Declining a sweep

[m4rdybum]

I'm a FTM, currently 38+5. Have my next midwife appointment at 40+3 and a planned induction date of 41 weeks due to baby measuring quite large.

Haven't particularly shown any signs of labour yet; just increased discharge, sharp pains every now and then down there and very occasionally, very mild period pains. Baby's head is 3/5ths engaged.

Since attending antenatal classes, I decided I wouldn't bother with a sweep when offered- the midwife leading it noted it only really worked in 1 in 5 women, and even then, they were likely due to go into labour anyway. I'm also worried about the discomfort of it (which I know is daft, as I'll be pushing a baby out of there soon enough).

Midwife has offered me a sweep at my next appointment and I have said I don't think I'll bother, as I'll be getting induced at the end of that week, so if I haven't gone into labour by then, I'll have resigned myself to be induced, and every midwife and her pals can have a rummage around there then.

Just wanting to hear some sweep stories - not necessarily positive/negative - and get your views on whether it's worth giving it a try?

RiskIt4Biscuit I think policy varies on this - will also depend on how much inducing they have to do, I believe if you are on a drip pool is out of the question.
I’d speak to a midwife and run through what they will and won’t allow with induction.

Sweeps don’t count against you.

I'm thinking I may just ask for a simple examination first of all, to see if my cervix is in the right place. Then go from there.

I have a week and a half, so hoping things progress.

I've had four dc and I've always asked the midwife if she could check if my cervix was favourable first.
They've all said no problem and no point doing sweep if not favourable.
I've never found them painful, I think I've had in excess of ten sweeps as i always thought they were worth a try.
My third dc was 10lb 8 so I was keen to get things moving with dc4 and the midwife was in agreement I started having sweeps at 39 weeks as he was big and my cervix was soft and 2cms.
I had contractions on and off for a week which was a bit soul destroying. But after a week of slow labour I went into labour the day before my due date and he was born on time. I do think the sweeps helped but who knows I may have just gone into labour without all the rummaging.

I have already said that I don’t want a sweep - the stats are not great and I don’t fancy the risks.
I am currently 37 +5 and due a check tomorrow and I have an induction booked so we will see.

I've had four dc and sweeps with them all. I dont think they did anything but I was so uncomfortable I would have happily let the midwife sweep away! I went a few days early with first three and one day late with last one. I'm fairly certain it resembles the grand canyon down there which means baby 5 in June will no doubt drop down the umbilical cord and abseil out. No pain with sweeps because any nerves in my cervix probably died a long time ago! 😁

I'm 40+1 and declined a sweep at my last appointment three days ago as i figured I wasn't actually overdue at that point. I may regret it - if nothing happens in the next few days, I'll take up the offer of one at my next appointment next week.

My mid-wife tried to insist I had one, having rung at 9am on my due date. I said I didn’t understand the need, in the end I had to refuse & hang up on her. She couldn’t give any reason for it and just seemed to be bullying. I still don’t know why she was so insistent, I’d had a trouble free pregnancy, but it badly shook my trust in midwives In general.

Went into labour naturally at 40+4, delivered at 40+5