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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Would you have a sweep at 39+1?

75 replies

Comps83 · 12/12/2019 10:23

I’ve been offered a sweep next Wednesday when I will have just clocked over to 39 weeks
I’m very undecided
Most people I’ve asked have said they would wait until after the due date
I’m not sure I want any intervention before the actual due date and there are no problems with baby or myself
DH would like me to give it a try but I know it’s just because he’s bored of waiting and hopes to still be able to have an Xmas day if he comes early
What would you do? I have no other children and I’m not at all bothered about missing Xmas this year if it means he comes naturally when he’s meant to ( obvs I will accept intervention when he overdue)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Boymummy3 · 12/12/2019 10:51

Personally I would because I've had enough of this pregnancy in pain constantly and really uncomfortable.so if I got offered one that could potentially kick things off earlier then its a yes from me . I also have 2 other children so as you can imaging don't get time to actually sit down and relax..
They don't always work anyway so tbh you could have one and still go overdue. X

Pilot12 · 12/12/2019 10:57

I had one at 38+5, it was painful but I gave birth 48 hours later at 39w. I was already 2cm dilated when I had the sweep.

Is there a reason for you to have one though? I wasn't allowed to go past 40w so mine was done a few days before my planned induction in the hope that I would avoid it. If there's no reason why you can't go back overdue and you're happy to do so, don't have it.

Twickerhun · 12/12/2019 10:59

I’d wait. There isn’t any evidence that they work unless the woman’s body is ready - when labour would happen anyhow. It’s invasive and mine hurt and made me bleed.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 12/12/2019 10:59

What's the clinical reason?

I wouldn't have one for fun.

Nipple stimulation probably works better anyway if your dh is so keen to move things along

Original poster

Comps83 · 12/12/2019 11:06

Well this is another thing I’m not sure about , it was another midwife I saw yday and the first thing she said to me was about a sweep next week
I initially said no . That I didn’t want anything before he was overdue . She’s made me an appt for next Wednesday anyway and told me to think about it
Could it just be the time of year do you think ? In the hope he doesn’t come on his due date?

OP posts:

Original poster

Comps83 · 12/12/2019 11:14

... and because there is only a midwife at my surgery on a Wednesday. So after next week it will be closed on the following 2 Wednesdays for Xmas and new year? Still doesn’t feel like a good enough reason to meddle early as surely I could go to the hospital instead

OP posts:

MsSquiz · 12/12/2019 11:29

I think the time of year definitely affects things. I'm 39 weeks today and was at the midwife yesterday - she has booked me in for a sweep next Wed (39+6) and she's booked that before I attended my appointment yesterday as appointments for next week we're getting booked up fast.

I didn't feel any pressure to agree to the sweep though, just that she was being proactive in booking it and I could easily say no on the day

If you don't want the sweep, just let them know

snowflakeeel · 12/12/2019 11:30

I'm having one at 39 weeks and then every two days following for medical reasons but I didn't have one until 40 weeks with my first two. I would wait personally.

Original poster

Comps83 · 12/12/2019 11:34

I know I can refuse on the day
If baby seems alright next Wednesday I’ll make my decision then .

OP posts:

Mumdiva99 · 12/12/2019 11:35

I wouldn't. I was +14 on 24/12 and it was decided if nothing had happened by boxing day to come to hospital.....this would have been around +7 I think. On 23/12 I went into labour naturally. It was a bit pants being in hospital over Xmas (ECS) but baby was healthy and it was one year.

Dec19baby · 12/12/2019 11:44

I personally wouldn't. Christmas definitely affects how things are done, which is ridiculous. Unless there is some medical reason for you or the baby, there's nothing wrong with going over your due date. It's an estimated date, full term goes to 42 weeks.
I'm 38+4 and my MW spoke to me about one next week but I refused, I'm quite happy to go "over" 40 weeks coz I'm low risk with no reason to. Our bodies will be ready when they're ready. And just coz you refuse the first time doesn't mean you won't be offered another one or you can't request one after. It's completely up to you!

tisonlymeagain · 12/12/2019 11:51

Yes I would. I'm likely to be induced around then or just before due date anyhow so if a sweep could set things off naturally, I'd give it a go.

