Sweep at 39 weeks

[Justdancinginthedark]

Hi, I have been offered a sweep next week at 39 weeks. Did this make your labour more painful? I'm not sure if I should have one or wait to see if I go naturally.

Best to have a read up on the pros and cons.

Is there a reason they are offering it early? Or just 'policy says they can' ?

In general they don't 'work' unless your body is gearing up for labor anyway (in which case you may as well not have had one)

But they can be uncomfortable, increase the risk of infection, cause pain/bleeding, stop start contractions, PROM....and and and

I'll be declining any for those reasons but it's important you make an informed decision based on your own situation! X

@Spottypineapple in my trust it is policy to offer the first sweep at 40 weeks, regardless of your situation and i agree with all the points you made

@Justdancinginthedark yes read up on all the pros and cons and decide for yourself what is best. Sweeps work sometimes but not always. Some women need to have multiple sweeps and in my opinion it is not clear whether when they "work" its because the baby had been ready to make an appearance anyway.
Ive also heard that inducing labour can make it all more painful because one is not allowed the natural order of hormone production to take place, so I too will be declining when time comes.

Good luck!

I did have a sweep at 39+3 because I had gestational diabetes and my agreed plan with my team was we'd try and have me in labour by my due date.
There are complications associated with going over term even without GDM but personally don't think I'd have had a sweep before due date had I not had gestational diabetes
But deffo was happy to have it done when I did, i did not enjoy my final week of pregnancy!

@Justdancinginthedark i had one at 39 weeks exactly, I think it caused a longer early labour for me but it did still work! I had no expectations of it doing anything though, I just thought it was worth a try

I had one at 38 weeks. Waste of time

Thanks everyone, I'll read up on it. There is no reason given for it early just that it could avoid further induction methods.

Personally I wouldn’t, having one can make it more likely to need further intervention later on. My trust doesn’t offer sweeps until 41 weeks as they prefer you to go into labour naturally. It’s oxytocin (happy hormone) your body needs to go into labour so focus on getting plenty of that flowing and avoid anything that cause pain or stress.

@PickledScrump thank you for that.

I had three at 39 weeks and all worked a treat as I was close to labour. I walked a lot after each and that's what I was advised.

I had a sweep at 39+3 (was booked in for an induction at 39+6). She couldn't actually do the sweep though as my cervix was closed (wasn't dilated at all). My waters broke at 0100 the next morning. My midwife did say that even though I was closed, it could start things going - whether it was that or not, I don't know.

My contractions started at 3 in 10 straight away (although I was only 1cm when they examined me in the hosptial). Again - whether that was the sweep or just how my labour started I'm not sure.

Thank you both for that. It's good to hear positive stories.

Just in case anyone is looking at this thread. I tried to get a sweep but my cervix was too high to reach. Back at the hospital next week to see what happens then.