Need opinions on membrane sweep pls:)

[heres2hoping]

I need some opinions please. A little history: I had my son at 39 weeks after my water broke. I had no medical interventions, it was a very uncomplicated delivery, except he was faced posterior, so labour was long and painful.

I have moved to a small town a while back and when I found out I was pregnant, I choose my maternity doc based on what his beliefs about what a birth should be. He has the same beliefs as me, little to no interventions unless absolutely neccessary. There are two other mat docs here, both of which are a lot more drug and c section happy than I felt comfortable with. I had my 34 check up today and my doc told me that he will not be in town on my due date, due to circumstances beyond his control.

My due date is July 20th, although 8 week US put it at July 15 and 12 week US put it at July 10th. I asked we keep due date based on my menstral date, july 20. My doc is going to be gone from July 18-23. There is a chance I may go early, just as I did my first. But my doc had said he would be willing to do a membrance sweep at 39 weeks, if I wanted, so he may be able to do the delivery. My first reaction is no, baby will come when baby is ready. But I am nervous about the other docs procedures. I deliberatly did not get a doula for this baby because of the doc that I choose. It is to late now. I do not know to much about sweeps, as I have never had to consider them.

What would you do? Would you get the sweep? Thanks for reading this LONG post

 

[Clarabell543]

The sweep will only move baby if they are ready anyway. Two failed for me as she wasn't ready but I would say go for it. If lo is ready it will give them a little nudge if they need a little longer then they will stay put good luck

 

[CJane]

The sweep made no difference to me, and didn't help my other overdue friends either. Over here it is usually only offered around the 41 week mark, and as previous poster said, they only make a difference if your cervix is favorable anyway. So I don't think you need to worry about a sweep bringing baby before baby is ready to come, if that's what you were wondering about.

Hope that helps you. x

 

[R8ch]

I echo what the others have said. It only works if your body is set to go - it gives it a bit of a nudge to start things off. Last pregnancy I had 2. On both occasions my cervix were favourable and I was already starting to dilate.
The second sweep worked within hours - my body was obviously ready - I had lost my mucus plug and had some contractions the evening before and when she did it I was already 3cm. So I think it's probably worth giving it a go - I have one tomorrow when I will be 41 weeks.
Rx

 

[Guppy051708]

I agree with PPs. If the sweep is going to "work", chances are the baby was ready anyways. If the baby isn't ready, then it likely wont work at all. The only risk is your water breaking during the sweep, however, i dont think that is common. ..guess the bright side to that is that your doctor will be there but if the water breaks during, that practically gurantees your baby is coming, reguardless. but like i said, i think that happening is extremly rare.

Personally, I had 3 sweeps with DS1 and never gave birth until 41+5 (he was face up like yours...oh my, i feel ya girl those are labors from hellll lol). None of my sweeps worked With DS2, i never had a single exam or sweep and he arrived at 38+3. ...so IMO, i think they only seem to work if the baby was going to make an appearance anyways.

With that said, i think you have a tough choice to make. ...i can def appriciate your feelings towards a less medicalized doctor, so i can DEF see the appeal!...If it were me, i might attempt the sweep (but only under the logic that it only works if the baby is ready anyways-otherwise i would leave it to chance.). Also, moms do control labor to a certain extent (not as much as the baby) but a lot of moms seem to give birth when they are totally comfortable, so theres a chance that you wouldn't go into labor whilist your doctor is out just because of that (although i fully understand sometimes babies dont care about those sorts of things, but "fight, flight, or freeze mode" is extremly common and very real). Ina May Gaskin has lots to say about that.

 

[heres2hoping]

Thanks for the replies I think I will probably go ahead with it. If it works great if not, nothing was lost. I just need to start wrapping my head around the possibility that I may have a different doctor. I have read about fight or flight concerning giving birth. I definitely think there is something to it. No matter what, it will all work out in the end

 

[Guppy051708]

Best of luck hon

 

[prettypayne]

With my second had a membrane sweep at 38+ and within 3 hours was having contractions they broke my waters 2 hours later n had him 15 mins after waters gone. I am now pregnant with my 3rd and am 37+5 had 2 sweeps 2 days ago and having pains but not regular since but getting induced on sunday if doesnt happen before then (due to severe spd) it works differwntly for different people and depends mostly on if your rdy x

 

[prettypayne]

With my second had a membrane sweep at 38+ and within 3 hours was having contractions they broke my waters 2 hours later n had him 15 mins after waters gone. I am now pregnant with my 3rd and am 37+5 had 2 sweeps 2 days ago and having pains but not regular since but getting induced on sunday if doesnt happen before then (due to severe spd) it works differwntly for different people and depends mostly on if your rdy x