Am I strange in not wanting a sweep?

[strawberrycake]

It just sounds horrible, I guess it's a gut reaction. It seems to be presumed that at the next appt. I'll want one. I don't like CM and I don't feel like there's a great level of privacy in the clinic. I'd probably be more so inclined if it was in the hospital, but the idea of taking my knickers off on the grotty bed in a pokey room off a busy corridor in the clinic fills me with shame. Would I be unusual in saying 'no thanks'? I'd only be 40 + 3 at the time, later on maybe I'll feel differently but it doesn't seem like I'll be panicking about it at only 3 days over. Also I just don't like CM, she ignores me and is generally half-arsed in all she does. It's an intimate act and not something I want to do with her.

I'm well aware that in labour there may be a need for VE etc. but the situations rather different and I doubt I'll mind. I'm 39 weeks btw.

No you're not being strange at all!
I really did not like the thought of having a sweep so I didn't have one.
DS arrived 4 or 5 days after due date, and no-one pushed me to have a sweep even though he was going to be a big baby.

You don't have to have one if you don't want to

there is no way I would have one unless really desperate, had a lot of intervention with DD whilst in labour but somehow that was different, there is no guarantee of it working either!

Thanks for the replies. I see it as not part of the birth process, so I feel uncomfortable. I'm ok with any amount of nudity and examination in labour, but just don't want a sweep out the blue iyswim.

I did have 3 sweeps in the end going 12 days overdue but they were quite different from each other. The later on it is the less painful/uncomfortable it is as your body is more likely nearer to being ready.

If I wasn't comfortable with the mw I wouldn't do it - it would make me tense which would make it hurt me. The best one was a mw I felt at ease with in the daycare unit when 10 days overdue.

You dont have to have a sweep if you dont want one. Just say you dont want it and she should leave it at that. Though once you go over 40 weeks they do tend to start pushing for sweeps and setting induction dates (or at least they did when I went over 40 weeks with DS1).

I refused a sweep because I didn't like the sound of it.
Mw had no issue with that, just said to let her know if I changed my mind.
Had ds the following week, just short of being induced.

Strawberry, I am 41+2 today and politely declined a sweep from the midwife on Monday - in fact I'm surprised you're even being offered one before you are term. I went to the consultant today (to decline induction but that's another thread) and I did accept a sweep but I have to say, I did it because I wanted to know the state of my cervix but given the same choice again, I would decline. I should have known better but he was so reasonable about supporting my choices I felt I should give a sweep a go to see if I could speed things up but honestly, if the baby isn't ready, why would it work? And if the baby is ready, I wouldn't need one anyway. I've come to the conclusion that they're pointless (and I have to say mine was extremely uncomfortable and to be honest, painful). So, IMO, you are being very sensible to decline a sweep so early.

I don't want want - it seems they only work if you are ready anyway, so I am going to wait (if I make it to term this time!). I wonder whether they actually do anything anyway...as many don't work as do, so you might have been going to go into labour anyway... jmo

My plan is to only have if it if induction seems like the only sensible way forward, otherwise I don't see the point.

Don't do it! they are horrible and mostly pointless imo,see my posting on the other thread "membrane sweep,what is it exactly" if you want my longer explaination(and other opinions which might be helpful)sorry I'm not sure how to link to it but it was only a few days ago.