When did membrane sweeps become a thing?

[RedRobyn2021]

I had never heard of them until I was pregnant with my first, my mother and grandmother had never heard of them.

When did they become common practice? The NHS seems to be obsessed with them

Even if you say no, they constantly offer or push

@Marylou62

Yes well, you can go two weeks or more over now because last time I checked were in charge of our own bodies, but unfortunately nowadays they will try to coerce/bully you into having an induction.

There does seem to be some good randomised trial data that shows that they reduce the likelihood of induction.

I had one nearly 18 years ago. Well I say I had one, I had to ask her to stop as it was so fucking painful. And I gave birth with no pain relief twice.

My GP gave me one in 1982 because I was over due before Xmas. Didn't work I had to wait another week.

I reckon midwives have been doing sweeps since Shiprah and Puah, if not earlier. it’s an old old technique.

Sweeps were being done without consent in my area so I refused all vaginal exams while pregnant. I just felt like the risks outweighed the benefits.

Eh? Why are you replying to me like this? Did I imply that I wasn't in charge of my own body?

I had one 32 years ago. Again 25 years ago. Neither worked. Induction on both. Pretty normal practice then. (A sweep).

🙄

They will try to "coerce" you as you so delightfully put it into having an induction because your baby is more likely to die if they leave it in there well past two weeks.

I had never heard of them, and didn't realise until 15 years later and one of my colleague was talking about his wife being booked for one, that I had actually had one with my first. I was 10 days overdue and the doctor said he was going to examine me. Felt like he reached into me as far as his armpit and started rummaging. Oh the pain!. I dug my heels into the bed, nearly launched myself off the end of it. We had been discussing appointment for induction, but after that, he gave a knowing nod and wink to the nurse and said he didn't believe we would have to go for an induction, they walked out of the curtain, my husband came back in and i just burst into tears from the pain and bewilderment of the whole experience.

Not one word of explanation before hand, and CERTAINLY no discussion of if I wanted, or agreed to have one.

Went into labour early the next morning and spent the next 45 hours in labour. I still wonder if my labour would have been easier/shorted if things had just been left to progress naturally?

My great grandmother used to help women deliver and she wrote in her diary about her grandmother teaching her how to do them so quite a long time.

On my first at 39 weeks and 6 days it kicked off everything for me.

I suspect midwives just did it without mentioning it in the past. "Now then Mrs Brown, I'm just going to examine you and see if we can hurry you along a bit....".

Thank you for this..
I was trying to write a reply but you put it much better than I could.
I was booked for induction the next day and was quite happy to do whatever it took to get my baby out safely but went into labour naturally. I'm very glad I delivered then as my placenta had started to disintegrate.
I'm sure there's been lots more research in the 30 yrs since my DD was born..

@SapphireOpal

You're actually statistically more likely to have a stillbirth at 41 weeks then you are at 42 weeks, although the percentages are incredibly low and when weighed up next to the harm an induction can do to the mother and the baby, I personally don't think it's worth it. But that's something for each mother to decide. However it's hard to make an informed decision when you have the kind of culture that we have in the NHS nowadays which is over medicalised and not individualised, they are absolutely coercive and they absolutely bully, I've experienced it myself and almost every mother I've ever spoken to has experienced the same.

Over half of all pregnancies are ending in induction or cesarean, it's quite obvious that not all of these are medically necessary. Yet the figures are climbing whilst the stillbirth rates stay the same. Women are being traumatised unnecessarily, you only have to ask any other mother you meet about their birth to hear that. I don't believe that's right, I actually think there's a better way.

That's awful that they didn't even ask you, you must have even really shocked by the discomfort