Sweeps, Yay or Nay?

[Potteryprincess30]

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 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!

I was booked in for an induction, the MW gave me a sweep, and 6 hours later, DS2 arrived!

I've had two so far. Waiting on the second to see if it works and just have lower back pain so far. I'm really not that bothered by trying something that might not work-it's not very painful just uncomfortable. Much better than being induced. I'll take those low odds if it means I don't get induced!

I also refused induction as I felt that I had had a totally uncomplicated pregnancy (with my first) and that I/the baby were quite capable of working out when it was ready to be born. But as so many do, he came the day I would have been induced anyway!

I had a sweep on the Friday. MW told me I was 2cm, lost my plug on the Saturday. Had baby girl Sunday morning :)

I had 1 sweep the day before my due date, went into labour that night and gave birth on my due date 😊

I don't blame you potteryprincess30 it's so invasive for no evidential reasons it will work, also what's the rush unless you are 41+ I just don't see the need to force it unless for a medical reason in which case they would probably want to induce anyway? My consultant midwife said to me she had been appointed at the hospital to increase sweeps!-where else would someone be appointed in a role to increase an invasive procedure that has a high failure rate? I think it's purely because it's free abd leads them to induction which leads them to being able to schedule births in!

I had one at term, which did nothing. I started having contractions at 40+4, had another sweep at 40+6 to try and progress into active labour. It was both excruciatingly painful and a total waste of time, my bladder was full and not emptying, and stopping the baby's head from engaging properly, which wasn't picked up during the sweep or any internal exams. I had baby at 40+8 after catheterising, having waters broken and being put on an oxytocin drip. Tbh I wouldn't bother with a sweep if I had another baby, I'd just wait it out. The success rate is minimal, it's invasive and painful, seems a waste of time and nhs resources in my opinion.

I was due on 22nd. I had a sweep on Tues at 40 +5. I didn't really think it did anything at the time and I was only 1cm. It wasn't massively comfortable but it didn't hurt loads either.

That night I started on the contractions. They've been on and off between every 30mins and every 3mins for the last 4 days! Admitted to hospital on Thursday and confirmed I've been in verrrrrrrrry slow early labour.

Had one with DS as I had such bad SPD that I was in agony and would have tried anything to get labour going! The sweep wasn't too painful, and he was out 12 hours later. It definitely sped things along, although I'd describe my labour as quick and intense.

@Potteryprincess30 I read that they’re technically a birth intervention and one intervention is likely to lead to further management and intervention.

So if a sweep works, chances of forceps/ventouse/EMCS are also increased.

I had one at 40+5. Felt nothing at all really, less than a smear test. MW said that she could feel I was 2cm dilated and told me to rest over the weekend (it was a Friday) and lo and behold baby was here on Monday morning. Not sure if it actually kicked anything off but it didn't hurt and it gave me an idea what things were moving in the right direction.

Mine worked a treat. Overdue and trying to avoid a C-section.

I held off with both of mine until it was at the point where I was starting to get uncomfortable with staying pregnant due to the increased stillbirth risk - so effectively as a last port of call before induction. For me that was when I was 42w by my due date (not by scan date, which was out by 5 days - I am certain!). With both of mine I did go into labour the evening of the sweep. I didn't find them uncomfortable particularly (I think this depends on the skill of the midwife!).
It's worth noting that both my labours then started with my waters breaking, which was a cause of great stress in my first labour as they kept harping on about antibiotics and induction (despite that I was already in labour) - I understand the rules in my area have since changed to give a longer timeperiod before the 'default' induction/antibiotics kicks in. You may want to ask about that if you do opt for a sweep.

@jubbablub that's interesting, I hadn't heard that but it does stand to reason I guess what with not waiting for nature to take it's course.

Although I understand that being a last chance sort of thing before induction it may be preferable, I still think I'm going to avoid it now after reading all your replies unless I am literally 2 weeks over due.

@CointreauVersial I can see why you went ahead, it would definitely be under these circumstances I would go forward with it too,

@savagehk with my last labour my waters broke less then an hour before she was born (I had been in slow/medium labour for about 12 hours at this point) so it all came about fairly textbook and naturally. I think messing about with myself unless its medically necessary or i'm very overdue and heading towards induction then the sweeps are now something i'm just not going to go for. But that's definitely because of my personal circumstances and feelings about the intervention of them generally, though I totally understand why others have had them and see if they worked how fantastic that could be to have your baby within a day or two of the sweep.

And I really was thinking that I might be keen but after reading the general consensus that even if it works there are other risk factors of further intervention possibly. Also that unless you are very uncomfortable and/or overdue that waiting a little bit longer isn't so bad.

Physically i'm feeling very good and with a natural labour last time and no complications I think I'll hang in there. Honestly can imagine that induction is intense so would like to avoid that but the sweeps just don't sound right for me.

Thanks so much everyone for your information, so useful for other mums to be as well as me

This has been really interesting and useful, I think I'll stick to my gut instinct and decline a sweep this week.

I had 5 - they didn't work for me

@GWeatherwax it does seem unnecessary before your actually overdue doesn't it? The interference unless there is a medical reason does kind of baffle me . Whats a few more days/week after such a long time already awaiting your baby if your fit and healthy?

@cornishmumtobe that does not sound pleasant at all. I cant understand why they would do so many. Once or twice, yes, but 5 times seems a very odd practice to continue to be honest after trying many times previously. This women I know who had 8...I'm sure she was very keen to avoid induction but surely having so many sweeps also has it's dangers, introducing infection, the stress it causes ect?

I've been in for a sweep today (40+1) but mw couldn't feel it as the second layer(?) to my cervix was soft but still closed. She said there's still a chance that by her having a feel around it might have irritated something into starting but basically babys probably staying put for the forseeable