even more so if you are close to 40. Congratulations and good luck.

Nyborg · 28/05/2014 21:23

The book "Expecting Better" is pretty positive about sweeps, from memory.

PenguinsHatchedAnEgg · 28/05/2014 21:28

I had one with DS (third child). I refused at 41 weeks, but agreed at 41+5, not least because I was at the hospital and the midwife agreed to gas and air during it! I find any and all internals incredibly painful, so I wouldn't have done it otherwise.

Yes, one of the risks is that they accidentally (or in some cases even not so accidentally ) break your waters.

slithytove · 28/05/2014 21:33

No I wouldn't.
I would avoid all intervention.

Sweeps only work if it was going to happen anyway, and often they can start a long tiring latent phase of labour which isn't always good.

You also run the risk of introducing infection and waters being broken.

Finally, 40+5 is just as much full term as 39+2 is. Not late until 42 weeks.

slithytove · 28/05/2014 21:35

Second the suggesting of active monitoring rather than intervention until post term.

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