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Pregnancy

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Original poster

3 days overdue, shall I accept a sweep?

145 replies

SheWillBeLoved · 21/07/2009 12:59

Title says it all really! Was due on the 18th by my scan dates with my first (due 11th by my LMP)

Midwife said last week that if I still hadn't made any progress by tomorrow, then they would offer me a sweep. I don't know if I want it though - part of me wants to let her come when she's ready to, and part of me is wondering whether I should go by my LMP dates which would make me almost 2 weeks overdue, and take the sweep.

Help Genuinely at a loss as to what to do. No real signs of labour starting, just feeling like I've been given a good kick in my pubic bone

Experiences of sweeps/being overdue/getting things going much appreciated

OP posts:

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sweetnitanitro · 21/07/2009 14:53

I had a sweep when I was 9 days over, I wasn't completely sure about it but my MW talked me into it a bit. I wanted to wait but the hospital I was booked into wouldn't do daily monitoring on me if I went over 14 days OD, they just booked me in for an induction.

Anyway, I had the sweep and it was a bit uncomfy because my cervix was pointing the wrong way but it worked and DD was born 2 days later I am so glad I had it done now because there's a good chance I would have been induced. From what I've heard, sweeps are pretty unobtrusive compared to induction.

Picante · 21/07/2009 14:57

No!! Go and have sex!!

Flumpity · 21/07/2009 14:58

hi sweet, sweep didn't make any diff to me and ended up induced anyway. but the sweep was very unintrusive really, didn't hurt. and actually, induction was fine too. had the works - 2 lots of pessaries 8 hours apart, waters broken for me, finally syntocin got it going - all just over 42 weeks. with hindsight i think my antenatal classes (NCT) were overly negative and scaremongering about inductions, because it really was fine. good luck.

Dophus · 21/07/2009 15:13

Worked for me with both of my boys (sex didn't).

Not apleasant experience - but hey - neither's labour!

izzybiz · 21/07/2009 16:08

I had a sweep with my last baby (no 3) on my due date, was no more uncomfortable than a smear.

My water broke that evening, (had the sweep in the morning) And Ds2 followed just over 3 hours later!

ducdo · 21/07/2009 16:11

I had a sweep with my DD2 and went into labour next day, whether that was because of the sweep or not I will never know.

Wasn't too uncomfortable either, by that stage I was ready to try anything.

With DS3 my husband did the sweep for me! don't laugh . we read about it in a book which told you in every detail what to do etc and it was better than a stranger doing it. Although kept getting the giggles!

Went into labour next day too so may have helped?!

Good luck whatever you do... exciting times..

BumpMakesTwoAndABit · 21/07/2009 16:13

My MW told me that sweeps are generally more effective the longer you hold off having them, i.e. that some women just aren't ready on their due date and no amount of poking around is going to make them give birth that day!

She also said that in her experience, most women needed 2 sweeps.

I have my first sweep scheduled for tomorrow, 41+2, and the second for Friday, 41+4. MW hopes that by leaving it till 9 days overdue, the first sweep will have more effect and with any luck I won't need the second.

We'll see!

Wedgie · 21/07/2009 16:20

My God ducdo that's brave!!

I actually thought that my sweep was the most awful part of (trying to) give / giving birth. It was obviously invasive and I thought it was painful. Despite that my cervix wasn't ripe the midwife carried on, and when she said she could feel the baby's hair it made me feel physically sick. It made no difference and I had to be induced a few days later which was nowhere near as bad as the whole sweep experience. I would never have another one as I am convinced that it stressed the baby as there was meconium when I finally gave birth. I know the two things aren't necessarily connected but that's just how I feel.

On the flip side friends of mine said theirs was OK and it did seem to do the trick.

With regards to sex, I was told that you have to orgasm for it to speed things up. Pretty hard when you're the size of a small bungalow and feel about as sexy as one....

oneopinionatedmother · 21/07/2009 16:29

with picante mostly

nipple stimulation plus bouncing plus walking produced at 40+9 producing 39 week ish baby...due dates accurate within +- 2 weeks

interesting thread though as i expect i'll be late again and may end up pondering some form of sweep one more time.

