Unhelpful midwife during 2nd sweep

[bfinn31]

Hiya, I am 40 + 3 days currently and had my first sweep 3 days ago with my normal midwife which didn't amount to much but I left feeling happy and positive, she booked me in for a 2nd sweep today and it was with a lady I had never met. She persisted to tell me information that completely gutted me to the point I cried in the car after the sweep. She told me she doesn't think the sweep will do anything, how my baby is very big (no one had said that to me) and that my pubic bone was low so likely to have a very long labour. All information I found completely unhelpful and had NEVER been told previously. How do you pick yourself back up from this when you already feel extremely sensitive. Or am I reading into it too much. Thanks x

That was very unfair of her. I would call your normal midwife and ask her

Well firstly I'd take what she says with a pinch of salt. It's so common for people to get the weight of the baby wrong, she's guessing it's big but in reality she has no idea and she can't tell through a sweep. Secondly how does she know the sweep won't work? And thirdly I have never heard of anyone being told their labour was long due to their Punic none being low, maybe it's just me but is this an actual thing? Some midwives/health visitors inthink mean well but just say comments that are very un helpful. I'd have a good cry, get sone chocolate and have a nice evening watching some junk on tv and start tomorrow as a fresh day and put her words out of your mind

Try not to worry. If your baby was big to the point it may cause a problem or just be extra difficult during labour you would know about it by now from your other appointments. They thought both my sons were on the big side (they weren’t as it turned out) and I had lots of extra scans and discussion of it. So try not to read too much into it. And I don’t think anyone, even those with experience, can predict labour. I’ve had three and had every prediction in the book thrown at me based on size, sex of the baby, birth order, you name it. Good luck, don’t let her throw your confidence and enjoy meeting your baby.

I can’t believe the midwife said those things to you. How disheartening.
Try and forget about it. At 40+3 your baby will be with you soon. x

...these are all pretty standard things to say to a pregnant woman, IMO, they're pertinent pieces of information relating to your pregnancy! If you've got a large baby and a low pubic bone, natural labour is likely to be a long process. It's a matter of physics. Information is power, forewarned is forearmed, hope for the best prepare for the worst, etc. Platitudes aren't helpful to anyone, knowing what to expect is invaluable, especially in labour.

I had an amino with one of mine. It was a very traumatic time.
The doctor who did it told me afterwards that I could miscarry or go into labour at any point in the pregnancy. I was distraught.
Rang my community midwife next day and she poo-pooed it, said that once I was past 48 hours I would be fine. And it was.
Please put what this woman said out of your mind, and speak to your usual midwife ASAP if you’re still worried tomorrow.

Phone the Director of Midwives, explain what you have been told and how much it has worried you. Request an appoiñtment with one of the consultant obstetricians immediately. Either to pit your mind at rest or to discuss options. If the midwife is wrong there is a possible competence issue. If she is right then you are entitled to request professional confirmation and further discussion. It's your body and your baby and you are your own beat advocate for the care you want in labour.

What a twat.

If it's any consolation, my midwife had my baby measured at 97th centile and was offended when the consultant disagreed with her measurements. I had a growth scan predicting 50th centile baby and she was born 25th! Measuring babies before birth is so inaccurate please ignore the stupid woman.

The comments about long labour are unhelpful and if I were you I would complain. You can't predict labour and if your pubic bone was an issue it would have been brought up by now.

Overwhelmed by all the responses in such a short space of time. Thank you. I feel so much better - I think I was more put out as I had only just had measurements/sweep 3 days earlier. So felt this was inappropriate. I will speak to my normal midwife for an opinion x

In defence of the midwife would you rather know the facts now or proceed obliviously into labour and then it be very traumatic because you weren't prepared?

Personally I'd want to know now so that i could update the Birth plan and push for a c section at a certain point If needs be

I think there are a lot of over reactive responses on this thread when the woman was doing her job and keeping you fully informed. I'd be more pissed at your usual midwife for not informing you of these things