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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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Set a reminder

Bella21 · 22/07/2009 21:41

Didn't work for me and it really hurt. Mind you, it was done by a GP in training.

Never, ever, again

June2009 · 22/07/2009 21:44

i had 2 sweeps and i was wondering the same thing as you but once the doctor booked the induction for me I thought I migth as well try that to avoid it.
my cervix was still completely closed so they couldn't actually do the sweep "properly".
Contractions started 12 hours later.

I would have it again next time as my contractions slowed down (nothing to do with the sweep) and I ended up having the drip like i would have had at the induction and it was not nice.

toddlerama · 22/07/2009 22:04

I have heard (and not only from DH!!) that if you swallow sperm, it gets things going. Semen is full of prostaglandin, which is the hormone that gets labour going (the reason sex is often recommended). Swallowing it allows it to be absorbed into the blood stream through the stomach wall. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I had two caesareans. Still think I probably made the right choice but hey-ho!

Jammybodger · 22/07/2009 22:05

No I didn't go over the +14 because I made damn sure I was going to have a hb so did all the usual to get things movin':

5 mile hike
Orange juice and bottle of castor oil
Sex
chilli peppers
Tug o'war (my elderly male gp recommended that one!)

Not sure which one was the effective one though. Could have been the sheer threat of not having a hb!

SnowieTinTin · 22/07/2009 22:47

I gave birth to my daughter at +17. had two sweeps which were done at home by two different midwives, I found these slightly uncomfortable but ineffective. My midwifery team continued to support my homebirth plans, once I they understood that I was not accepting an induction just because my pregnancy was taking longer than the "system" is set up for. Our hospital monitored baby's heart rate daily for the last week and also gave me a late scan. I found this very reassuring. I had a long, but thankfully calm and wonderful birthing experience. Wishing you all the best with whatever choices you make.

nappyaddict · 22/07/2009 22:55

At what gestation did you have your sweeps Snowie?

SnowieTinTin · 22/07/2009 23:10

My DD is now 17 months old, so the precise gestation of my sweeps escape me, but the midwives had said it was worth a try. I really want to get the message across that it is the pregnant woman's decision whether or not to have an induction, not any health professionals. The daily monitoring was extremely reassuring to my partner and me, and this gave me the peace of mind to resist induction.

rach03 · 22/07/2009 23:45

I had been having feint contractions since midnight, went in to hospital next morning. Was told I was dilated 2cm only. They gave me a sweep, said go home and we'll see you maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow morning.
2 HRS later my daughter was born on the bathroom floor at home, so yes I think it sped things up but was already underway.... Good luck xxx

June2009 · 23/07/2009 08:41

Probably should have added that we were also a bit worried about the baby's heartbeat as we'd heart a decelaration on our home doppler, and so did a midwife at the birth centre. It did mean that I did not have the birth I wanted however in hidsight I am glad I was in the labour ward as it did end up in a cesarean too (because of th eheartbeat problem - baby is fine now though). (Cesarean: I wish I had read up on a little, not sure why but I never thought in a million years I would have one).

There were lots of factors that made me agree to the induction that did not happen: the medical staff put a lot of pressure on you if they can tell your birth is not going to be straightforward.
My baby was deemed "clinically large" just by them feeling my tummy. (baby turned out to be 7pounds...) I also had a slightly high BMI (33) and a history of heart failure in my family.

What I am trying to say is that if I and the baby were perfectly fine and healthy I would have probably asked for the induction to be postponed a little, lied about my contractions starting or not turned up or something (!!).

Then again a few people have had an induction and gone on to have a very nice natural birth.

I would have refused the sweep if I did not like the midwife, there were a few at the birth centre I absolutely did not want near me.

fizzpops · 23/07/2009 08:57

I was booked in to have a sweep when I would only have been four days overdue. For some reason I was convinced I would be late anyway and was going to decline it. They offer them every week on the same day so the next week would have been better if nothing had happened by then.

