Will mw give me a sweep (if I beg?!) at 38-39 weeks?

[firstontheway]

Aussuming my blood pressure remains stable (ish!) on medication and I don't have to be induced early, the plan is for me to be induced on my due date.

Ideally I'd like to have sweep before this as I just want the small chance of going into labour naturally to increase my chances of natural labour. I know it's possible, but unlikely I'll survive an induced labour without an epidural!

Does anyone have any experience of this? I know at 39 weeks or so (with 1st baby) there's a good chance cervix won't be 'ready' yet anyway, but feel it's worth a try. In this area I believe the general policy (for low risk) is to offer a sweep at 40+7 then another at 40+10 before inducing at 42 ish weeks.

What are the chances of me persuading midwife to give me a sweep before my due date?

why are you being induced on your due date?
if baby is not ready to come out, and cervix is unfavourable I would doubt that having a sweep would do much anyway.
but i'm no expert!

Because I have pregnancy induced high blood pressure (am on medication and home monititoring)and apparently the placenta stops working so well after about 40 weeks, so it's safer for baby to be born than stay put!

I agree a sweep won't do anything if I'm not close to going into natural labour anyway, but feel like if they don't try, how will we know?!

But how can they tell if it would work if they don't try?

Unless the mw feels your cervix I mean, and then can make a decision about wether or not to do a sweep?

I would have a chat with your consultant at your next appointment and chat to him/her that you would prefer to labour spontaneously rather than be induced and can he 'prescribe' you a series of stretch and sweeps to reduce the risk of needing to be induced. A one off stretch and sweep may not do much - but a few might work!!!

I have known this to be done - I had erm...loads. However, whether your dr would be happy to agree to this is another thing!

Depends on your doctor/midwife, mine said she would do one anytime after 37 weeks... your reasoning sounds good to me, if you put it that way they might oblige.

I was offered a sweep on my due date but it turned out i was no way near ready and it was as a result a very uncomfortable experience! So don't see why they wouldn't have a go a few days before your due date.

I know plenty of people who've been induced without needing an epidural, if that's what you are worried about.

avoid a sweep if you can - I had one and apparently was "ready", "ripe" (bizarre midwifery term!) but it REALLY hurts and doesn't work anyway half the time! I had sweep with my second ds at 40wks because the midwives' policy in my area was to do that before inducing in hospital but it didn't work, was really unpleasant and painful (I was sore for days) and I ended up having to go into be induced - but went into labour naturally just before they were about to induce me, 11 days overdue. I don't see the need to put mum-to-be through any unnecessary discomfort down there when it's not going to be long until she gives birth anyway and certainly for me I felt it was the midwifes getting too trigger happy - fair enough inducing when you're 10 days overdue but to sweep earlier than the full 40wks seems totally unnecessary.