Unsure about sweeps and induction..

[misslissa]

I'm due on 26th June and I am just starting to consider my options if I go over.

All the research I've done don't sound particularly encouraging. Sweeps don't seem to much of a guarantee to get things going unless you are 'ready' anyway - in which case is there any point in going through it.

Then induction, I'm not keen, doesn't seem to be many positives. It's pushing an unready body into labour and even the NHS website states that inductions tend to result in more intervention, pain and possible problems for mum and baby.

But if you go over, although you can refuse does anyone do it when you then think you could be putting baby at risk?

I'm hoping baby arrives soon so I don't have to make these decisions but I have my 40wk app on my due date and I want to be prepared for the 'sweep' question.

Would you avoid all intervention or just go with it and accept the negatives that accompany it?

 

[tristansmum]

I've had both. With my first I was induced due to obstetric cholestasis on my due date. I took their advise not to continue any further with the pregnancy due to risk of still birth. My induction was easy and straight forward (I had emcs but not related to induction).
Second I had two sweeps and I had my son 36 hours after the second one. I wanted to avoid induction as I was vbac and induction carries risks so to me sweeps were totally worth a shot. And it worked.

Declining a sweep is totally normal and you are not going to get pressure to have one. If you decide to decline induction at 12+ days you may find a bit more pressure. But its your choice. Good luck and hopefully your baby will cone before you need to start worrying

 

[septemberbaby]

I'd go for the sweep if they offer one, no harm in it, even if it doesn't work! I asked for a sweep twice and they didn't want to give me one...I then went 11 days over and was induced. If I went over again I think I would decline induction for a few days at least...they'll then make you come in every day or every other day to monitor you and baby more closely, to make sure you're both doing ok.

I ended up with a forceps delivery at 40+13, after 2 days in the hospital and labour being very painful, but not progressing much...which I think was because she just wasn't ready to come out yet! So yeah, wouldn't want to be induced again, but there's also plenty of very positive, quick induced labour stories, so mine really means nothing, it could go either way.

I hope you go into labour naturally before you have to think about all this stuff! good luck!

 

[Radiance]

I have never gotten a sweep and don't plan to.

Of course going much over can cause risk to the baby. I was induced with my 1st, I was 42 weeks almost, only dilated to a finger tip, about 80% thinned but she was very high and I was getting no wheres. I had a great natural labor, besides having pitocin and them breaking my water. Definitely not what I had expected!! With my 2nd, I went into labor naturally, my water was already broken and when I went in I was dilated 6, once I got to 7- there was no progress for 2.5 hours so they had to start pitocin since my water had been broken so long.

 

[misslissa]

So many different stories of good and bad results. I am booked in for a sweep next Wednesday now and will just see how I feel when it comes. Hopefully I won't still be pregnant next week and I don't have to decide.

 

[loolindley]

I hope you go naturally before then!

I was induced with my daughter, and it was horrible. I had 2 lots of the pessary gel, my waters broken, and the sinto drip, which then had to be turned up to full before anything kicked off. It's far to say that my daughter was not ready. This time, I am desperate to get things going naturally. I've even booked myself in for reflexology, as I will try anything! I'll definitely accept sweeps, as they wont do any harm, but I'm considering letting myself go over 42 weeks and for baby to just arrive when it's ready.