I've had them in my first and second pregnancy. 1st not sure if it did anything because they decided to induce me properly a few days later, second I had one on my due date as I had a consultant appointment anyhow and offered, went into labour 4 days later so it probably didn't really do anything.

xTinkerbell · 12/12/2019 11:53

I would wait, my midwife was unable to do one at 40+3 because my cervix was still closed and it was horrible disheartening. I cried all day certain I’m going to end up induced. I have another attempt booked for 41+3 but because it didn’t work for me at term if offered one before term in the future I’d decline.

Tableclothing · 12/12/2019 11:57

Depends how desperate you are to get baby out.

Cochrane review suggests they work ("work" meaning "avoid needing to be induced") for 1 in 8 women. If you're a massive monolithic health system like the NHS, you probably think it's worth it. If you are an individual woman, you might or might not. It is up to you though, not your midwife and not your DH.

Cochrane link for anyone who's interested:

www.cochrane.org/CD000451/PREG_membrane-sweeping-for-induction-of-labour

BinkyandBunty · 12/12/2019 12:02

They sound bloody horrible, I wouldn't be having one unless there was a medical reason to do so.

Original poster

Comps83 · 12/12/2019 12:08

I get the feeling this wouldn’t be on the table if I wasn’t due on Xmas eve. I don’t feel like my surgery opening hours are a good enough reason to meddle with what might happen naturally a week or so later .
Of course I may regret not going for it if I go 2 weeks over or end up with complications later on

OP posts:

Hotpinkangel19 · 12/12/2019 12:13

I had 4 sweeps with baby number 4. None of them worked!

Dec19baby · 12/12/2019 12:33

@Comps83 it most certainly isn't a good enough reason for one at all. And just coz your surgery is closed doesn't mean they shouldn't still offer you one the day before or after its open, if that's what you want. Babies/health don't work 9-5 on working days, so it's such a shame that antenatal care seems to be like that sometimes.

Ironytheoppositeofwrinkly · 12/12/2019 13:04

I'd like to be a lone voice for the other side. I have suffered a stillbirth (not because of going overdue) but something about the idea of going overdue now terrifies me, so I would personally take the sweep. Hope everything goes well, whatever you decide!

Honeybee85 · 12/12/2019 13:12

I was induced at 38 + 4 because I wanted an epidural per se and to be honest, I felt more ready then ever to finally give birth!

Friend of mine was induced one week before me at 42 weeks because labour didn’t start naturally and she felt like me, we both really had enough of being pregnant for weeks.

I think it’s fine to ask for a sweep if you feel ready!

vivapuff · 12/12/2019 13:29

OP you are right that the surgery opening hours are not a good reason to have a sweep. Sweeps aren't pleasant, so I would decline unless there is a medical reason why labour needs to happen soon (in which case they should offer you an induction or c-section).

If you are still comfortable in your pregnancy keep going as you

Strokethefurrywall · 12/12/2019 13:51

If my cervix was favorable and soft I absolutely would.

Had one with both my pregnancies at 37+5 with DS1 and 38 weeks with DS2.

DS1 arrived later that day and DS2 arrived at 38+2.

I wouldn't do it if not starting to dilate and with a soft cervix though.

Thestrangestthing · 12/12/2019 13:54

I had one with my first at 41+3 and I wish I had refused, sent me into labour but a much longer labour than it may have been if I had waited.
Refused with my second and went into labour naturally at 41+3.
Had a 2 day labour with my first and a 5 hour labour with the second.

Thestrangestthing · 12/12/2019 13:54

Plus the sweep itself was bloody agony.

Floofsquidge · 12/12/2019 20:27

Anecdotal evidence suggests they only work when the baby was coming anyway. Some countries don't even offer them due to the lack of efficacy (can't find any source the cite of that, I read it in the positive birth book, something like 1in8 are successful).
Personally, I had 3, starting at 39 weeks specifically to avoid induction as I was willing to try anything (I ate a LOT of pineapple). The baby was never fully engaged and I ended up being induced. After the first one I was in such discomfort I went straight to the loos and cried. The other two were fine, probably because I think I lost my plug after the first, but for me it was so utterly pointless I will never have one again.

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