Membrane sweep!!

Sunny_Angel

Ok scrap the idea of ds being there then:p

I am trying to remember as clear as possible, and i think it was offered to me rather than suggested strongly IYSWIM.

You need to talk to your MW about this so you dont get yourself stressed about it.
My Mam swears by the saying "Time come-child come"
Moozikgal kinda backs that up in her experience really.
The thing is you wont know until after the event when the time is gonna be right.

Sounds like its just right for you to go with the flow.:cool:
BOL
Sunny Angel

Crispy_Ambulance

If your midwife has told you it is best for your baby to be induced at just over 40 weeks and there is nothing wrong with you or your baby, she is talking rubbish. Induction is stressful for babies and often leads to more and more interventions. If a baby isn't ready to be born, there is no point inducing the labour. Failed inductions often lead to babies being distressed and c-sections.

If mother and baby are fine, then all is best left alone. Normal pregnancy is 37 to 42 weeks, so no-one should even think about induction until 14 days overdue.

A sweep will be uncomfortable and pointless if labour isn't ready to start. If it is ready, it may get things going, but if your baby is still getting into the best position to be born, then hurrying things along may not help.

You do not have to have ANY medical interventions unless you consent to them.

My advice - if you don't want the sweep, politely refuse. And politely refuse again if she insists. And if you don't feel confident in her, contact the head of midwifery at the local hospital and ask to have someone else.

Anastasia

inkie wrote:

Worth a try if you go overdue, but next week you will only be 40+.I would leave it a bit longer - I actually had some of my ladies asking for a sweep!! You say you have no one to look after your Little one - have you made plans for the birth?

Agree with inkie to leave a bit longer. A lot of membrane sweeps are done too early and they just start contractions which don't amount to labour. (I'm a midwife on Labour Ward)

A membranes sweep is an internal examination where the midwife/doctor puts a finger or fingers into the cervix and firmly sweeps right around the inside. It can be painful - it varies from person to person. You can ask your midwife to take it slowly and say that you will tell her to stop if you don't want her to continue. I'm sure she will understand your reservations.

Personally I was grateful for one done with my last baby as I was nearing 42 weeks and being threatened with induction. It worked.

There is evidence to support the practice in an attempt to reduce the amount of complications associated with induction of labour. That is why in many units everyone is offered it by their community midwives.

You have had some good replies from everyone here. Good luck and hope all goes well.

Anastasia

Just thought of something else that may help for labour as well.

Spend some time sitting on a birthing ball. Do a bit of gentle bouncing and moving from side to side. It helps to widen your pelvis and encourage the head down onto the cervix.

Good luck.

nats3006

hiya i honestly cant thank any of you enough for all the brill replys didnt think i would get that many!! think i am just going to politely refuse first experience of childbirth ohhh nasty but here i am again its all to easy forgotten about until you get pregnant again haha!!
thanks again
Nat
x

Bambam

Can one of you lovely midwives out there tell me what is the purpose of the sweep? I was told it brings the cervix 'in line' with the neck of the womb (or something like that ) It was 20 years ago and I was too nervous to ask what the sweep 'did.' :rolleyes: Thanks.

inkie

Yes sure.... when a sweep is done, the cervix is stretched and then finger is inserted and then run around (hence the word sweep), in an atempt to sepate the membranes from the lower uterine segment - this results in a relaease of prostaglandins and prostaglandins are the active ingredients in things such as prostin pessaries and gels used to try and induce labour.

Anastasia

Bambam wrote:

Can one of you lovely midwives out there tell me what is the purpose of the sweep? I was told it brings the cervix 'in line' with the neck of the womb (or something like that ) It was 20 years ago and I was too nervous to ask what the sweep 'did.' :rolleyes: Thanks.

The purpose of the sweep is to stimulate the cervix into action releasing hormones to start labour. This will only work if the cervix is 'ripe' or getting ready. This is why it is better done at 41+ weeks rather than 40+.

Anastasia

nats3006 wrote:

hiya i honestly cant thank any of you enough for all the brill replys didnt think i would get that many!! think i am just going to politely refuse first experience of childbirth ohhh nasty but here i am again its all to easy forgotten about until you get pregnant again haha!!
thanks again
Nat
x

Hey, you might be surprised this time how different things are. I see Inkie's on. I'm off to work. Catch the discussion later.

X Ana

nats3006

just bumping incase anyone else got any advice
thanks all