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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Oh arsebiscuits. I don't want a sweep. Do I have to have one?

26 replies

BroccoliSpears · 23/04/2008 09:59

I know I don't HAVE to have one, but should I?

41 wks today. Going to see MW later. She already said she'd offer a sweep if I was still pg at this point.

Last time I had 2 and they HURRRRRT and didn't work.

Rahhhhhhhhhhh. Just GET OUT baby.

Please say nice or helpful things because I feel crappy and fed up.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

otter1980 · 23/04/2008 10:08

I'll not suggest natural indution methods as im sure you're sick to the back teeth of rasberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil and walking and all that, and as a first timer I havent experienced the sweep yet

BUT

poor you... you dont have to have it just yet... maybe this time will be more sucessful, different babies and all that... it'll be fine, baby will come out when baby feels like it and not before... maybe when she goes to fiddle with your fanjo she might find that things are starting?

any of them any good for you? (also my friend swears that putting evening primrose oil capsule up her fanjo helped get things started? if you havent tried it that is...)

belgo · 23/04/2008 10:11

You don't have to have one. Sex can work as well.

A sweep helped me start contractions, but it was nearly two days before I went into labour properly so I'm not sure if it really helped make the baby come any earlier.

WinkyWinkola · 23/04/2008 10:12

You can do what you like. You don't have to have a sweep if you don't want one.

What about twiddling the old nipples? That's supposed to get things going. Honestly!

Sex too. And move about. Get walking. Get gravity on your side!

Good luck and you can just say to the midwife you'd like to leave it another day or two to see if labour starts naturally.

WinkyWinkola · 23/04/2008 10:12

But you have to twiddle for a while mind. Not just the odd tweak.

DonDons · 23/04/2008 10:16

You don't have to have one - MW gave me the choice last week and said it was entirely up to me

(I did have one - but it has done bugger all - and I'll be asking for another tomorrow but that's me - 41+1 today).

But...it might get things shifting.....

Anyway, my mottos for this week are

41+ is the new 40

who needs April?, let's aim for May

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 23/04/2008 10:16

When you had your sweeps last time, do you remember if your cervix was favourable?

Don't quote me on this, but I think sweeps are less painful (and more successful) if your cervix is ripe and ready to go.

Maybe ask the MW not to sweep if she finds that your cervix is not ready yet?

I had a sweep when my cervix wasn't ripe and it feckin hurt (hence it was a waste of feckin time!)

Dalrymps · 23/04/2008 10:17

Well, as you said you know you don't have to have one. I had one and it didn't work but there's basically a 50% chance it will.
If it was me, personally i'd have it as i'd rather try it as then if it worked it would mean I wouldn't have to be induced. I'd rather have a sweep than be induced. Plus, as otter said, they'll be able to tell whats going on up there.
AS I say, thats what i'd do but it's really up to you

Rolf · 23/04/2008 10:27

I was told that a sweep is about as effective as having sex. So whichever you'd prefer (and at 41 weeks it's a close run thing )

Good luck! Hope things start happening soon

Original poster

BroccoliSpears · 23/04/2008 10:41

Hmmm. I suppose a cervix progress report would be good.

No one is exactly shaking pompoms for the S&S which is making me feel less inclined to have one.

There is an element of feeling that I'm fat, I'm grumpy, I'm tired, my pelvis hurts, the cherry on the cake of today would be to have someone rootling about in my nethers.

OP posts:

nowwearefour · 23/04/2008 10:45

of course you dont have to have one. i had umpteen with ym first pregnancy and they did not work. but i had quite a few with my second pregnancy and they did work this time ! i had a wonderful natural labour as a result and was soooo pleased i had gone ahead with it. it is prob worth it if you can bear it but it is YOUR choice ! my first labour was so artificial and interfered with it was horrible so i was sooo pleased when it worked even though the sweeps were horrible and uncomfortable. the sweep is much more effective than having sex unless you are having orgasms every time (which i was not at 41 weeks!)

nowwearefour · 23/04/2008 10:47

oh and when i went for my last sweep she said those magical words- you are 3 cm dilated i think you are in labour i can feel your baby's head! contractions every 2 mins from that moment on!

brrrrmmmm · 23/04/2008 10:48

Another one here who thinks they only work if you're ready to go anyway - I had about five before I went in for induction (going daily to see midwife), then three which did bugger all good in the hospital. Two by midwife were fine, another by stupid short-fingered consultant was bloddy agony!

nowwearefour · 23/04/2008 10:50

i think though they can tip the balance if you are virtually ready to go but nothing is happening- my cervix became more favourable then it worked. but my view was anything worht a try. maybe i would hve gone into labour anyway. will never know now. i think more successful in 2nd etc pregnancies than in first ones as your body more likely to know what it is doing....

mellymell · 23/04/2008 10:52

What about reflexology - heard that can be very effective.

