Would/Did your hb mw do a membrane sweep?

[cc_mama]

I've been throwing up this whole pregnancy and now at 39 weeks the physical discomforts are really messing with my mental health. I'm thinking of asking my midwives to do a sweep. They haven't done any cervical checks and I'm sure under most circumstances are against doing the sweep also....but part of me is ready to kiss my homebirth goodbye and go to the OB and just be induced.

So if/would your midwife do a sweep, how far along would you have to be? Were there any circumstances that lead you to ask for a sweep?

Thanks

[sept15lija]

My midwife is doing a sweep on Tuesday if no action by then (I'm 40 weeks today). I asked about cervical checks on Wednesday's appointment and she said she doesn't usually unless I request it. However I am a VBAC, and if I go over 2 weeks overdue, I'm going to run into difficulties in terms of needing to be induced and or c-sectioned (if I need to be induced then I would be transferred to an OB - and some OB's won't induce a VBAC). So, we're hoping to get things going before 42 weeks so I can have a home birth. I'm in Canada though, might be different because the midwives here do home birth as well as hospital birth (not sure if that's the same where you are).

[Dese]

My back-up midwife offered to do an internal and a stretch and sweep at 39 weeks, which I declined. My midwife/the backups would do a stretch and sweep on request at this point, I'm overdue.

Last pregnancy I had a stretch and sweep (lots of on and off labour) at about 39+5, and went into labour the next day.

[Faliciagayle]

Both MWs (current and the one who attended DDs birth) I've had will do internals and S&S if asked. With DD and this pregnancy I didn't ask until I hit my due date for a cervical check.

By conception I'm nearly 42 weeks, by u/s I'm pushing 43 weeks I see my mw tomorrow and I will likely ask for a S&S.

I'm only asking because I will be 42 weeks and I have no signs of impending labor. I would only ask at or after 40 weeks especially if you are unsure of date of conception... And like any "natural" intervention or induction method it won't work if the baby and your body isn't ready.

[TheRobinsons]

I am in Australia, but my midwife did a S&S at my request. My DH was only able to be home from 39 weeks, until 40+2 - so I had a small window of time to birth and him to be here. She did a gentle s&s at 39 weeks, and a more vigorous one at my appt at 39+6 and I went into labour that night.

I used this midwife for all 3 of my children and other than these 2 s&s, I have only had one other vaginal examination ever - so she is usually very hands off. But she was very sympathetic to my situation and wanting to encourage bub to come while DH was home. She also gave me some homeopathics, I drank lots of raspberry leaf tea, and had a few bedroom sessions with DH when he arrived home .

I was so pleased that my husband could be here for the birth, and while I can't be sure if the S&S helped - I didn't feel that it caused any problems in my situation.

Sharon

[AnabellasMama]

I discussed this with my mw at my last appt. I am 38wks and she said that she would do a "cervical massage" if I requested but she'd like to wait until 40wks. I told her that I did NOT want a s&s and she told me that the cervical massage was exactly what it sounds like a massage of the cervix and that there was no putting the finger between the sac and the uterus wall.
She also said that my dh could do it if I prefered at home, maybe before or after sex. Maybe you want to think about that???

[Usually Curious]

I've had two and am still pregnant. It won't work unless you're ready so why bother, yk?

[Youngfrankenstein]

Mine sure tried. The baby's head wasn't down on the cervix so she couldn't do one. Things worked out okay but I think you sound like you should try.

[grcelizabeth]

It will ONLY work if baby is ready and cervix is ripe (dilated beyond 2cm, thin, short, soft). Sweeping/stripping membranes aggrivates the cervix and creates it to release prostaglandins which help make the cervix soft. When the sac is swept away from the cervix it can help to stimulate the uterus to contract, but none of these will cause you to go into labor unless the baby and cervix are ready. The amount of pain is different from every woman where some it could be very painful and some just uncomfortable. Then you could have spotting and mild to severe cramping the next 2 days with nothing happening. It should also be done when overdue as it's a higher chance the baby, cervix, and labor are ready to begin. There is also a chance of PROM (prerupture of membranes) which COULD lead to interventions or complications, especially if birthing in a hospital.

I just wanted to give you the facts on how it works and the possibilities so you can make your own informed choice. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[JennTheMomma]

If I request it, but I probably won't.