Sweep at 39 weeks

[CalmNightSky]

Those who had a sweep around this stage, how effective did you find it?

How long after did you go into labour?

How dilated were you?

Asking as my midwife appt is approaching and I’ve been offered this.

I had one at 39 weeks exactly, was 1cm dilated but the midwife said it was very unlikely to work. I lost my mucus plug that evening, next day started having contractions and had a bloody show. Ended up being in early labour for 2 days, gave birth 3 days after the sweep. Once my labour got properly started it was relatively fast, just such a slog to get to 4cm. I was desperate to not be induced so I had the sweep, I’m not sure I would have it again in the future though

I had a sweep at 39 weeks, did nothing. Baby born at 39+4.

same as @BGxxx lost my plug almost immediately and waters went two days later

I had 2, didn't do anything. Had my waters broken instead. It's worth doing, doesn't take long, is slightly uncomfortable but it might work for you

How dilated were you when you had the sweep? x

How far along and dilated were you when you had both sweeps? x

38 weeks for both. I can't remember how dilated for the first one but the second I was 3cm. I went in to be induced that time and they did a sweep before hand. Few hours later they broke my waters instead of inducing as I was dilated x

I was 2cm at 39 weeks with my seocnd and had a sweep but still went to 41+2!

i had one at 40+5. it was extremely successful. my water broke which the midwife’s hand was up my twinkle!!

gush all over the surgery floor , her in phone to receptionist asking for mop/cloth

all v hilarious and i was the talk of the baby groups for ages because we all shared the same midwife who told everyone she met i think!!

had a sweep at 38 weeks was 2cm dialated already. Consultant said she’d be surprised if I didn’t have a baby that day. Was in early labour by 11pm at home. Labour suite at 4am. Baby arrived at 7.15am w no pain relief. Was in a state of shock for a few days just didn’t believe the consultant at all as all I had heard was that it hadn’t worked for so many women. Good luck 🤍

I had a sweep 39 weeks exactly, went into labour the next day. She was born at 1am 39+2 x

Sweeps are great if your body is already getting started for labour. If you have a sweep and your cervix is tightly closed and high then they're often u successful. I think they just help your body on its way. I had one with dd1 and it worked but I was already 1cm dilated, I was also 40+3

I had a sweep at 39w2, which didn’t do anything. I was 1cm, cervix was soft but not yet thinning. I then had an other sweep at 39w6 and was 1.5cm, and cervix had started thinning. My waters broke a couple of days after my sweep.

A sweep will only work if your body is ready for labour. With my first child I had a sweep at 40w and it was absolute agony, I shouldn’t have had one because my body wasn’t close.

I had the sweeps from 39w this time as I didn’t want to be induced, and didn’t want a c section so I asked to have them from 39w to try encourage spontaneous labour.

How has your sweep gone this time round? Any success?

I agree they only seem to work if your body is ready x

I had the sweep, then the following evening my waters broke but labour didn’t start straight away. Labour then started 30 hours after my waters broke. I don’t know whether it was the sweep that triggered the waters as I was already 40w.

I would have sweeps again in future but always would check with the midwife how favourable I was for a sweep

@12lisalou can I ask why you were offered a sweep at 38 weeks, and did they check how dilated you were first? Thinking of asking about this at my 38 week appointment

I’m sure the standard NHS practice is to offer a sweep at 39 weeks. Not sure why so many here seem to have been offered at 38 weeks.

So you should be offered one at 39 weeks I believe x

I think they only offer at 39 if there's extra factors at play. My midwife was really surprised that a consultant had said I could have a sweep at 39 weeks.

They seem to offer every woman a sweep at 39 weeks regardless. Well in my region anyway.

I agree though it does seem to go against nature when women naturally give birth usually between 40-41 weeks.
There seems to be such a fear of babies being overdue.
Im aware the placenta starts to deteriorate but a women can give birth upto 42 weeks.

Why not wait a bit? If there's no medical reason the baby needs to come, just let your body do its thing.

Yeah this is what I’m thinking of doing. Would rather wait til after 40 weeks. Though might give it longer than that too.
Was just curious to hear women’s experiences with getting it done x

I had a sweep at 41 weeks which did nothing then had another at 41+5 and I went into labour that night. Baby born in the morning.

If your baby isn’t ready it likely won’t ‘work’.
39 weeks seems a bit early to me?

It risks breaking your waters unnecessarily. That will probably bring on labour, but will make it more painful and risks infection. I guess the midwives want more predictable bed planning, but it'll be better for you to wait a few weeks to see if you start naturally, then accept a sweep. I wouldn't consider it until after 41 weeks

I had several episodes of reduced movement & yeah she examined me first then said I was favourable. They can’t give you a sweep until you are at least a cm dilated I’m sure.

I started having sweeps at 38 weeks as didn’t want to be induced. The third sweep brought my labour on! And fast! Totally worth it!