I hated sweeps too - DH was rather embarrassed by my shriek of 'Sh*t' in the ante natal bit of the hospital as this MW gave me mine for DS1 - I swear the woman had fingers of iron. agonies.

Original poster

BroccoliSpears · 23/04/2008 10:59

I had some reflexology yesterday with Moxibustion. Was quite achey last night but then nothing this morning.

Was induced last time after sweeps didn't get anything moving, but to be fair two prostaglandin pessaries and an ARM failed to get things moving last time.

OP posts:

brrrrmmmm · 23/04/2008 12:02

Reflexology works on some, I've heard - didn't on me, though was great for my back and general feeling of well-being all through the pg.

Original poster

BroccoliSpears · 23/04/2008 16:53

Ho hum. Cervix not remotely favourable.

OP posts:

reikizen · 23/04/2008 17:01

Do not fear. An unfavourable cervix means nowt in a muligravida! Just means it is unfavourable at this minute, can't predict the future. For my part, I used evening primrose capsules for a week or so up the flue and castor oil for the final countdown. Baby came. Who knows if these things worked or not?

fifihall · 23/04/2008 18:21

Argh! Have just read all your posts about this and am filled with dread! I am 40 weeks plus 1 day today. I am seeing the MW on Friday and not sure if she will offer me a sweep then or not?

Next Friday I am booked to see the consultant at the hospital as I had a previous c-section. They said they would try a sweep and break my waters if I haven't had the baby by then but they won't do anything else to induce me. I just hope hope hope I go naturally as I don't want another section!!!

Glad I haven't had the baby today though as my twins are celebrating their 4th birthday today! It's bad enough they have to share their birthday with each other without sharing it with another sibling too!!

Here's to spontaneous labour!

WinkyWinkola · 23/04/2008 23:06

Fifihall, I had a VBAC last year. Have faith in yourself and your body. I was so determined not to have a C-section. Obviously I would have had one if there had been problems.

I don't know the reason behind your last section but I'm assuming as the docs think it's ok to labour now, it's was nothing that could affect future births?

You can do it! Just believe your body and be upright, moving around a lot - let them monitor you standing up and get in the optimal birth positions.

Good luck!

littlemissturquoise · 24/04/2008 08:01

BrocSpears - did you get one in the end?

I had a sweep on Tues and was delighted to hear I was 1-2 cm dilated (due date was the previous day, the 21st) and MW said my cervix was partially effaced. Came home and an hour after the sweep had a show so was really excited. Had mild contractions at 10 min apart all day yesterday so was getting ready for the hospital but now it's all stopped. Anyone had something similar? (ie early labour starting then stopping)

DonDons - I laughed out load with your "41 is the new 40!" Thanks - that really cheered me up!!!!

fifihall · 24/04/2008 09:43

Thank Winky Winkola for your message. It really cheered me up and was very perceptive! I am so desperate not to have nother section. (no medical reason for the last one just that the twins were both breech!) Also I didn't know you could be monitored standing up! The whole monitoring thing is not something I am very keen on as I don't want to have restricted movt and I want to try and go in the water.

Littlemissturquiose - The exact same thing has just happened to me! I have been up for most of the night having contractions on and off. I was pacing the kitchen floor and now this morning it has all STOPPED!!!! Argh!

Am very lucky though as my Mum is staying with me and she got up made the packed lunches and did the school/nursery run for me this morning so I could go back to bed. What would I do without her!

Just want to get on with it now but I am sure everyone feels like that!

littlemissturquoise · 24/04/2008 09:50

fifihall - soooo sorry to hear that - it does your head in, doesn't it?!

I feel like full blown labour is never going to happen. Got very upset about it last night and this morning as all the family and loads of friends are constantly texting and phoning (which is lovely of them) and I feel a massive pressure to get this baby out. I feel so disappointed when things seem to start and then stop (had two days of light contractions last week too - aaaaaaaaaah!) Also feel like I am letting DH down as he gets so excited when things start to happen. Let's hope we're in total agonising labour in a few hours, fifi!

fifihall · 24/04/2008 09:56

Thank you littlemissturquoise! So pleased to know there is someone in the exact same position as me!

Have had three calls from friends this morning and my poor husband has gone off to work very stressed with little sleep - wondering is this it!!!!????

What is it with babies that they start controlling your life and this one hasn't even arrived yet!!!

Not sure about toasting to agonising labour though maybe quick and painless labour!!!

Hang in there!

littlemissturquoise · 24/04/2008 10:11

I keep saying to my DH - I want to be in agony and then he keeps saying, I'll remind you of that when you're really in the midst of it and wanting it to stop. As you say, maybe we're going to have fab labours after all this "carry on" we're currenly having.

Like yours, my DH has done off to work with very little sleep as he had lots of weird dreams last night about the baby coming..... poor thing.

Hope your twins had a nice birthday yesterday - was my birthday too!

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