To sweep or not to sweep today

[Bernifal]

I’m a FTM 39+4 and I have all the hopes of going through this as naturally as possible. From everything I’d heard, I hadn’t thought a sweep needed to be on my radar until after 40 weeks. However it was suddenly offered to me on weds when I was sent in to hospital for borderline high blood pressure and slightly raised protein in the urine. I said not today, and she said maybe then on Friday (today) as they asked me to come in again to re-check for preeclampsia.

I keep changing my mind. Am I completely overthinking this? If a sweep helps things along and lowers my risk of needing further induction procedures then that’s a good thing I guess, and I should go for it. I should also go for it if they’re suggesting it due to the test results, so I need to ask today if that’s why they suggested it.

I don’t know why I’m so torn, I think just because I hadn’t expected it prior to 40 weeks, although I guess I’m close to that now. Any thoughts or experience appreciated! My appointment’s at 10.30am

I’d probably just go for it. It’s uncomfortable but it may help speed things along. I went into labour the next day despite not being particularly ‘ready’ at the sweep.

Wishing you all the best with your labour & imminent baby!

I'd sweep in your case, you may have preeclampsia, if your BP is up again and more protein then they may want to induce you anyway fur your safety.

I needed to move things along so Andes up having 5 S&Ss - made absolutely no difference. Ended up being induced- would opt for S&S than being induced every day of the week!

Ended not Andes?!?!

My first sweep didn’t work. Had a second one a week or so later. That did the trick.

I'd go for it. I had an almost identical experience to a PP. 5 sweeps none worked. Ended up with an induction. Sweeps, although uncomfortable and slightly unpleasant, are much nicer than being induced!

I would go for it , it may not work but it's worth giving it a try

This cheerleading is helping, thanks guys

Ugh. Well that was annoying as I’d steeled myself to do it. I was in hospital for 4 hours for blood pressure checks, and the midwife told me I could have a walk for the final hour and when I came back she’d do the sweep and final bp reading. When I came back she said she couldn’t do a sweep as they were too busy. “If I had a bed I’d do it right now” she said. I had a bed for two hours. During that two hours I kept asking for a sweep and she kept asking me if I was sure I wanted one.

I asked her if it had been recommended because of my symptoms, and she said it will have been, because my symptoms could develop into preeclampsia and ‘the cure’ is delivering the baby. So why didn’t she give me one when I had the bed and was asking for one.

So I’m feeling pretty pissed and confused right now!

That sounds annoying! I don't think they do anything unless you are very nearly in labour anyway, so I'm not convinced they are useful.
Hope you are well and go into labour on your own soon!