Why are all the Healthcare Professionals desperate to give the Stretch and Sweep?

[MermaidTail7]

I'm 39 weeks with baby no.1. I have had scans at 36w and 38w as my fundal growth slowed down, but scans showed baby is fine and growing well and there are no medical concerns.

However, I keep being offered stretch and sweeps and get some very odd reactions when I decline. At my 38 week midwife appointment my midwife said she'd 'do a sweep at my 40 week appointment'. I said I wasn't convinced about them, but might consider one at 41weeks. She seems convinced they are really effective and is very keen to administer one, I am less keen. Midwife was not impressed at all when I told her my preference. In the end she accepted that I would go away and read up on them and we could 'discuss it' at my 40w appointment.

I was at the hospital today getting all the paperwork related to the growth scans signed off: two different midwives and the consultant saw me, they all offered a sweep, which I declined explaining that I'm only 39 weeks, I've done a bit of research and am not convinced how much of an impact they have unless you are already 'on the way', and don't really see the point unless the Healthcare Professionals could provide a strong reason why they would advise me to have one beyond 'it might make baby come sooner'.. In the end they only seemed happy to drop it after I told them that my community midwife had also offered one at my 40 week appointment, which I would 'discuss' with her. They insisted on making sure they had updated my notes to show that I had refused the procedure, despite very openly saying that they had no specific reason for offering me one other than 'procedure'

I'm not against sweeps btw, I just don't see the point of unessasary 'poking around' earlier than needed, and if at all possible wound like to wait to let baby come when it, and my body are ready..

Has anyone else experienced this, or is it just that midwives and consultants in my area are obsessed with sweeps??!! 😉

If babys growth has slowed i can only guess that they are eager to have baby come sooner rather than later. If it has slowed down significantly it can be a sign the placenta isnt supplying enough to baby. Fundal growth isnt super accurate though as it can differentiate from one midwife to the next. if the midwife was overly concerned id hope they would have told you why though.

I live in Germany and they don’t do them over here as far as I know. I recently read an article saying that they’re not recommended here as there isn’t any proof that they work.

I completely agree with you that the baby will come when it’s ready. Even midwives say that they can only do a sweep if your cervix is favorable, meaning your body is on its way anyway, in which case why do a sweep? I would refuse purely because of the risk that your membranes could be ruptured meaning you’re on a countdown to induction.

I find it really unacceptable that you’re being put under so much pressure to have one. Next time it’s offered tell the midwife you’d like to see a scientific study showing it works before she tries to put her hand up your vagina....

The 36w and 38w scans have confirmed that there are absolutely no concerns about baby's growth, I've been discharged from consultant care and am now officially back to work being a low risk pregnancy..
The consultant said that if they had been concerned they would have reccomended an induction rather than a sweep.

chloechloe.. Yes, it's the undue pressure I don't like.. One of my friends actually said that her midwife didn't really guve her a choice whe she was expecting 2 years ago, which I think is completely unacceptable. I have no issue in very firmly refusing the sweep at my 40w appointment!

I was lucky (this time) as my midwife and me (!) were both very anti sweeps. She said at my 39 week appointment 'I hope you were not expecting a sweep) I said no way before 41 weeks at least (and probably not then)as it was ds came exactly on 41 weeks. With my first pregnancy a midwife performed one with no permission - she said she was going to do 'an examination' no real context - afterwards she told me she had 'touched my babies head'. I had uncomfortable cramps for hours after but nothing else. I don't think there is much evidence they help and am not sure why you need to rush labour on anyway it will happen (or if they need to rush it then thry induction / cs).

RicStar.. God, that's awful that you were basically given a sweep without consenting to it...i'm definately not even going to agree to an examination now!

I'm pregnant with no.3 and don't see the problem with having a sweep. Don't see the point in having one on first pregnancy though before 40weeks as it's very unlikely cervix would be open enough/at all for them to be able to do one. They are very effective for women who have had babies before as cervix is already soft and open. It's a non medical way of trying to get labour going..much like eating pineapples, having sex, reflexology etc. it can kick start a natural labour hence hopefully avoiding the need for a medical induction which can lead to a cascade of events during the labour. In general babies are happier during a natural labour. My thoughts on it..if it works great..if not well I tried! In saying all that it can and should only be done with consent. My midwife has offered me one nxt week when I'll be 39 weeks but I have declined as my husband finishes up work when I'm 40 weeks. I'll have it done then. It's likely if you go over due they will ask to examine you in order to plan the method of induction. Again they can't do this without consent and if you do agree to be examined but don't wish to have a sweep just clearly state that.
You're right that if there were concerns about baby they would be booking you in for induction rather than doing sweeps.
Also I wouldn't be bothered about them documenting you refusing to have a sweep. The area of obstetrics is so Legalised they document everything Incase you come back later after a bad experience of induction etc and say you were never offered one. If they seemed perplexed that you refused, it is probably because most women at the end of pregnancy just want baby out already and jump at the chance.

With DS I was in the outpatient hospital with a strange midwife. I was 40+2 & she asked me to get on the couch for a sweep. I said no thank you I don't want one. She looked at me in disgust and talked down to me. I just said I do not feel comfortable to have one today. She said 'well I'm going to have to book you in for an induction'. I said go ahead. I was in tears by time I was in car. I had very stressful personal issues during my pregnancy and the attitude towards me from that midwife was terrible. Do what you feel comfortable with.

