Help! Dilemma about having a sweep

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I’m just looking for some advice, I’m due Friday 24th and my midwife said at my last appointment I can go in on Monday 20th for a sweep, I said no because I panicked and haven’t done much research on it. My next appointment is on my due date and she said if I change my mind I can have it that Friday.

I did some research on it and reading pros and cons and like everything to do with pregnancy, everyone is different.

Would you recommend having a sweep done at my appointment on my due date? (If nothing happens before then obviously) Or wait it out and let things happen naturally? What did everyone else do?

For some context, first baby, I’ve honestly had such an easy pregnancy no sickness etc so wondering if it’s best just to let it happen naturally? Although I am over being pregnant…

They seem keen to do a sweep! I’d be inclined to wait it out, I didn’t think they did a sweep until you were pretty overdue. Both of mine were overdue by a few days and I never had or was offered a sweep

I'm taking a sweep as soon as it's offered.

They only work if baby's ready anyway

I think posting here probably won't clarify your thinking as everyone will have opposite views.

I declined a sweep for my first (second baby came early) and then for my second, I declined all internal examinations.

I had a sweep with my first when I was ten days overdue and it worked. I did the same with my second, except I needed to have four (!) before I went into labour with her (born 13 days late). In fairness, the first was on my original due date, which was put back by the first scan. And my midwife seemed to think that I just gestate for longer than most!

In summary, a sweep put me into labour both times and I think I would do the same again. But as pp said, it only works if the baby's ready to come anyway.

I had a sweep at 39 weeks. Didn’t work - my cervix was still high so she couldn’t reach it, and it was incredibly painful while she tried. I’d leave it personally until you were overdue and desperate for baby to come (I’d choose sweeps over inductions still).

Only works if baby is ready, I had three sweeps and none worked

I had a sweep at 41 weeks.

I wouldn't have another. I found it absolutely indescribably painful, I felt like I'd been assaulted. I think some people don't experience pain with it but she basically shoved her entire hand inside me and it fucking hurt. I was shoving myself up the bed to get away from her.

She said I was showing no signs of being ready, but I did go into labour that evening.

I had a back to back labour, DD got stuck, ended up with ventouse and forceps and almost and almost an emergency section.

I've always wondered what would have happened if DD hadn't been 'hurried along' and if she'd have got into a better position if she'd been left to come when she was ready. Maybe it would have been exactly the same, but maybe not.

I've had 3 dc. DC1 - waters broke 3 days before due date - no sweep. DC2 overdue - had 2 or 3 sweeps over a week from due date onwards - they weren't painful but not particularly pleasant - had twinges after but labour did not start within 24 hours - so I deemed ineffective! Went 7 days over before labour started naturally - personally I think the long walk the day before had more impact than sweeps. But maybe the sweeps contributed in some way. For DC3 went overdue - again had sweeps - again nothing happened - ended up being induced.

With my 1st I had 2 sweeps - 1st sweep did nothing, 2nd sweep put me into labour - but I had a very long 36 hour labour

With my 2nd baby I spent alot of time stressing over whether to get a sweep or not as I wondered if that was the reason I had a long labour the first time - well I went into labour myself before I had the midwife appointment/sweep...my labour was only 6 hours long! I actually ended up giving birth at home as I didn't expect the labour to be so short 🤣

Also found my sweeps with dc1 extremely uncomfortable as wasn't close to labour and they didn't bring on labour. Declined them with number 2. Happy with that decision.

Hmm with my first I declined the sweeps offered and asked for no internal examinations - I got my wish and ended up giving birth at 40+2 with no interventions! I was hoping for the same this time around but I am currently 41 weeks pregnant, I have an appointment tomorrow at 41+1 and am tempted to accept as i would like to avoid induction at all costs 😳 will you have a 41 week appointment? I'd be tempted to decline and see what happens between now and then if I were you but obviously it's all personal preference xx

I'm still in two minds about Friday and if I should have one, it's my actual due date so it's not like I urgently need it but at the same time I'm so over the pregnancy now and want to do anything that can help! I'm going to just see how I go and decide on the day. I've heard mixed reviews on them but I also would like to avoid inductions as I've heard nothing but horror stories about them

They don’t seem to work and they aren’t without risks to the baby.

I think I will go ahead and have one tomorrow - I will come back and update with an honest review! I'm not keen if I'm honest but again, would really like to avoid induction so if it helps me to avoid that I'll go with it!

I had two, one was before due date and one was when I was about 4 days overdue.....and I don't particularly think it was either of them that started the labour off. She came 8 days late. They will either work if the baby is ready or they won't. It is uncomfortable, but in my opinion we go through the pain of contractions and giving birth so I didn't find it anything in comparison. If it has a chance of starting things off, personally i am all for it!

With my first I was overdue and had three sweeps. First two with my normal midwife, she was quite gentle and it did absolutely nothing at all. Third one was with a different midwife who was brisker/hurt more and I went into labour that night (was booked for induction next day!!).

Had one with my second, body was nowhere near ready and midwife said it wouldn't work and it didn't. Ended up being induced anyway so never had another one.

I don't think they really work unless you are near to going into labour naturally anyway. So I wouldn't worry about having one if you don't really want to. Don't be afraid to say no - no-one will force you to do anything.

Hi OP, I know I said I'd update you on how the sweep was but it never happened as I went into labour last night and had baby at 41+1! I was convinced it wouldn't happen and I'd need the sweep, but maybe a sign to trust your body and maybe give it a bit longer? Hope all goes well for you xx

I had one at 39 weeks as a first time mum. I did it purely to try and avoid an induction so wanted to do everything I could. It did work but I had such a long early labour which is a side effect of the sweep, so not sure if I’d have one again

Omg amazing !!!
So happy to hear that and hope everything went well. Maybe I will hold off and may be lucky enough to get some movement this weekend!

I had a few sweeps with my dd1 but she wasn't budging and I was induced at 41+6. I don't remember them being painful but I was already slightly dilated so I wonder if this makes a difference?

I had a quick look at the evidence on this as I'm currently pregnant again and curious! A recent Cochrane review looked at studies including 6,500 women and found:

• 60% without a sweep gave birth spontaneously vs 72% who did have a sweep.
• 31% without a sweep were induced vs 23% who did have a sweep.

So it looks like getting one can increase your risk of going into labour spontaneously and reduce the risk of needing an induction. I guess it's then personal choice whether you think the changes in risk are worth having a potentially painful procedure.

I wouldn’t bother. Didn’t do anything and was just an unpleasant experience.