sweep

[nataliekristin]

I'm 38 + 4 and (if nothing happens in between) my next appointment is at 40 weeks. The consultant said they would discuss a sweep at that point. But how long do they let you go overdue before they actually do a sweep or start induction?

There's little evidence that sweeps bring on labour. If you asked a load of heavily pregnant woman to chew on raw carrots you could gather some data on which you could base a weak argument that chewing on the carrots caused labour. There's no control group, you see.

That said, you've a better chance of it working if you're favourable, or you'll at least get an idea whether your body is gearing up or not.

In my area they won't do one until at least your due date. I think bookings for induction start at 40+10 or 12.

You can refuse both sweeps and induction.

I think it depends tbh, they didn't arrange one for me until 41wks but I know they do do them before and after that. Will only be possible if cervix is favourable anyway

I had one with my 2nd at 40weeks,
Nothing happened
I had another at 41weeks, and offered induction as there was no way my baby was coming any time soon, that was at 2pm my little girl was born at 7.10pm that evening.

Goodluck x

Oh I refused the induction btw

Just wanted to say that there is some evidence that sweeps do work. But in order to avoid one induction (using hormones...), you'd need to do 8 sweeps. So it's a small, but not insignificant chance that it'll start something... And that needs to be weighed against the discomfort of the woman getting the sweep!
See www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15674873.

I had my first sweep today at 40+3, this is my first baby and I have never had a smear test so I didn't know what to expect. It was absolutely fine, not painful at all just a little bit uncomfortable, my cervix was also favourable and the sweep was successful. If nothing happens my midwife will do another sweep at 41 weeks.

Good Luck x