Childbirth question

Sola

DH's exwife is pregnant with her 4th child and had a 'sweep' on her due date Friday as the baby was estimated to be 9lbs 5oz a couple of weeks ago. We're all excited for her and her husband (another addition to our strange extended family), but how soon do you go into labour after a sweep? Does it always work? He just spoke to their daughter who says nothing's happening yet.

Anthillmob

not always. sweeps are ruddy uncomfortable and they dont always work.

i had 3 sweeps with chops' and she still wouldnt come out so in the end i had my waters broken and got put on a drip. am hoping this one comes out without intervention.

its nice to hear that youre all excited for the ex. what a nice family.

all the best for her.

x

ETA - my first sweep was on the friday, chops was born late on the wednesday.

mrcow

The first sweep (2nd child) I had set me off within about 6 hours and the baby was born about 26 hours after the sweep.

The second sweep (3rd child) I had took a day or so to kick in and the baby was born 2 1/2 days following the sweep.

And no, they don't always work, but apparently it's good to repeat the process after a few days if nothing has happened.

liney

No it doesnt always work (. Midwife told me within 48 hours, but i was induced in the end at +14 days.

There are lots of old wives tales for bringing on labour though; caster oil, raspberry leaf tea, eating hot curry, driving over speed bumps (lol) eating fresh pineapple, and of course Sex due to the 'disruption' and hormones in seman.

So she needs to drive to the Indian over the speed bumps, eat a Dansak and have the raspberry leave tea, then finish the night off with abit of hows your father.

Ishtar

A sweep didn't work for me with DD, had one on the Sunday, was supposed to have another on the Tuesday, but when I saw midwife she booked me to be induced on the Thursday (I was already 10 days overdue). Evidently all the signs were favourable when the sweep was performed, but it came to nowt.

And yes, it was quite uncomfortable....

D.
(Who's hoping for a spontaneous labour this time...)

Anthillmob

sex aint worked here yet! theres a curry on the cards tonight. though to be fair he isnt due until the 20th, im just fed up and uncomfy.

nipple tweeking as well supposedly helps.

Keeping_Positive

Sweeps never seemed to help me either but in the last month I think alot of women will try most things!

Sola

Poor woman's so big and uncomfortable she's more likely to knee hubby where it hurts than enlist his help, I think! I saw her at their wedding in August when she was only about 5 months gone and she looked ready to pop then. Her existing 3 kids were all 21 days late (first two born at home) which is why she wanted to be induced with this one.

mum2one

I had the sweep on the wed was told daughter would be born by the fri would of been 2 days - but was booked in 2 be induced on the mon, my waters broke sat ngt had her on the sunday.

Had the red wine, the hottest curry I could stomach on the wed ngt, nothing shifted her!

Sola

Apparently she had a vindaloo and fresh pineapple Friday night.

mrcow

The other thing that you are supposed to do is to keep active after having a sweep (not just go home and sit down). I went for a walk round the shops and it really helped.