Question about Membrane Sweeps

[Ladybirdgal]

Hi guys, hoping anyone with a bit more experience could help as I’m slightly confused! (So sorry for the length! )

When I was at my antenatal classes last month, the midwife who took them mentioned that at our next midwife appointment we should be discussing membrane sweeps with them and that we should aim to get it booked in for a date after the due date has passed. She said it’d be very unlikely to be able to phone up on the week of your due date and get a membrane sweep booked in for that same week as they’re constantly busy. She then explained why we should consider booking a membrane sweep as studies/statistics have shown that going to 42+ weeks and having to be induced is not that great with regards to higher risks of complications arising during birth and interventions are more likely used which can result in a bad experience.

I had my 31 week appointment the week after the class but it was honestly so rushed mins that I was out pretty quickly. The midwife said that because everything was going fine in my pregnancy that I was to forego the 34 week appointment and see them again at 36weeks.

Just seen them on Wed and again didn’t get any of the midwives whose team I’ve been allocated on to. Instead I was given a student midwife who was absolutely lovely and who done really well but she was allocated a number of caseloads to take at the last minute due to there not being enough midwives that day which I don’t think she was prepared for (think she was just expecting your typical straightforward no questions asked appointment) as when I started to talk about a membrane sweep she wasn’t too sure which was understandable.

A qualified midwife did come in just towards the end of the appointment so I told her what was said at the antenatal class. The midwife looked at me as if I was a right dafty and said they wouldn’t even attempt a sweep until I’m over 41+ weeks because of the potential of bursting my waters and something about cord placement?

Anyways, I’ve got my next appointment in 2 weeks time and I’m hoping to get one of the midwives who normally deals with me as I’ve never felt like they try to rush me out of the appointment like the last two midwives did and was thinking about bringing it up again as for some reason it’s been bugging me that I’ve been told one thing by a midwife and then something different by another. I just don’t wanna be a nuisance to them by asking the same question again but the reason I’m still questioning it is because I’m seeing other people are being offered them at 38/39 weeks?

What are your guys experiences/understanding of it? I feel like a numpty and can’t seem to find much on it but I think that’s because my brain is refusing to work just now .

Again thanks for reading this novel and appreciate any advice given!

I'm not sure what cord placement means. If the cord is low, from what I understand, someone could be at risk of cord avulsion if their waters break. I'd personally ask for a sweep on your due date or just before. It sounds like your maternity services are very under staffed and rushed, so you'll probably need to be forth right and perhaps even pushy!

@Freezingwinter, I think you’re right about needing to be pushy since I don’t really want to have to wait until 41+ weeks to get a membrane sweep especially as the midwife said that as I’m a first time mum it’s more than likely I’m gonna go over my due date.

No one has ever mentioned that the cord was low but maybe they wouldn’t? I’ll definitely bring up the membrane sweep again tho, just wanted to make sure I wasn’t being daft

There's no evidence to support sweeps before your due date, they should only be offered after your due date. Here they'll start then from 41 weeks. I interpreted your OP as the midwife saying you should get a sweep booked for when you're 41 weeks now because if you call up at a few days notice you're unlikely to get an appointment. Mine was booked at my last appointment before my due date, when I was 38+6.

There's no need to have a sweep before your due date. It's unlikely to do anything - they can only be done if your cervix is even vaguely ready anyway.

My hospital offer them from 41 weeks. You definitely don't need to book ahead - that would be a waste of time, because there would be so many cancellations. I had two after 41 weeks, and the second one got things moving.

Re: cord placement. You want the head to be down before you risk breaking waters. Some babies don't get reliably head down until quite late (my second was 38 weeks), and we were at risk of cord prolapse if my waters broke.

@spam88, one of the girls in the class did ask the midwife when they should get it booked in for and she said to try get one booked in for when you’re 40+ and again for 41+ weeks?

I guess it is dependent on your location and what policies they follow but I just wish that both midwives were on the same page? I know from my cousin that she was given a sweep at 39weeks but she’s in a different town from me and there’s probably other reasons for her being offered one.

@Callamia, the Midwives at the unit offer them there at the unit, not the hospital and where I am with appointments you have to book things fairly in advance. It was a struggle trying to get an appointment booked in for my 38 week one as it was in 2 weeks time instead of 4 and all the times they had was pretty much booked up. The team I’m allocated to only work on 2 specific days and it seems that they have quite a high case load due to cutbacks and closings of other locations and higher referrals.

Baby’s head has been down from 28 weeks onwards and she did say on Wednesday that baby has dropped but you’re right with it being pointless getting one if my cervix is closed.

If I get one of my usual midwives,!I’ll briefly mention it again and if I’m told to wait until 41 weeks then I’m happy to wait but I’ll probably pass feedback on the info being provided by the other midwife at the class as she was very much gung-ho with getting a membrane sweep booked ASAP.

Thanks for your information, very much appreciated!

Evidence or not, I'm a paeds nurse so know vaguely a little about births and from personal experience I had a sweep at 39+6 and baby was born 2 days later.