Can I request a sweep at 38 weeks?

[Twitchett22]

I've been told my baby will be on the bigger side, and my last labour was very quick and traumatic and resulted in an unplanned home birth. Am I allowed to ask for a sweep at my 38 week appt next week or will they just say no? I'm hoping if baby can come a week or so early she won't be quite as big, plus I'll be expecting something to happen (hopefully) after the sweep so might feel more prepared to get to hospital in time

You can ask, but sweeps only work when you're ready to go into labour anyway and there is a small risk of infection involved with them.

I've had big babies but they let me go at 20 days over before they offered me a sweep with the first. I turned it down with the second think it made labour start too early and last too long.
You can always ask.

With my last I had one on my due date which did nothing and then one a week later and I had her the day after. Which I suppose could have been coincidence. I'll mention it but I think I'm just desperate to get her out so they'll probably say no

I had a sweep at 38 weeks with my dd, I lost my plug pretty much straight after and my waters broke about 4 days later. My labour didnt start though so I had to then be induced and my labour was really long, was slow to dilate so I wouldn't recommend. I think it made everything start prematurely before she was ready to come and that dragged it out. I'm going to decline a sweep at all with this baby

It depends on hospital policy. My waters broke at 38+6 and the midwife had to get the Dr's approval to offer me a sweep as I was less that 40 weeks. My ctg showed my contractions had started so I didn't need it in the end.

It doesn't hurt to ask

I had one at 38+4 because I was booked in for induction at 39+1 (tomorrow!) It hasn't done much. Lost my plug so hopefully a bit more receptive to the induction! I didn't ask though, consultant suggested it after he'd said induction was the best plan in his opinion.

On a slightly different but very much related note, have you talked to anyone about options for this time given quick and traumatic labour with unplanned homebirth last time? I think with that history it’s actually reasonable to consider induction - I’m not sure if that’s what you would want, everyone is different, and I’m not sure exactly what the hospital would be able to offer at present. But I’d suggest instead of stretch and sweep it might be worth considering a check of your cervix at 39 weeks and then an induction if your cervix is ready (eg, just break your waters). It would let you plan for baby’s arrival, have an epidural if you want it, etc etc. just an option to consider depending on exactly what happened last time and what your wishes are this time.

@TenThousandSpoons0 a few people have suggested this to me and to be honest I've never thought to ask. At my last midwife appt there were a few problems (high bp, static growth etc) so didn't get chance to talk about options. Alls fine from that point of view now but I think I will ask at my 38 week appt next week. I thought maybe the midwife would have suggested it by now if it was a possibility but there's no harm in asking, I'd definitely like a more controlled birth this time, especially seeing as I've got a toddler at home too so don't want the drama of last time!