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Original poster

Sweeps, Yay or Nay?

43 replies

Potteryprincess30 · 02/03/2018 17:15

I know a few of us are due fairly soon so thought it might be useful to get the low down on sweeps and weather people thought they were worth it (more for when your due/overdue).

Someone I know had 8 Confused and non of them worked. But then another poster on the March baby thread swears by them and just had her lovely baby a day after her sweep.

I could possibly have one Monday if I'm keen

Thanks ladies!

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Twitchett22 · 02/03/2018 18:16

I'm keen to know too as I might have one tomorrow! Although I've heard they're much less successful on first babies?

Soubriquet · 02/03/2018 18:17

I had a sweep at 37 weeks with my Ds

He was born 3 days later.

MaMisled · 02/03/2018 18:24

Sweeps had me in full blown labour within 2 hours with two of mine. One 14 days late, one 5 days. Not particularly uncomfortable or traumatic, just exciting knowing it really could help!

MrsL2016 · 02/03/2018 18:27

This was discussed at my 38 week appointment today. In my trust they will offer one at term and then at 40+7, with induction booked for 40+13. They will only do it if babies head is engaged enough (3/5ths). Midwife said the main aim is to encourage your body to produce enough oxytocin to start labour and if the sweep is successful labour will start within 24-48 hours. I am unsure whether to have one at term but would definitely have one once overdue if I am able.

limitedscreentime · 02/03/2018 18:33

I don't think there is any evidence to support them working (the supposition being that I

HopeAndJoy16 · 02/03/2018 18:33

I had one at term because I was keen to avoid induction, also it gave me confidence in my body as my cervix was already soft and effacing. It didn't trigger labour but it helped me relax about the process. The actual sweep was uncomfortable but not painful, I had a heavy show and stronger braxton hicks the rest of the evening. Baby showed up at 41 weeks.

limitedscreentime · 02/03/2018 18:36

Argh,

I don't think there is any evidence they work (the supposition being that when they do it's because you would have gone into labour anyway). For this reason i refused with my first. I had complications with my second and was desperate to go into labour naturally (or was going to be induced which I desperately wanted to avoid or c section) so I did have them with my second. They didn't work.

Monkeypuzzle32 · 02/03/2018 18:39

I refused one-the percentage I was told by different midwives was 25-30% success rate, I said 'that's s 70% failure then?' And claiming s success s few days after -where's the proof they work?

boodles101 · 02/03/2018 18:50

I had one at 40+3 which helped me to lose some mucus plug & cause some period type cramps for a few hours. I did actually find it really uncomfortable but I think that might be down to the midwife who did it. She liked to explain that I was 1-2cm dilated, 100% effaced, what all that meant, point out babys head and my waters all while she was performing the sweep. Had she just it and explained after I'm sure it wouldn't have been half as bad! Baby came 5 days later.

Original poster
Potteryprincess30 · 02/03/2018 19:09

@limitedscreentime and @Monkeypuzzle32 yes this is what i'd heard and thought too really. When people/midwife says 'it's only as bad as a smear' i think oh god I hate those and have put on my notes no internal examinations during labour unless baby is in trouble ect (though many midwives no longer do these anyway any more).

@HopeAndJoy16 I too would definitely like to avoid induction so I can totally understand you having one, perhaps if I wait till 41 weeks instead and have one then if the baby still hasn't shown up.

This is my second baby and hearing the likes of @MaMisled makes me keen in theory as if it was in 24 hours of the sweep I would have had her by my due date.

@Twitchett22 remembered from other thread you were midwife tomorrow as its your due date, so you've got the same choice as myself basically. Due date, or wait until a few days/week overdue? I guess it depends on how you actually feel tomorrow about being prodded and probed too Hmm if only it was more definite a thing.

Seems quite low amounts of people getting the desired effect

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EthelBeavers · 02/03/2018 19:10

Nay, think it actually slowed my labour down. It was flipping awful to boot. I'd imagined taking to the airing cupboard with a hot water bottle and the Gilmore girls for early labour, instead I got punched in the undercarriage and sent to the hospital cafe for a toastie to "see if it took". Fond memories. 😊

Seriouslyscrewed · 02/03/2018 19:11

I had a sweep at 11 in the morning at 3 days overdue - by 2 I was in labour Grin granted I didn't give birth till 3 days later and the labour was awful but the sweep certainly got things going!!

