Can I request a sweep?

[Littleelffriend]

Hi all, I’m 39 plus 4 today, and have a sweep booked on Thursday, my due date. I’m so miserable, I have no signs of going into labour. Am I able to request a sweep before Thursday to try and get things moving? Or request an early induction?

@Littleelffriend you can probably request a sweep earlier than Thursday. I really wouldn't recommend you request an induction without a good medical reason. Give your baby time! Your labour is likely to be more painful, much harder and much more likely to lead to complications including c-section if you have an induction before the baby is fully engaged and ready to be born. Your body will naturally go into labour when your baby is ready to come out!

Thanks, I got a sweep this morning, induction booked for 41 weeks

Good luck, I hope things happen naturally for you 😊

@Littleelffriend I don’t mean this horribly, and I know you’re fed up and uncomfortable. Have you read up on induction? It’s not always the right option - the chance of needing an instrumental birth (forceps/ventouse etc) or an emergency section sky rockets with an induction. Your baby will come when it’s ready, give it time.

Before you go down this line please read up on the risks of sweeps and inductions. Like the PP said the risk of needing an emcs increase massively and cs themselves are much more risky. Sweeps are not happen in most European countries as they carry risks and there is no evidence that they encourage early labour.

@TwinkleStars15 no offence taken at all, I was induced with my first at 36 weeks because my waters had broken. I ended up needing forceps. I’m not trying to trivialise induction, but my mental health is really suffering.