Your experiences of sweeps at 39 and/or 40 weeks?

[SupportiveBigSister]

My baby is consistently measuring around 90th centile on growth scans and so I was recommended by the consultant to be induced next week at 39 weeks. I've declined this, which he was okay with, but he recommended I have a sweep instead next week, and if that doesn't work to induce at 40 weeks. I said I'd go away and think about it. I think I'm going to try and push induction back to 41 weeks (the only reason for the induction is suspected 'big baby', my pregnancy is otherwise uncomplicated). But I'm in two minds about whether to accept sweeps at 39 and/or 40 weeks, and I'd love to hear people's experiences. Were they successful and did you go on to have a straightforward birth as a result? Did they help you avoid induction?

Sweeps only only 'work' if the baby was ready to come anyway.

Personally I don't believe 'big baby'
is a valid reason for induction either so I think you've done the right thing by challenging your consultant in an otherwise standard pregnancy.

I declined sweeps and induction, and DD was born at 41+6 at 8lb, when the charts indicated she would be 9lb at that gestation. so the measuring and percentiles is really not an exact science either. Babies don't grow so big that they can't get out!

In your position I would pick a date that I was personally willing to accept an induction and stick with it. (With me it was 42+2)

Best of luck whatever you choose OP!

I was in the exact position you are 10 weeks ago! First time mum, baby measuring 90th centile from 28 weeks and no other issues, expected to be at least 9lb 4oz on due date.
I was booked for induction at 40+1. I accepted the sweeps as I really wanted to avoid induction if possible (but was also scared into accepting it by the consultant).

I had 3 sweeps from 39 weeks and made really good progress from them starting at 0.5cm dilated and long cervix. I lost my mucus plug after the second. By the time of my induction I was 2cm dilated but unfortunately not contracting, but because I was dilated I was able to avoid any hormonal induction and go straight to having my waters broken. Baby was born vaginally 8 hours after they broke my waters.

I agree with PP that your body needs to be ready to respond to a sweep, but I have absolutely no regrets about having mine! I also spent a lot of time on the ball and had sex daily in that week to cover all bases.

also baby was only 8lb 3oz! So lower than the scans predicted.

Best of luck to you 🤍

I was in a similar boat, big baby and they wanted to induce me. I agreed to a sweep on the day before my due date to placate them and they broke my waters “accidentally” (I really don’t believe it was an accident) and admitted me immediately. I didn’t go into labour myself so they then induced me the next day. I did have a straightforward vaginal water birth despite the induction (and baby was 9lbs as predicted) but if I could do it again I wouldn’t have the sweep.

PS possibly relevant factors for me were I had been 2 weeks overdue with my first baby who was also big (though as it turns out not as big as DC2) and I had an amazing fast and complication free labour, so I felt that my body wasn’t ready at 40 weeks and also knew that I could give birth to a big baby without any problems.

They didn't offer sweeps that early with my first two. I had a sweep with the first at 40+11, and he was born after induction at 40+15. With the second I was due to have (planned to refuse, but the midwives didn't know that) a sweep at 40+10 but went into labour and had him that day anyway. With the third, 6 years later, they did suggest at around 38 weeks or so that I had a sweep at 40 weeks, were pissed off when I declined, and I went into labour spontaneously at 40+4. I have not had (and will not have!) a fourth, but if I did, I would decline again anyway.

I had 2 sweeps at 39 and 40 weeks, didn't do anything at all!