As it turned out my DD arrived four hours before my appointment!

I think it was the midwife following procedure and I didn't want to be rushed.

aniseed · 23/07/2009 11:20

I had a sweep yesterday. Wasn't uncomfortable at all - bit like a smear test. Am 2cm dilated but nothing has happened yet. Was two weeks overdue with first and had horrid induction experience. Really want this baby to come (40+5)and am feeling very fed up. Glad to know that I'm not the only one. None of my mum friends have been late. Keep having pains and am very uncomfortable so hoping these are all signs. Am so so sick of people ringing or saying 'haven't you had it yet?' as if I am enjoying this!! V. sensitive as you can tell! Am a watched pot!

TamTam29 · 23/07/2009 11:35

Both my DS were 2 weeks overdue and I had a few sweeps with both. One or 2 a couple of days before induction and others at the hospital as part of the induction process.

I found it no more uncomfortable than a smear test - felt as you would imagine it really, having someone pocking about in your bits!

Dunno if sweeps helped as I was still induced, but first time around i was already 4cm when i went in to be induced so didnt need the suppositeries. 2nd time i had a sweep just before suppositery and went into labour natually.

I dont know if the sweeps helped or just that the baby was nearly ready to come themselves anyway. I did lots of research and it seems that the jury is still out too.

I just felt it was worth a try - tried everything else!!

(my research also led me to believe nipple tweaking and sex were the only old wifes tales that actually make a difference)

To reasure you, i was desperate not to be induced but it was nowhere near as bad as i had imagined!

Original poster

SheWillBeLoved · 23/07/2009 11:39

Aniseed I feel your pain re: people nagging you to have the baby! I've been woken up with calls/texts, every single morning since I hit 40 weeks to ask me whether I've had any signs/even had the baby..! This is close family, asking if I've had the baby! As if they wouldn't be the first to know

40+5 today, got 5 more days until I have to go back to the hospital for more monitoring and a sweep being offered. Really hope she comes soon, don't want the sweep at my next appointment, but I also don't want to be sent home after my next appointment and still not have her, and then be sent down the medical inducement road

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 23/07/2009 12:05

If it were me I would perhaps think about a sweep at 40+11 and then one at 40+14 if the first didn't work?

ermintrude13 · 23/07/2009 13:49

Shewillbeloved sounds like waiting til +10 days is a good idea rather than try too early - more likely the cervix will be 'ripe' and the sweep more useful. But don't be pressurised either way. I also hated that - 'haven't you had that baby yet?' malarkey that started a week before EDD. Once I said - yes, I've left the baby under the bed and this is a beach ball up my jumper. Oh how we larfed. .

amy2507 · 23/07/2009 14:22

lol, why do people ask you that question even when they see you and it is quite obvious that you have not yet "had that baby yet"

i had a sweep at 40+1 and was 2cm dialated, then another at 40+7 and was still 2cm dialated then waters broke 3 days later and then went into full labour 24 hours after that so a sweep did nothing for me but everyone is different.

thinking back i tried as my last resort, having sex! wasnt much fun but my waters broke at 4.30 the next morning so that might be worth a try?
they broke as i was asleep too so i woke straight away thinking mmmmm what was that hmm

quite funny really when you look back at all the rediculous things you try to bring on labour!
not too sure if that was the reason or just coinsidence?

scrummymum · 23/07/2009 15:46

My sister had a sweep yesterday and today she is in labour.

minimuffin · 23/07/2009 15:47

Hi Shewillbeloved - it is weirdly miserable going well overdue. I've been overdue twice now (11 days and 7 days) and was going doolally going to bed every night wondering if my life was about to change forever, psyching myself up then next thing I knew it was morning and nope, not a sausage. I started playing chicken, lugging heavy shopping home, going out for dinner, thinking it would happen when I least expected... but no.

