Asking for a sweep at 39 weeks

[Lalalax3]

Hey all, I'm 39+1 today and wondering if I could call the midwives and ask for a sweep this week to try and get things going. My reasons are:

• I've had HG throughout and would really like to not be sick any more.

• My BP has been high for the last few weeks and is monitored every 3-4 days.

• My hips feel like they're being held together with fraying string, even walking to the loo is painful.

I know a lot of you feel this way, or worse, too, but I'm just at the end of my tether now, completely weepy and withdrawn. What do you think my chances are?

A sweep won't start things if they weren't about to anyway though. That is why they are generally not done early.

Sorry you are having such a tough time.

I am having pre labour signs, losing my mucus plug, diarrhoea, cramping etc, so I think things are gearing up (albeit slowly) in there. I just can't cope with any more vomiting and exhaustion. Getting up to pee in the night hurts so much that it takes ages for my hips to settle back down again.

Well no harm in asking. But there is, I believe, some evidence starting to show that it might set off long latent phases. Might be worth a search on here.

Are they planning to induce you soon if you have high BP? I was offered (and given) a sweep at 39 weeks when they booked in my induction for 40+1 (due to high BP). Unfortunately it didn't do anything, but might as well.

And in fact if you're feeling so rubbish, maybe they can induce you now (if cervix is favourable)?

Tell them what you want, rather than asking politely for it, I reckon!

I was 1cm dilated btw, and the doctor did the sweep at the same time as checking my cervix before booking induction (ie "I can do a sweep at the same time if I'm able to, if you like?")

Zara8 I have a BP check in an hour so will see if it's still high. If it is I'm going to call the community midwife team and beg for a sweep/induction. I've just been lying here feeling awful every day for nearly a week now, getting to the end of my tether.

Oh you poor thing :( Is this your first baby?

I know how you feel. I was in and out of hospital and felt stressed and rubbish and anxious towards the end.

Depends on the hospital/trust I suppose but my hospital's policy is to not let mums with high BP/pre-eclamsia go beyond their EDD as the BP just keeps climbing/risks increase.

Certainly having the baby/induction is no walk in the park - you have to go through labour and then look after the baby! But if you are still so ill and you have high BP - better to do the thing that will fix your current ailments ie not be pregnant anymore!

Sending you and

No harm in asking. I am due to be induced at 40 weeks so have been told I can request one at 39 weeks.

If it's not going to do any good ie your cervix isn't favourable they won't do it. One of my friends had sweeps attempted right up to induction at 40+12 but her cervix was always too high so they couldn't do it.