Deflated after unsuccessful sweep and worried spontaneous labour will not happen

[mkd449]

Went for a sweep this morning, was really hopeful as I’ve been having loads of on and off period cramps for about a week now. Mucus plug started to come away last saturday at 38+1.

Midwife barely put her fingers in and said she could feel baby’s head extremely low but because of this couldn’t reach my cervix. She managed to get a little scratch on the cervix and said it was very soft but still quite tubular.

Have another sweep booked in for 39+4. Just feeling really deflated that I won’t get to go into spontaneous labour. First was born at 35+1 after my waters broke at home, but because she was breech I had a c-section.

Really trying to avoid medical induction and was so hopeful the sweep would get things moving but it doesn’t seem likely atm :(

At 38 weeks, you still have plenty of time to go into labour. A homeopath prescribed me caulophyllum but that was at 41 weeks.

Have you been advised to go for an induction?
You’ve still got time for things to happen without intervention, if that is what you want.
Did your midwife give you any advice?

It’s so hard when you’re this far on. I remember being so sick of being pregnant. Sending you well wishes xx

Are you 39 weeks today then? You're literally only just full term, which is until 41 weeks, then you're "late term" which would still be perfectly normal.

Stop panicking. There is nothing wrong, you're not going to be pregnant forever because your cervix isn't dilated at 39 weeks. You really don't need all these sweeps. Give it 2 weeks before you start worrying.

Yes 39wks today. Consultant recommended sweeps from 39wks so I increase chances of going into spontaneous labour. Induction is booked for 41 weeks

I had a sweep with DC1 and it didn’t make any difference. Labour started naturally, and I had my baby +10 days after given due date. I had been booked in for induced labour at +14.

Unless medical reason to birth sooner; i would wait for another sweep for a week or so? I was advised to not start sweeps until 41 weeks as you can ‘waste’ them otherwise. I had one at 41 weeks and went into larbour next day. And delay your planned induction to closer to 42 weeks

Also you open up the risk of infection…I’d lay off the sweeps. Unless you have a reason to birth earlier let your body decide when to go into labour. Inductions (of which a sweep is one type) can (not always, but can) lead to more painful labour and then c-section.

Honestly I know it's hard but just wait. The likelihood is you will go into labour before 41 weeks, and just because an induction is booked doesn't mean you have to have it. I had mine at 41+5 and 41+6 declined induction both times and went into spontaneous labour.

Sweeps this early will just make you doubt yourself which you don't need right now

Best of luck op

At a check up mid afternoon, a midwife said my cervix was still quite tubular, and she expected it might be a week or two before I went into labour. Son no 2 was born after a perfectly normal natural labour a little after midnight, around ten hours later.

You've still got loads of time. I had an induction at 41+3...wish I'd waited a few more days tbh. Obviously no one can tell you what to do, but barring any indications that you should induce, I'd hang tight. I know the STILL being pregnant is horrendous, but it really won't be much longer. Wishing you a happy birth, OP!

I had a sweep at 40 weeks - midwife said that my cervix was completely closed and wasn’t convinced that the sweep would make any difference. Later that evening my contractions started.

The last weeks are always long but wait for your body to be ready.