Not sure how you feel about it but have you thought of acupuncture? When I went 11 days overdue with my 1st I was desperate to avoid being induced so my midwife suggested a sweep and acupuncture as gentle interventions to help put me into labour. On day 40+10 I had acupuncture at around 2pm - was thinking it would be quite relaxing and plinky plonky but it wasn't at all, she attached my TENS machine to the needles to send gentle electrical pulses through them, my DH got a shock when he came into our bedroom and saw me all wired up. Not altogether pleasant but I was past caring by this point, I was so ready for the baby to come and there had been NO sign at all he was imminent. Anyway, the acupuncturist left, I went to the loo and I'd had a show. I absolutely knew at that point that it was starting, I had dull period-like pain. When the midwife showed up at 4 to do the sweep I told her I thought labour had started, but she suggested we do it anyway so I had it - not nearly as bad as I'd been expecting - the acupuncture was def more uncomfortable!

Was in pre-labour for rest of day, the proper contractions kicked in around midnight and my DS was born at 7.39 the following morning. I'm convinced his smooth and fairly speedy delivery was something to do with the acupuncture, it felt very powerful. Maybe worth a shot?

With DS2 I went a week overdue and was booked in for a sweep on day 40+7 but he arrived before the appointment time! I'd tried all the old wives stuff with him but nothing worked, wd def have had sweep and acupuncture again if I'd gone much more overdue. I agree with other posters that sweep should only be done if your cervix feels ready - a good midwife should check

minimuffin · 23/07/2009 15:49

P.S. - one way or another she WILL come - good luck!!

milkwoman · 23/07/2009 15:54

I tried everything and still went 15 days over and had to be induced!!

womblingfree · 24/07/2009 00:09

minimuffin - had to laugh at your 'playing chicken' to get things going. I insisted my husband took me with him to an all day cricket match when I was 8 days overdue.

Was sure sod's law would kick in but turned out DD wasn't interested enough in cricket to make an appearance!!!

mogend77 · 24/07/2009 14:19

I think discomfort-wise sweeps are one of those things, like smears and contractions themselves, that are much less uncomfortable if you can manage to relax. Easier said than done, I know, but I think it helped with me. Although it does also make a difference how vigourous they are - I had two reasonably gentle ones, and one rather rough - the cmw in question asked my permission to be a bit rough as I was so favourable and so near to my booked in induction. I said go ahead. It provoked a contraction which I had to breathe through. My waters broke that night - who knows whether due to the sweep or not? I don't know whether I would have started contracting naturally after that or not in the next couple of days, because there was mec in my waters and I succumbed to pressure to be augmented that night.

I don't know whether I'll be accepting routine sweeps this time or not, though I definitely won't be accepting routine induction. But as to the sweeps themselves, they were fine & it definitely helps to be as relaxed as possible & to have a sense of humour!

ermintrude13 · 24/07/2009 14:44

Oh, and a friend of mine went for reflexology when 11 days overdue and her waters broke on the therapist's chair .

And when I had my 3rd sweep, the MWs gave me some lavender essential oil in massage base too. I think they were getting as desperate about my home birth as I was...

ermintrude13 · 24/07/2009 14:45

ps they didn't give me the lavender oil there and then - just a little bottle for DH to massage into my ankles and feet thus combining aromatherapy and reflexology as vaguely hopeful methods of starting things off.

shiney01 · 24/07/2009 15:20

I had a sweep last night (41 weeks) and because my cervix isn't open it was pretty uncomfortable. This is my first baby and I'm coming round to thinking that things only work if your body (and baby) are ready. I've been having acupuncture and trying every method going to avoid being induced next week but nothing doing!

Since last nights sweep I've been having painful cramping very low in my abdomen ... the hospital have told me this is my body preparing for more painful contractions ... so much for me having a 'natural' birth - I think I'll be asking for pain relief pretty early on!!

I'm also going to bed every night wondering if this is my last night before my entire life changes forever.

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