38 week Midwife Appt Help!

[Babyno2mamabear]

I have my 38 week appt this afternoon and I wondering if anyone here thought I stood a chance of being able to have a sweep or at least an examination to see what's happening down there?! I have no "medical" reason to want this baby out so I suspect the answer will be no. However My last baby was induced at 42 weeks and it was extremely traumatic for myself and baby and midwives agree they don't want that to happen again! I'm just wondering, if we start sweeps etc now it might prevent me hitting 42 weeks again and I could potentially go naturally? I'm in SO much pain with SPD and haven't slept in weeks. Plus having regular BH contractions which now make me vomit approx 3 times a day, eugh. They also want to refer me to the mental health team because of my anxiety surrounding labour, my anxiety is actually only around induction, so if I can avoid that I feel like I'll be ok!! Any thoughts or advice? They originally said they don't sweep until 41 unless medically needed. X

Any advice please x

There is no evidence that sweeps work. Some people say that sweeps prevent induction and therefore more intervention being need other people say it’s the start of the medical intervention route.

You can always ask but remember your cervix moves from pointing towards your bum to aline with your vagina and effaces before it starts to dilate so if your not at all dilated at all then don’t be disappointed because your body may still be getting ready for birth.

Sweeps aren't really cumulative like that. If you're pretty much ready to go into labour then a sweep might start you off, but if you aren't it won't do anything really. And as I recall, the evidence doesn't show them being helpful at all prior to 40 weeks, or so my midwife told me in my first pregnancy.

You can certainly ask, but I'd prepare yourself for a) being told no b) it not doing anything if you do have one.

I don’t think they will give you a sweep at 38 weeks as it’s likely to be too difficult and very unlikely to work. My midwife was willing to do one at term for me.

I was told under no circumstances would they give me a sweep until I was bang on 40 weeks! I ended up getting 3 and the wee bugger still wouldn't come out!

Ok thank you! I'm pretty much prepared for them to say no anyway, but just didn't know if they could even examine me and see if at least my cervix was changing at all (science is not my strong point 😂) and just give me a little hope. I guess I just want anything to avoid induction but don't believe any of the old wives tales work...so thought maybe something a bit more medical/science based might do the trick! Xx

Science based would be doing things to increase your oxytocin levels. Things that make you happy and feel loved.

@99calmbeforethestorm so eating chocolate and ice cream whilst watching friends for the next 2 weeks then?! 😂

Yes, that is perfect. I’m not joking. Do it sitting on a birth ball, ideally in a dimmed room.

Mine said they weren't allowed to do it before 40 weeks due to protocol. Wouldn't give me one the day before 4p weeks becuase of this.

They gave me a sweep at 39 weeks. They knew I was expecting a whopper and I just cried to the midwife about being in pain so she did one and I went into labour the next day. Worth asking in my opinion. I was having regular growth scans and was due one at 40 weeks and was told if baby was measuring 11lbs I would be offered a c section which I was upset about. I think she just felt sorry for me.

They can only do a sweep if your cervix is in a certain position anyway, at 38 weeks, it might not be in that position yet anyway and there's not much evidence to show that they don't cause problems, a lot of people I know have had interventions after sweeps.

Hope it all works out for you though :) good luck x