Original poster

SheWillBeLoved · 21/07/2009 16:31

I'm leaning more towards leaving the sweep well alone now to be honest... I've always said that she will come when she's good and ready, and if scan dates are more accurate than LMP dates, then 3 days overdue when you're allowed 14 isn't much at all... I just sort of felt pressured into it as my midwife told me I'd have a sweep, didn't actually ask if I'd like one plus with everyone saying "have you not had hat baby yet!" - makes you feel like you need to do all you can to get it out ASAP!

Been for a nice long walk today and I'm bouncing on my birthing ball as I type will go for another walk later and have a nice hot(ish) bath an just enjoy my time whilst I still can

Thanks for the advice ladies x

OP posts:

oneopinionatedmother · 21/07/2009 16:32

oh and LMP is less accurate than 10 weeks dating scan...

i thought it was being on top that shook the baby loose! YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW..

oneopinionatedmother · 21/07/2009 16:33

I MEANT TO ADD: I THOUGHT CURRENT MEDICAL GUIDANCE WAS THAT INDUCTION BEFORE 42 weeks was unnecessary (changed from 41) due to the innaccuracy of due dates

MrsEricBana · 21/07/2009 16:39

I had a sweep when week overdue (not painful or awful) and was in labour by the time I walked home and had dd a few hours later after very manageable labour (which is more than I can say for labour with ds, but less of that)

ermintrude13 · 21/07/2009 17:03

I had a sweep when 9 days late with DS1 and it was utter agony - my cervix was very sensitive and still posterior - but later the next morning I had a huge show and DS1 was born naturally at home 5.5 hours later. This time around I accepted the offer of a sweep at 8 days late because where I live now advises induction at 12 days overdue and I they'd brought my due date forward 3 days at the 12 wk scan so I was feeling the pressure. I ended up having 3 sweeps in 5 days - again, excruciating, but I had another very straightforward 4.5 hour home birth just 3 wks ago.

Although I lean towards the 'it'll come when it's ready' philosophy, I was massive with both my boys (9lb 8oz and 10lb) and really felt ready to drop, and am sure the sweeps helped, horrid though they were. Worth trying to avoid an induction, IMO. Good luck with your labour however it starts

Leosyummymummy · 21/07/2009 17:09

I had 4 sweeps!!!! 4th one midwife pulled the plug out! Waters didnt go though until I was pushing half way through and she was like "oh do you want me to pop them?"

Good luck hunny!

splodge2001 · 21/07/2009 17:19

Three days overdue isn't really overdue. However they will want to induce at 41+6, and that's what you really want to avoid IMO.

Sweeps work - I had two with DD, the first 40+4 brought on a show - within 30 mins of sweep - so fair to assume it WAS actually the sweep and not coincidence. Next sweep at 40+6 finally pushed me over the edge - 4 hr natural delivery.

They are uncomfortable but they increase the chances of a spontaneous labour which means you're less likely to have complications

bethley · 21/07/2009 17:30

I had a sweep with dd3 was booked in for an induction the next morning so had nothing to loose. I started having strong contractions straight away, but they died off by the evening. I went into labout the next morning after they described what they were going to do to induce me!! dd was born 45 mins later.
The sweep was fine, but I suspect I may have gone into labour the next morning anyway so it just gave me a very uncomfortable afternoon.

Sophie1106 · 21/07/2009 17:38

i had a sweep was 5 days overdue on edd but felt the dates were approx. 1 wk out so wasn't that keen- went into labour naturally 6 days over but v. irregular contractions for a day or so. 48 hours after went in for assessment as was worried and was offered a sweep as already 2cm dilated- waters then broke at 11am that day and she was born on 17th jun(next morning) at 6am. I would wait until the latest you feel you can and if nothing happens it's better than an induction.

Lilybunny · 21/07/2009 18:49

Hi all!

