American ladies

natasha82 · Apr 7th, 2012, 08:42 AM

I keep seeing posts about ladies from the US getting sweeps/examinations/inductions at around 37/38/39 weeks?

Here in the UK they dont usually do any internal examinations at all before your due date or they are only done during labour i believe. Just wondered what the reason was for having these internal examinations at around 37 weeks and what happens during one?

Also how comes a lot of ladies from the US seem to have sweeps done before 40 weeks? Just curious why its different over there? I wouldnt have thought the cervix would be ready at 37 weeks?

I'm just curious thats all.

Dk1234 · Apr 7th, 2012, 08:45 AM

I had never heard of a sweep and don't know anyone that's ever had one. I don't think they are common. The baby is considered full term at 37 weeks though so that's probably why.

megangrohl · Apr 7th, 2012, 08:49 AM

I'm in Canada and my doctor won't do anything until 40 weeks and that includes internals to check on progress. Her understanding is what's the point in putting me thru unneccessary discomfort to find out something that doesn't really matter. Plus when you haven't progressed at all it's such a huge disappointment. I think some doctors do it just to make the patient happy but my doctor refuses. Ah well what can you do

natasha82 · Apr 7th, 2012, 08:49 AM

A stretch and sweep is where the midwife inserts 2 fingers inside you and checks your cervix to see how long it is, how dialated you are and tries to seperate the membranes and stretch them to encourage baby on its way.

So what about examinations then, what happens at those at 37 weeks?

AnnaE813 · Apr 7th, 2012, 08:54 AM

I guess it's similar to a sweep; they really just check if there is any dilation present and if you've thinned out at all. My doctor doesn't try and stretch it though. It doesn't bother me to have it done. I like knowing what it is going on, whether there's nothing or a lot!

Dk1234 · Apr 7th, 2012, 08:56 AM

I think they just check your cervix I don't think they sweep the membranes.

Iamblessed · Apr 7th, 2012, 09:00 AM

My docs have in the past done a stripping of the membranes starting at about 38 weeks. and here full term is considered at 37 weeks. Also if they do a internal exam they are looking for dialation and effacement and how much the baby is engaged. Its very routine here where I am. I think its kinda nice knowing what is going on in there. Also they start the internal exams at 36 weeks being as though a woman can start dialating early. Hope this helps

jo14 · Apr 7th, 2012, 09:02 AM

I think in the US they just tend to book in inductions from about 38 weeks onwards as its just a different system, same as they are quite often offered an epidural straight away, I am not saying always just in the american friends I have, non have gone over there due dates as the drs just take them in and induce, its not what I would like but its a very medicated country if you know what I mean, no offence to american ladies, i mean your systems not you LOL

LisK · Apr 7th, 2012, 09:06 AM

I don't think there's any legit medical reason for starting the internal exams at 37 weeks but that's what my doctor does too.

natasha82 · Apr 7th, 2012, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iamblessed

My docs have in the past done a stripping of the membranes starting at about 38 weeks. and here full term is considered at 37 weeks. Also if they do a internal exam they are looking for dialation and effacement and how much the baby is engaged. Its very routine here where I am. I think its kinda nice knowing what is going on in there. Also they start the internal exams at 36 weeks being as though a woman can start dialating early. Hope this helps

I understand that you are considered full term at 37 weeks but to have stripping of the membranes starting at 38 weeks wow. What's the hurry lol? I guess its just cos in the UK we have to wait the full 40 weeks before our midwives start to do anything like a sweep. Unless of course there are other complications to take into account. Our midwives feel our pelvis on the outside to see how far down the baby is, which i find quite amazing really how they can tell.

Apr 7th, 2012, 08:42 AM	#1
natasha82 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lincolnshire, England Posts: 2,505	American ladies I keep seeing posts about ladies from the US getting sweeps/examinations/inductions at around 37/38/39 weeks? Here in the UK they dont usually do any internal examinations at all before your due date or they are only done during labour i believe. Just wondered what the reason was for having these internal examinations at around 37 weeks and what happens during one? Also how comes a lot of ladies from the US seem to have sweeps done before 40 weeks? Just curious why its different over there? I wouldnt have thought the cervix would be ready at 37 weeks? I'm just curious thats all.

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Apr 7th, 2012, 08:45 AM	#2
Dk1234 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,055	I had never heard of a sweep and don't know anyone that's ever had one. I don't think they are common. The baby is considered full term at 37 weeks though so that's probably why.

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Apr 7th, 2012, 08:49 AM	#3
megangrohl Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,325	I'm in Canada and my doctor won't do anything until 40 weeks and that includes internals to check on progress. Her understanding is what's the point in putting me thru unneccessary discomfort to find out something that doesn't really matter. Plus when you haven't progressed at all it's such a huge disappointment. I think some doctors do it just to make the patient happy but my doctor refuses. Ah well what can you do

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Apr 7th, 2012, 08:49 AM	#4
natasha82 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lincolnshire, England Posts: 2,505	A stretch and sweep is where the midwife inserts 2 fingers inside you and checks your cervix to see how long it is, how dialated you are and tries to seperate the membranes and stretch them to encourage baby on its way. So what about examinations then, what happens at those at 37 weeks?

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Apr 7th, 2012, 08:54 AM	#5
AnnaE813 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Central IL, USA Posts: 37	I guess it's similar to a sweep; they really just check if there is any dilation present and if you've thinned out at all. My doctor doesn't try and stretch it though. It doesn't bother me to have it done. I like knowing what it is going on, whether there's nothing or a lot!

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Apr 7th, 2012, 08:56 AM	#6
Dk1234 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,055	I think they just check your cervix I don't think they sweep the membranes.

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Apr 7th, 2012, 09:00 AM	#7
Iamblessed Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,651	My docs have in the past done a stripping of the membranes starting at about 38 weeks. and here full term is considered at 37 weeks. Also if they do a internal exam they are looking for dialation and effacement and how much the baby is engaged. Its very routine here where I am. I think its kinda nice knowing what is going on in there. Also they start the internal exams at 36 weeks being as though a woman can start dialating early. Hope this helps

Status: Offline

Apr 7th, 2012, 09:02 AM	#8
jo14 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 1,682	I think in the US they just tend to book in inductions from about 38 weeks onwards as its just a different system, same as they are quite often offered an epidural straight away, I am not saying always just in the american friends I have, non have gone over there due dates as the drs just take them in and induce, its not what I would like but its a very medicated country if you know what I mean, no offence to american ladies, i mean your systems not you LOL

Status: Offline

Apr 7th, 2012, 09:06 AM	#9
LisK Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,433	I don't think there's any legit medical reason for starting the internal exams at 37 weeks but that's what my doctor does too.

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