Will the Portland Hospital give me a sweep earlier?

[PinkFluffs1]

I'm struggling mentally and physically now I'm at 32 weeks. I've been off my Sertaline since the start of my pregnancy just because no doctor could give me a definitive answer as to whether or not it could effect my baby. I feel fine for now but with the physical strains of my pregnancy (pains, unable to sleep when he moves a lot, tired and boiling in this weather) are taking a toll on me mentally and beginning to grind down my positive attitude.

I plan to start taking Sertaline again once my baby is born since I really don't want to get baby blues and then spiral back in to depression. I can't be depressed with a newborn because I know I won't be doing enough for him if that's the case. I want to be a fantastic mother. Not self-involved and moping when I have a sweet little baby to love and care for.

My midwife has made a note of previous depression/eating issues I've had and has allocated a consultant who specialises in these fields for pregnant women.

Would they consider giving me a sweep at 37 weeks rather than 38? I know if I go over 40 weeks it will really break me down mentally.

I doubt it because it would be pointless.

Sweeps only really work if you're teetering on the edge of labour. Which is less likely at 37 weeks and any hospital worth its salt wouldn't bother.

In fact in some circumstances a sweep can halt labour.

I went to an appointment a week over due, having regular mild contractions as I had for about 6 hours. The MW did a sweep and the contractions instantly stopped. It didn't start again until 3 days later and progressed into labour.

I'll never have a sweep again because of that.

Also, I've been in 3 hospitals and none of them do sweeps before 40 weeks.

I don't know if this is a general rule or just my experience though.

Have you considered citalopram?

Although Sertraline is perfectly safe in pregnancy and what isn't perfectly safe is a mother suffering with her mental health.

You should take Sertraline, what dose are you/were you on?

Sweeps only work if your near to labour anyway. At 37 weeks you could be anywhere from imminent to 5 weeks away. Not to alarm you! I can recommend a good chest infection though 😂 I nearly coughed out my second at 37+4 with spontaneous labour. BUT my first was induced at 38+ 5 weeks for medical reasons. I had had two sweeps at 37 weeks to see if it could be started on it's own and it did nada. A very odd sensation I might add haha

I had 5 sweeps before being induced. They don't work unless your cervix is favourable.
Can you ask for an induction? The chance of you going over 40 weeks is quite high I'm afraid.
I really think you need to speak to someone about your concerns.

Take your sertraline. I've taken it all the way through pregnancy and breastfeeding and boy is 100% fine. Your mental health is important. You need to be well to look after you new baby.

Yes, they will.

I had my first at Portland. Had a sweep at 38 weeks, told that it couldn't be completed as I wasn't "ripe" enough. Dd1 was born a few days later.

Second I had private (not Portland). I had 2 sweeps at 37 weeks and induced at 37+6.

Ds was going to be induced at 38 weeks but he decided to come on his own.

At the end of the day, you are also important as is your mental health. A good OB will keep this in mind.

The midwife tried to give me a sweep at 40 weeks exactly, but basically gave up because my cervix was completely unfavourable. I suspect this is what would happen at 37 weeks too. As all the pp's have said, they only work if your body is completely ready to go into labour anyway.

You would be much better taking the sertraline than having a seeep at 37 (or even 38 weeks). There is no evidence that it causes harm in pregnancy, and plenty of women have beautiful healthy babies every yes while on it. There is evidence that inducing a healthy baby before it's ready is not good, either for the baby or you (labour likely to be much more difficult). If your body is naturally meant to be pregnant for 41-2 weeks, as mine sems to be, then 37 weeks is a whole month early!

Having said that, the sweep almost certainly won't do anything if you aren't close to going into labour anyway. (I have had four failed attempts across two pregnancies!) But for your own mental health I think you need to accept that pregnancy usually does last for 40 weeks or even a bit more, when everything is healthy.

SSRIs don't work immediately as you will know, so if you are worried about postnatal depression there may be additional reasons for starting again more quickly. I think you need to discuss this urgently with a psychiatrist rather than a GP. Can you ask your midwife for an urgent referral to perinatal mental health?

I agree with you previous poster. Forcing labour at 37 weeks is more risky to your baby than taking anti depressants at this stage of pregnancy. Take the pills and let the baby develop for as long as it needs to in utero.

I hope you start to feel better soon.