Sweeps- are there any risks?

[moomin35]

Are there any risks with having a stretch and sweep/membrane sweep and any reasons why midwives might not do them?

just bumping my thread! :-)

I think I read there's very small risks of things like infection or breaking your waters? But generally thought to be safe.

Thank you- I had a midwife the other say who seemed very against giving me one and went on and on about the risks, I felt like she just didn't want to do it!!

Other than infection there are risks if yr baby is breech. I don't think they would offer a sweep if breech, but if by some strange reason they don't realise baby is breech and do it the cord could prolapse.

Oh, and even if they do cause your waters to break there's no more risk of infection than if your waters broke early anyway, and they would treat it in huge same way, I.e. Give you 24 to egg contractions going before offering medical induction.

The, not huge. Sorry for the rubbish typing.

I think they generally decline them if your cervix isnt favourable- as against they dont want to, or it's risky- just that there'd be no point unless you were favourable.. at least that's what i was told- no point in doing it if it's going to be all pain, no gain..