Nice guidelines on sweeps?

[JellycatElfie]

Anyone know when you can request one from based on nice guidelines? I’ve looked but can’t find them however have heard there are some
Guidelines out there!

Iirc they should be or can be offered from 40 weeks onwards.

Thanks for replying. Is there any conflicting guidance out there? I have read 37 onwards but can’t find it..

Are you mw led op? I had a sweep between 38 and 39 weeks but it was done by the registrar who said that a mw probably wouldn't have done it. I was so pissed off with being pregnant at that point I would have let the caretaker have a bash doing one.

I only know of the nice antenatal care guidelines. Not on wifi at the minute so can't open the big pdf. Only other research I know of say sweeps are fairly ineffective and generally will only work if you were going to go into labour within 24hours anyway.

I was midwife led but bumped up to consultant care because of anaemia and a scan which showed slow growth (both now resolved)
I have an appt for 38+5 and am gearing myself up for a sweep but worried they’ll say no
However I’ve been getting odd contractions and lots of pain and pressure which was what I had first time round - I had a sweep at 39+6 with my first pg and had my son 48 hours later.
The baby is growing fine, my anaemia is now gone but I’m struggling with SPD and general mobility and looking after my little boy. I’ll offer the cleaner a go if she says no

Oh I did ask my midwife who said she’s sure the consultant will do it - but I’m still working myself into a panic in case they say no!

I was consultant led because dd was measuring small (but growing ok)and she was breech at every scan. So we were looking at induction for measuring small at 38 weekso or section at 38 ish weeks for breech-either way we were planning to have her by 39 weeks at the latest. She turned at 37 weeks and had a tiny growth spurt taking her from a whisper under the 10th centile to a whisper above it so all options were back open. I literally begged for a sweep I was struggling so much looking after ds who was a toddler then. They were very agreeable to it as I was having so many Braxton Hicks etc. Didn't work though- sorry!! Dd was born at 40+4.

I had to see consultant for very bad nerve pains across the top of my bump at 38+5 with last baby. Consultant gave me a sweep. Wasn't too uncomfortable at the time and I went into labour about 12 hours later. Not sure whether I would have done anyway or whether the sweep brought it on. Anyhow...would I have one again? Most definitely not unless overdue. The birth was a difficult one, despite being my smallest baba and ended up having to be assisted unlike my others before with whom I had natural births. It might just be pure coincidence but I can't help feeling that perhaps baba wasn't ready to come out and the sweep shocked her into it a little unwillingly. Nature and patience has definitely worked the best for me in the past and I hope can be with this one although I would always follow the guidance of the medical professionals as sometimesI agree it's safest to accept intervention.

Thanks for the replies!
I should add that I had my last sweep at 39+6 and was having odd contractions and cervix pain already. It did work and I had a really quick easy birth.
This time I’ll be 38+5 but am already having odd contractions and most definitely cervix pain again. I know sweeps don’t work unless your cervix is favourable etc but I’d really like them to try as I can hardly walk

My consultant said from 39 weeks onwards

Midwife said nearer 40 wpuld be better as you are only allowed a certain amount and i have a booked induction for 40+12 so not to use all goes before then

First attempt- painful
Second attempt- less painful
Modwife said make hands into fists and put under bum (jokingly so i wouldnt punch her if it hurt- im not at all agressive- she was trying to make me laugh☺) and deep breaths as that loosens everything up

Oh brilliant. I’m almost 39 weeks for my appt so fingers crossed for me! I don’t think I’ll get to full term again.. I was having contractions from about 39 weeks with my first 🤞

I begged for one at 39+4 as DS was measuring big on growth scan (9lb 1oz day of sweep) and I was fed up of being bloody pregnant worried about delivering a potentially 11lb baby if I went 2 weeks over. The midwife asked the consultant and did one on the unit (I had to go in weekly for monitoring due to itching). I drove home with cramps then went into labour a few hours later. Still ended up with an emcs mind

Thanks.. seems like as long as the consultant agrees I might get one x

My consultant is giving me one at 39 weeks.
Because of the days that's she's in I'll either be 38+3 or 39+3

I'm hoping it's the former because my due date is Christmas Eve so 39+3 will be really inconvenient (I'm being booked in for an induction afterwards and have to stay in for 48 hours after birth).

I will find out tomorrow.

Just reporting back that I saw a registrar who checked with the consultant and agreed I could have a sweep. I was 2cm dilated, cervix posterior but soft. fx now!! Been for a walk round the supermarket.
Desperate for a nap as I didn’t sleep well but trying to stay mobile!

Best of luck, keep us posted!
You'll have a show over the next 24 hours. Hopefully you'll have some good pains coming on soon.
Get bouncing on the ball, or scrub the floor or have sex, or all of the above!

Thank you! I’ve had a little bit of light pink bleeding after the sweep but nothing since. No show yet!
I went for a walk after but had to have a nap afterwards - I literally couldn’t keep my eyes open!! I’m using my ball now and getting odd pains but nothing to note yet. I wish he would just come quickly! Not too quick though lol.