to sweep or not to sweep?

[marzini]

hi everyone,

Just to explain,i am 37+4 weeks and went for my midwife appointment at the GP yesterday, she is only there on a monday morning and gets booked up really fast so i have always had a few appointments booked in advance throughout the pregnancy.

The thing is when i went yesterday she checked i had my next appointment, when i will be 39+3 and then said " oh and we will book you in for week after for a sweep!" at this point i will only be 3 days past term, there was no discussion, nothing, as it is mny first i just sat there is shock and didn't know what to say but she went ahead and put on the computer that it was for a sweep and wrote it on the appointment page of my hand held notes.

The question is, do i have any choice about this, and how do i voice my opinon (once i've decided what it is, i know kind of what a sweep is but don't know the details. As i said this is my first and need a bit of advice.

thanks in advance x

of coure you have, just say you dont want to have one until much later if you don't go into labour naturally.

I had one with DD at 39+5 because she was my third and i felt ready she was born the next morning BUT they only work if you are very close to labour anyways.

you don't have to have a sweep

i had one at 39 weeks but i had already had a show and period pains so i knew things were moving along anyway (DD was born 9 hours after the sweep BTW)

I was given a sweep on my due date during what a thought was just an examination of my cervix . The midwife didn't even ask.

I wish I hadn't had had it.

thats the point really, i have had no problems during this pregnancy, measurements are spot on, and don't really see why she feels the need to interfere so early on, although like everyone i have a little moan now and again about not sleeping and kicks in the ribs i feel fine?

Plus she hasn't actually asked me if i know what a sweep is, surely she should have explained it to me?

Do you think she is just booking you in for a sweep in advance to make sure you get the time/appt slot if that is what you want at the time?
I had one at about a week overdue, the consultant did it- I have to say it was uncomfortable bordering on slightly painful (I have since found out that you can ask for gas and air if you like), however, my labour started as I was walking out of the clinic (period pains) and 48 hour later DS was born.
I am glad that I had the sweep as I really wanted to avoid the prostin gel induced labour scenario, and In the end i did!
You absolutely dont have to have a sweep tthough, and from what i have heard/read how effective it is depends very much on good the MW or consultants 'technique' is.
wait and see i say!