I think they've become much more eager to do them. I had ds1 in 2006 and wasn't offered a sweep until I was 41+4. In 2009 with ds2 I was due to have a sweep at 41+3 (but went into labour instead). But with ds3 in 2014 they were really peeved when I wouldn't have one on my EDD. It was strange how disapproving the midwife was about it.

I had one with DC3 at 40 weeks. Went into labour a few hours later. I had high blood pressure and it helped me start in labour without any other interventions.

All your stories are really helpful ladies, thank you, as is the information about sweeps in first pregnancies vs. Subsequent ones. If I had concerns to mean an earlier, natural labour would be preferable I'd go for it, but I think trying to convince a first time mum with no other concerns to have one at 39 weeks is a bit overkill especially when I've not really had any other symptoms to suggest labour is imminent...

I think it is just the disapproval that annoys me.. It's a horrid situation for nervous mums, and those who are managing previous trauma..

Interestingly the article I read also made the point, like dontquit, that sweeps are less effective in first pregnancies (and also much more painful) as the cervix hasn’t been stretched before.

It’s good that you’re informed and confident enough to say no. I think for most women they do want us suggested without much afterthought on the basis that medical staff know best. Of course they are well trained, but often they offer things because it’s policy, rather than looking at the individual circumstances of the case.

I had a sweep on my due date with baby no 1. Like a previous poster, the midwife didn't tell me she was going to do one until she was already doing it. I just thought she was going to examine me and then she informed me she was "now doing a sweep" and said "ooh I'm the first person to touch your baby's head". The sweep was extremely painful, and I have a high pain threshold. I wonder whether this was down to her technique or perhaps my cervix wasn't favourable, I don't know, but it was very unpleasant. I did go into labour that night but baby didn't come for another three days! The midwife who delivered DD said that the sweep may have been the reason I had such a long labour as it could have "Kickstarted slow labour" before baby was properly ready. DD was unexpectedly very small (2nd centile) despite me having a massive bump and ended up in SCBU with sepsis.

This time around I've been told I'm having a "big" baby (90th centile) but no concerns around baby's health or mine. I saw a Senior Registrar yesterday at 38+6 and after a quick chat she stood up, put on some gloves and announced she was "going to do a sweep now". I told her I'd rather not actually and she looked very put out but there was also a midwife in the room and she was very supportive and told me to "trust my instincts".

I’m 26 weeks and I absolutely do NOT want a sweep. If there is an issue with the baby then I would ask for an induction.

I really excuse my language fucking hate the lack of consent in pregnancy.

Putting on gloves and announcing they’re doing a sweep? Get the hell away from me and how about ask if you can shove your hand up my vagina and have a rummage round my cervix!

Can’t imagine they would do that in any other circumstances.

I had a sweep at 36 weeks in my first pregnancy due to be induced due to pre-eclampsia. It was unbearably painful.

I had a sweep done with my first pregnancy and didn't feel any pain at all. It was weird but not painful. Daughter arrived the next day so I do believe they have a benefit

I had a sweep at 40+3 roughly and I found it really painful. I was 1cm dilated and fully effaced so things were starting to happen. The midwife took forever to do it and pointed out everything while doing it e.g., I'm touching babys head now. I did go into labour for another 4 days.
If/when I have a second child, i think I would also refuse a sweep.

Odd that you have had this pushed on you before 40 weeks. My local trust won’t do them before 40 weeks at all and I know many others are similar. Just weird they’re so determined to get you to go into labour before your due date.

I had a sweep with all three of my DC and I would this time too if I weren’t booked in for an ELCS. The sweep caused me to go into labour within 24 hours all three times. I lost my plug within hours then the contractions started shortly after that. It was very effective for me and I’m a fan . Not before 40 weeks though...

I’m pregnant with my fourth and have never been offered one, or had one. Is it perhaps just in particular areas?

I didn't have one with my first because I couldn't get to my midwife and she couldn't get to me. DD was born at 41+3 spontaneously.

I had 3 with my second and my cervix was favourable. None of them worked and DD2 was born at 42+1 after induction.

I am currently 41+5 and had a sweep at 40 weeks when my cervix was favourable. I ended up bleeding and being admitted to hospital overnight. I was offered another sweep at 41 weeks but declined. I'm due to be induced on Saturday if I don't go into spontaneous labour. I don't particularly want to be induced (but due to my experience with my last labour, also don't want to go over 42 weeks), so have booked a sweep for tomorrow. The midwives are convinced it will work.

My feeling is that every time I have EVER been induced it hasn't worked for me, despite my body indicating that it's more than ready. I remember a midwife telling me when DD2 was 41 weeks that I would be in hospital within the hour and that she'd come quickly - didn't happen for another 8 days and even then it was only because I was induced.

I absolutely agree that if you don't want one then don't have one. If the professionals involved in your care were concerned enough that baby should come out then I don't think they'd be recommending a sweep, I think they'd be talking induction. The only reason I am having a sweep tomorrow is a last ditch attempt to avoid induction (and at the same time not go over 42 weeks).

sexnotgender.. Those are my sentiments exactly!
mavericksnoopy I hope the sweep works for you and you avoid induction!