Sweep at 38+2

[Irishgal1987]

Hi guys, I’m currently 38+2 weeks pregnant with my second baby. Consultant is concerned about baby being big (90th centile). My first baby was big (9lbs, 4oz) so guess I just make big babies! I had a GD test which came back negative.
At my appt last week, the Consultant talked about my options (induction, C-section, sweeps etc). I was induced with my first and it was a very traumatic birth resulting in forceps and episiotomy. I have said I don’t want another induction but they are pushing. I agreed to a sweep which I had today. Midwife said my cervix was down and 1cm dilated. Cervix is still quite thick, 2cm roughly. I’ve been having light period style cramps and noticed some light spotting after the sweep.
Just looking to see if anyone has had similar experiences. I would just love to go naturally but wondering what my chances are here.
Thank-you!

I had a sweep at 38 weeks and was 1 cm dilated. The midwife was confident that I would have a baby within 24 hours. It was actually 9 hours later that I had him!

@orangecreamed Ooh this is so positive! Thanks for replying! I’m booked in for another sweep next week but midwife said hopefully we won’t see you.

I had a sweep around this time with my first but they couldn’t do it as my cervix wasn’t ready enough. Had another at 40+2 and was told I was 1cm dilated and my baby big came the next day so 🤞🏼

@MuddyMoments fingers crossed! 🤞🏻 I would just love to go naturally.

I had a sweep at 36+6 which turned the sporadic contractions I had been having for the last 3-4 weeks (I had an irritable uterus) to regular contractions. The next day I went back in for an induction. I was 1-2 cm and they were undecided if I would need inducing at all as it looked like my body was going into labour on its own. In the end they did start the pessetry but I only needed that in for 4h as labour has been initiated and they didn't want my body to be hyper stimulated. Baby arrived 20h after i had the pessetry put in. I needed my waters breaking too but this was because my labour stalled after i lost the ability to stand because my physical health which was the reason for the induction in the first place.
If your body is ready I do think that a sweep can be enough or maybe enough with a gentle nudge from the first step of induction.

I had sweeps from 38 weeks with my second. Didn't come out until 41 weeks but was a breeze. My third was an induction (and also fine).

With my fourth I wanted an induction as the baby before was 10lb 8 and I was worried about going over my date and him being huge.
The consultant t agreed to sweeps from 38 weeks to try and start things naturally and an induction on due date.

My amazing midwife said she was happy to do sweeps (think I had 3 or 4) but she needed to warn me that it might just put me in slow labour for days/ weeks. I decided to go ahead and that’s pretty much what happened. Lots of sleepless nights, stop start contractions…. I remember being so fed up it really messed with my head.

That said I did go into labour naturally the day before my due date. Once labour started it was pretty quick and straight forward.

He was 8.10 so not even that big in the end!

I had a sweep at the same time as you, I was 1cm dilated went into natural labour the following day!

Thanks for your replies ladies and for sharing your experiences. It’s lovely to hear the positive experiences because you do read some horror stories when it comes to predicted big babies.
I was cramping on/off all last night and feeling very heavy. Hoping like you @Ash2345f I go into labour today! 🤞🏻