Why do some women have this done?

[paradise lost]

I had 5 with DD and if any of them worked then it was maybe the last two, but i was 41+3 by then so i'm assuming she'd have been born at SOME point. LOL.

I had the first one attempted at 39+5 at my regular midwife appointment. My midwives don't generally do them before 40 weeks but i begged as i was a homebirth and my BP was getting higher and higher and the Ob was threatening daycare monitoring (having to go into hospital twice a week, NOT why i opted to homebirth, so i could sit about in the hospital for 4 hours every 3 days!) so i figured it was worth a go. As it happened my midwife coudn't reach my still posterior cervix so it never happened.

The following appointment (at the dreaded hospital!) i was 40+1 and they managed to do a successful sweep. I got a teeny bit of show, some weak BH for a few hours, then nothing. I barely felt them TBH, as my midwives were very gentle and funny and kept me feeling relaxed and good-humoured about the whole thing. My Ob's registrar did one when i was 41+0 which hurt, as she was so rough - you'd think she didn't have a vagina herself! I got the impression from her technique that she'd mainly done VE's on women with epidurals in place, even the midwives were grimacing as she did it. None of them used a speculum, just a lubricated gloved hand (2 fingers usually). As i said, it was never an issue.

I was happy to have them as it was my chance to avoid hospital birth. On my last appointment at daycare (41+3) i was given one, then the Ob came and discussed my induction (booked for 42wks, in the hospital). I told him "don't offer me the pitocin drip because i'm telling you right now i don't consent" and he read my chart and said "you're dilated to 2 already, i'll just break your water" and i said "how long before i get the drip if nothing happens?" and he heaved a big sigh and said "24 hours but i might just "forget" and let you have 48 if you take the antibiotics IV...?". I frowned as the whole idea sounded awful to me, and then Linda, the daycare midwife, who was overhearing it all, said "Oh, Beccy, i forgot to do your sweep!" and took me back to cubicles for another one. She told me, when her fingers were on my cervix, that she knew she'd not see me on Tuesday as i was clearly about to go into labour myself. DD was born at home as planned the next day.

Yes, they're invasive, but far less so than the potential things i'd have done to me if i didn't labour myself. For me they were the lesser of 2 evils.

Bec

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

"While I'm doing an internal I'll give you a sweep to help things along" - so I didn't really pick for them to be done! This was pretty much standard practice, even during labour. But I only had internals from about 40 weeks onwards. Bit uncomfortble, had one 2 days pre-birth that was awful, hurt for hours afterwards.

[LizzysMum]

I was also given one without consent.... first baby and did not know any better yada yada yada

I was booked in for the induction and when they went to put the gel on I was 1cm dilated. Loking back I am 100% sure that is what she did because it hurt alot and then she gave me a big pad to wear and said that my waters could break any time (they didn't) and I ended up on the drip all the next day and then an epidural etc etc.....

I guess she was trying for me not to have to havethe drip but sheshould have asked me as I probably would have said yes as I desperately didn't want the drip and was gutted when they said that was going to happen.

Hence I am using a Birthing Service this time = no Ob in sight!

[TeganRheana]

Well I had one done...for no medical reason other than i was 39wks and ready to have my baby on time. It didn't work though and I still went 11 days overdue. I see nothing wrong with it and I will take the opportunity again to help bubs along if and when it arises, in my experience it was relatively painless, it was more uncomfortable....

[~Saram~]

Princessmya I had a s&s at 36 wks as I had pre-eclampsia and was already 3cm, by the time I got to the labour ward for a ARM and drip I was 4-5cm so it did work a little.

I also had a s&s at 39wks 4 days as again I was already 4cm and had a LOT of pre-labour and was over it however this time it didn't do anything and I had ARM at 40wks 2d.

Both of mine didn't hurt at all just a bit uncomfy having someone try and stretch your cervix with their hand and no spectulum or anything, very quick and over and done with

[PinkPalace]

Well i am going to see how things go.
Was thinking of asking for one next week at my appointment when i am 39+5 or if they say no then maybe at 40+5.
They wil induce me regardless at term + 10 so maybe it might help things along?

[~shazz~]

I have never had 1 but I think ppl whom have history of High BP, GD and are either trying to avoid meds (for BP) or going to be induced earlier prefer to bhave an S&S before resorting to drug inductions!

i had one as i was being induced 7 days laters due to public holdays etc it would have ben earlier i was already 3 - 4 cm dilated i was already contracting irregularly any ways as soon as i had it done the contractions cranked up a notch though we still drove the 40 mins home only to turn around and go back with contractions 5 min apart soon as i was hooked up to the ctg contractions slowed and eventually stopped i made it all the way to my induction date where i had ARM and the drip and Ryan was born 2 hours later good luck with it all

[PinkPalace]

Wow
Well by the sounds of things. It isnt really a fool-proof option.
Most of you seem to have had it done and still went over or needed to be induced.
Got me thinking now - maybe i should just wait and see what bub wants to do...