NICE guidelines for membrane sweeps are:
for first babies a sweep should be offered at 40 weeks and then repeated at 41 weeks. For a subsequent baby the first sweep is offered at 41 weeks.

As to whether I would have one...definitely!

A membrane sweep will usually only put you into labour if you are getting close to labouring already (otherwise it is impossible to actually do the sweep in the first place). They can sometimes be painful but they can also help avoid an induction which can also be painful. They are a relatively low tech intervention and I wouldn't hesitate. If you are concerned that the midwife that will do your sweep has a bad rep, maybe arrange to visit the hospital that day and they could do it on the pregnancy assesment unit for you instead? Ultimately it is a very personal choice and it's not what everyone wants to do, so don't feel bad if you decide you just don't want one.

There have been some good suggestions but having sex, and an orgasm in particular, is definitely the most helpful thing you can try. Unfortunately there is absolutely no guaranteed way of getting into labour so everything is worth a try imo! Good luck with whatever you decide, do let us know when your baby arrives.

mummy22gawjusskidz · 21/07/2009 18:51

lol at the good kick in the public bone phrase, my Ds was due on the 19th feb, and i had a sweep booked for the 25th, i was petrified and actually quite took to pineapple juice for some weird reason as it unsually makes me gag, never had the sweep in the end as he came along on the 24th! one day before....phew! 8hour labout start to finish, was only one less hour than my Dd's.

If you dont feel comfortable with it hun then dont do it, a few friends of mine have had to have sweeps but they have said its uncomfortable more than anything, and a couple that did refuse to have the sweep werent taken lightly by the docs! but at the end of the day your body your choice xxxxx

oneopinionatedmother · 21/07/2009 19:30

they do not have to chemically induce at 42 weeks. It is a choice though there is an increased risk of placenta packing up after 42 - though from the sounds of it there are also issues with induction.

personally my plan was sweep @ 42 weeks, then second sweep then chemical induction failing all else before 43...but then my pg was going ok though indeed the endless 'is it coming' pressure was intensely annoying.

how about speaking to your midwife, getting her to outline the options and relative risks and making a decision then?

it sounds like you would be comforted by her taking more of a counselling role, and less telling you what to do. then at least you could make a decision you were happy with.

also: my facts are based on memory of what i read 6 months ago (was it 10 days or 2 weeks? I'd like to check) i've just tried to find a certain article i read back then but not succeeded....

if found this one

www.gentlebirth.org/archives/dueDates.html

but it's by an american, and the population studied is very different to the UK.

your midwife should have more reliable and up to date information.

katiestar · 21/07/2009 19:30

I think they only work if you're right on the cusp of going into labour anyway

ellielou02 · 21/07/2009 19:38

I had one with DD1 and it didnt work at all, her head was engaged but she wasnt coming, I had to get induced at 42 weeks!
DD2 was a different story her head wasnt engaged (but dont think it does with second preg until you are in labour) but MW said my cervix was favourable so swept me at 9 in the morning, I felt pretty rough the whole day then about 2 in the morning started having contractions but very manageable I phoned MW at 8 and got told to come in at 10 which I did I had DD2 at 10.54, with no painrelief at all (dd1 was epidural constant monitoring) and it hurt like hell for about 30 mins but I felt great, I would go for the sweep!

MakkaPakkasWilly · 21/07/2009 19:48

I had 3 sweeps and 2 of them were awful.
One left me in tears with pain and I could hardly walk afterwards.

Oddly I agreed to another (I was 42 weeks gone and getting desperate) which was fine... but didn't do anything.

At 42+5 I agreed to another one, where the registrar accidentally broke my waters causing me to go into an extremely long and painful labour for 3 days where I needed to be induced anyway.

I, personally, would say no.

As I am almost term with DS2 I will certainly be declining any offers. The blighter can come when he is good and ready.

OpheliaPink · 21/07/2009 19:53

Go for some acupuncture. My third baby was eleven days late, the other two having been early, and i was SO fed up. I went for acupuncture on Wednesday and had him in ten minutes flat on Thursday morning.

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