Sweep at 38 weeks

[Nov19]

I’m 37+4 and as I go to hospital for twice weekly monitoring due to high blood pressure. it has been agreed I can have a sweep each time I go from 38 weeks as I’d like to avoid induction. I have an induction booked at 40 weeks with it potentially being brought forward to 39 as I’ve had reduced movement, although baby seems fine on scans and on the monitor.

Does anyone have any success stories of sweeps working at 38 - 39 weeks? I’m desperate to go into labour naturally rather than induction however I will always do what’s safest for the baby. I’ve got my fingers crossed!

I had the same situation and they tried a sweep at 38 weeks but unfortunately my cervix was way too high and they couldn't reach it. I did feel a bit more achiness in the week after the sweep (I was induced at 39 weeks) and thought maybe things would kick off but it turned out to be nothing as when they induced the exam showed my cervix was still too high to even examine.

@Liz3891 that’s my main concern as from reading online it seems sweeps are only successful when the cervix is in a good position and I imagine labour would start not long after (without the sweep) if that was the case anyway. I have a feeling my cervix won’t be favourable but I live in hope!

Some would argue a sweep is a form of induction!! Any reason you're having it so early? For some people it increases need or induction as breaks the waters when body isn't ready to contract, so then they have to induce with drip :(

@Alyssum34456 because I have high blood pressure they want me to have an induction anyway but have said they can try to do a few sweeps to see if that gets things going without the need for the full induction. May not work but worth a try if I’d need to be induced anyway.