Twitchett22 · 02/03/2018 19:12

I think I'll ask for one tomorrow (term), if only for mw to let me know if I'm close at all, I've been having cramps and things for days so hoping it's done something to my cervix! Also keen to check where babys lying as the last mw who checked told me bum was on the left side and legs on the right, even though I've never ever felt her kick on the right its always the left Hmm
When people say the sweeps are uncomfortable, are they like a smear?

Original poster
Potteryprincess30 · 02/03/2018 19:15

@Seriouslyscrewed the idea of a sweep makes everything retract in me. I honestly have a good pain threshold but I cant stop thinking about the midwife rummaging around in me like a handbag Grin so wrong...and yet...the idea of kick starting the labour Hmm do want to see that squishy bambino a lot now

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Original poster
Potteryprincess30 · 02/03/2018 19:17

@Twitchett22 you have to report back if you have one! (and if your not in labour obviously). I think it's just like a smear from what ive heard

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Shmithecat · 02/03/2018 19:17

I went for one at 39 weeks (was going to be induced on my due date anyway so thought what the hell). Cervix was too high or something so not successful. Ds came of his own accord at 39+6 anyway. I had witnessed a horrid car accident and eaten a v hot vindaloo that day so maybe that helped..

CAAKE · 02/03/2018 19:26

I've had two, each at 41 weeks. Both worked, each DS was born a day or so later.

It's like a smear but more so Grin

Seriouslyscrewed · 02/03/2018 20:16

potteryprincess im not going to lie and say it's not a horrible experience, I had no idea what I was going in to and the midwife that did it didn't really explain what she was going to do...so when she did it I was totally taken back with how uncomfortable it is.

But it did the trick and I was grateful as it was July and a heatwave and I was huge swollen and very fed up Grin

mintich · 02/03/2018 20:21

I had 3...the third one was horrific, she managed to bruise me on the outside. The first two were fine and not uncomfortable. They didn't work and I had to be induced. I won't have them again

Bellamuerte · 02/03/2018 20:22

I had three attempted sweeps. None worked as my cervix was too closed for the sweep to be done properly. You need to have already started to dilate for the midwife to be able to get her finger in.

SuperBeagle · 02/03/2018 20:26

None of the ones I had worked, as far as I'm aware (the gap between having the sweep and going into labour is too long).

I declined a sweep in my last pregnancy, based on my previous experiences.

Mine were born at:
41+2
41+4
42+0
41+2

I was always told that there was only a 25% chance of a sweep "working", and it was dependent on other factors. In other words, if there were no signs that your body was going to go into labour soon, the sweep wouldn't work.

MrsL2016 · 02/03/2018 20:44

The midwife gave me the same percentage of 25-30% for success rates of sweeps at term. She said it's more like 50% for sweeps when you are overdue. I think I will just see how I feel at the time.

snowdrummer · 02/03/2018 21:00

I'd never have one again, it was brutal and broke my waters within seconds. Which resulted in tons of waiting around for contractions to start...they never did. Then I had to be induced and the whole thing felt very forced. Resulted in haemorrhage, 3rd degree tear and surgery required afterwards.

Plus it really hurt, but he was about 6ft7 and had huge hands. Shock Never again!

Original poster
Potteryprincess30 · 02/03/2018 21:30

I think my minds made up now, not going to have one even if overdue. Think for me personally it would just feel so wrong, especially from reading these accounts which confirms a lot of the things I am scared and concerned of.

I think i would honestly prefer to be induced if I was over due hearing some of these accounts, even the positive ones for me personally wouldn't be worth the interference internally.

@snowdrummer that is brutal, absolutely brutal. I really feel for you and that alone with the low statistics is enough for me to not do it

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Original poster
Potteryprincess30 · 02/03/2018 21:32

Maybe it'll even be something that in 10 years time, a bit like the internal exams during labour, that they say 'oh we don't do that anymore, it really doesn't help or work effectively in most women'

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