pros and cons of "stretch and sweep"???

[crazyrunningmama]

Hi! I am 39 weeks and at my appointment last week my doc mentioned that at this week's appointment we could do a "stretch and sweep". Besides sounding uncomfortable, are there issues with that at this point? With my dd I was overdue, she was very large and had severe mec aspiration (which is a bigger risk for overdue babies I understand). So I'm guessing they don't want me going too late with this one. Advice? (Of course I will be discussing with with my doc before I consent).

[MaerynPearl]

My advice... don't expect it to work. It rarely does anything. And I am pretty sure the times when it supposedly does, you would have gone into labor anyway. (especially since they usually only do it past your due date... and if labor starts any time within two days following they say its from that... rather than from the fact that you went into labor because it was time)

[jennica]

The risks are that your water could break, it could introduce infection to the fetus, and it could be intensely painful and leave you uncomfortable and sore with unfruitful contractions for days.

The benefit is that some think it can help you to go into labor, though it can take up to three days and your body has to be getting ready anyway for it to really work.

I personally would not take the risk of an induction unless I was approaching, or over 42 weeks (depending on the situation). But you also need to consider your past experience and weigh that into the risk/benefit scenario. At this point you're not even 40 weeks though, and if you went overdue last time, it would be unlikely that your body would be receptive to any induction methods at this point. You might to want to wait until your due date at least, perhaps a week or so longer.

[MamaFern]

I would hesitate in your shoes.. at least until you are 40 weeks + along.
after being 2 weeks overdue I allowed my midwife (whom i trust 100%) to do a S&S because it was that or other more serious methods of getting baby along... castor oil and so forth (BLAH) I think if done gently and carefully it can be okay, but like the previous posters have said, it CAN cause problems like infection, broken waters prematurely.. dont let your doctor rush you along...39 weeks is by no means late or unusual.

eta: my second was 2 weeks "late" and 10.5 lbs..she had sticky shoulders and her birth was pretty intense.
my third was also 2 weeks late and only 8lbs and a perfect natural birth..so just because one was big and there were problems doesn't mean that this one will be the same

[crazyrunningmama]

Thank you mamas!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I doubt I will do it, especially as I haven't even been vigiliant about the more obvious things to move things along (sex, walking, etc).

[CherryBomb]

I wouldn't bother till I was at least a week overdue. If you're not close to starting labor, it's not going to do anything but be uncomfortable.

[poorlittlefish]

I just got done reading a book by Ina May Gaskin (I can't remember the name.....natural birthing or something) and she said that this is a safe way to get labor moving because it naturally gets your body to product the chemicals that start labor (you know the ones that are naturally in semen? can you tell I'm pregnant?!)

Anyways, I had this done at 39wks and 6days last time. My Apt was at 11:30am and I had my daughter at 6:45pm. It worked for me but I do think that your body needs to be ready. It is just a little shove. It won't put you into labor if you aren't ready.

[meganlisbeth]

speaking only from my own experience, i would advise against it.

i had a stretch and sweep with my son, and it only led to a whole week of unproductive contractions which then led to unwanted interventions. i don't have any medical literature to point you to, but if you google it you can find that this can sometimes be an unwanted result of an S&S.

good luck!

[song_of_the_soule]

I had it, it hurts a real lot and does not work

[crazyrunningmama]

Well, I told my dr. I was worried it might not do anything and she was totally honest and said "yep, it might not" and so I said I didn't feel comfortable with it and she said "well, that's that then". Love having such a good, trusting relationship both ways, she totally respects my thoughts. Thanks so much for your input mamas!!!

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Birth and Beyond

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Birth and Beyond

[angelpie545]

I had it done twice (both times for medical reasons-the first time for a post-dates baby who wasn't doing well and the second time to avoid the same problem when it looked like that's what was going to happen), both times on a favorable cervix (both dilated and effaced), one strip at 41wk4d and one at 39wk6d. The first time I went into early labor immediately and my daughter was born easily the next day after 16hrs of mild labor (mild enough that I slept through some of it) and 2 hrs of heavy, intense contractions. The second time I had a day and a half of mild cramping and went into hard labor at 6am the second day, which ironically was the date I scheduled my induction for. Ds was born five hours later. I think that a membrane strip, when applied correctly and carefully, can result in good outcomes and avoid interventions.