Pros and cons of getting the sweep?

[Mrs.Mcguin]

I had the sweep done with both first my two babies and from what I recall, they worked perfect.

I understand that two cons of getting the sweep is that is can hurt and that it may not work. And of course the pro is that it sends you into labor.

This pregnancy, I plan on doing an unmediated home birth...however, I have all intentions on getting a sweep done again with this baby at 38 weeks.

What other pro/cons are there related to getting the sweep that you can think of...I would love to hear input on this from you lovely ladies!

 

[babyhopes2010]

i cant think of any really,
i had 2 failed sweeps both hurt and gave me random contractions but never went into labour

here they wont give u a sweep till 40 weeks

 

[Mrs.Mcguin]

i cant think of any really,
i had 2 failed sweeps both hurt and gave me random contractions but never went into labour

here they wont give u a sweep till 40 weeks

Each doctor/midwife is different. Mine does them at 38 weeks if I choose.

Thanks for the reply =)

 

[Noo]

One con is that they could rupture your membranes whilst performing the sweep and you don't go into labour and require induction.

 

[Jessica0907]

My ob did a sweep on me at 37+4 that did send me into labor. Baby girl was born very jaundice and wouldn't stay awake for any amount of food, which made getting the jaundice under control very difficult. I'd personally never have a sweep done again until after 39 or 40 weeks because I think she was just not ready to come out. But that's just my experience.

 

[Noo]

In the UK they won't do a sweep till 40 weeks if first baby and most of the time 41 weeks if subsequent pregnancies unless there is a clinical indication to induce labour early (it is part of the induction process).

 

[alicecooper]

I had a sweep at 41 weeks with DS1 and it failed, but it sent me into a false labour a couple of days after, which sent us in a panic in the middle of the night, ended up ringing my friend to come stay with DD. I was contracting and so on, and then by morning it had all just died away again.

So it caused a big fuss for no reason.

Never had another one.

They've told me this time round I can have a sweep at 41 weeks if I haven't popped, but tbh I'm reluctant because of what happened last time I had one.
BUT on the other hand, I REALLLLY don't wanna go too far over, because it's my DD's First Holy Communion at 42+2 and I CANNOT miss it, so I might try a sweep anyway just out of desperation at that point.

 

[Jessica0907]

I had a sweep at 41 weeks with DS1 and it failed, but it sent me into a false labour a couple of days after, which sent us in a panic in the middle of the night, ended up ringing my friend to come stay with DD. I was contracting and so on, and then by morning it had all just died away again.

So it caused a big fuss for no reason.

Never had another one.

They've told me this time round I can have a sweep at 41 weeks if I haven't popped, but tbh I'm reluctant because of what happened last time I had one.
BUT on the other hand, I REALLLLY don't wanna go too far over, because it's my DD's First Holy Communion at 42+2 and I CANNOT miss it, so I might try a sweep anyway just out of desperation at that point.

My first sweep with my first sent me into false labor as well. Bleeding, mucous plug, contractions, etc. but like I said, with my second baby, it worked like a charm.

 

[alisha_t]

I have heard that there is a very slight risk of infection because the gloved finger is actually going past the cervix and into the uterus. I have also heard that there is a slight risk of the doctor separating your placenta from the uterine wall if he/she doesn't know the location of the placenta. I have no experience with either of these things, though, and actually had 2 done during my last pregnancy (didn't work). Whatever you decide, I wish you luck.

 

[ColorMeFamous]

For me it did nothing and didn't cause any harm. My friends little one is in the hospital still (been over a week) due to infection caused by the sweep. I don't think it's the common to get an infection due to the sweep but it's definitely a possibility.

 

[e11etee]

I had a sweep with my first, but it didn't work. My midwife told me her fingers were too short and she couldn't reach!

 

[aimee-lou]

I didn't have a sweep with Earl - he turned up under his own steam. Eddy however was reluctant to leave and after 3 days of slow labour I more or less begged for one. I was 9days OD at this point and Earl had already been shipped off to MIL lol. It kind of worked in that I had more contractions, and my waters broke later that day, but it didn't intensify - I was left in a no-mans land of not sure if I was contracting or not most of the time lol.

After 12 hours we went up to the hospital - seeing as my waters had broken (just the hind waters though) they wanted me booked in etc ready for when it all did eventually kick off. The midwife there gave me the mother of all sweeps.... seriously, the earth moved! lol Within an hour I was in full on labour and he was here 5 hours after that.

That particular midwife was very clear in that if a sweep doesn't hurt it doesn't work! - by golly it worked though! lol