Sweep or no sweep?
I'll try and keep this somewhat brief!
2nd baby due 8th Jan, 1st baby was July 23 so just about 18 months between them if 2nd comes on time.
1st: Had sweeps from 39 weeks, this was all supposedly to avoid an induction due to my heart condition (to reduce pain potentially being 1 element, also as I had low PAPP-A so they have the worry of the placenta slowing down so didn't want me to go far past my due date).
Anyway, had PROM at 39+8 and didn't go into labour so ended up with the induction anyway. Everything went terribly got 24 hours and ended up with sepsis and an emergency c section.
Sepsis: could have been from sweeps, or induction.
This time: Sweeps recommended again from 39 weeks, again due to heart issues but also now due to attempting a VBAC. Due to having a c section, and in particular the short gap between pregnancies, I could (though very low chances) have a uterine rupture, therefore NO hormonal induction is an option, only the balloon/rod induction (goes in, swells to dilate you).
I was a hard no to sweeps after last time, and originally said with any future pregnancies I'd just go with the flow as long as was safe and have an elective c section if it got dangerous (if monitoring indicated baby needed out) as I didn't want any sort of induction intervention including sweeps.
Now I'm just so torn as I do desperately want a VBAC, am I just suffering trauma from last time leading to not wanting a sweep? It could be my only chance without a more severe induction after all.
What would you do? Just curious as sometimes other people's views can clarify things 😀
Thanks x
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Not a similar scenario but I have a 15 month gap between mine, and had sweeps in both pregnancies which i would say worked as i had my first at 38+5 and my second at 38+6, my first sent me into full labour after 3 sweeps but with my second i had 1 sweeps and 2 days later my water broke but no progess so i was put on the drip after 12 hours. So in a way i ended up in an induction but was only the drip and everything went well. It was pain and intense but not to the point where i couldn't handle and was fine with gas and air and was only on the drip for 2 hours and baby was here then.
I was recommended sweeps with my first as he was big and was 9.2lbs at birth even at 38+5, so im glad i did it. In both pregnancies i had hypertension so i was at risk for preeclampsia as well as high bmi. I think i'd always chose to have a sweep as i was worried i wouldn't go in naturally and didn't want an induction or section.
Hey! I had my little boy July 23 and due 6th Jan 🙂
I also had emergency C-section after failed induction and trying for VBAC. I’ve opted for sweeps from 39 weeks to try and induce labour naturally but hard no to an induction again so they have booked an elective section when I’m 41+3 so baby has plenty of time to come on his own.
I was induced via the balloon and ended up with a prolapsed cord which I think is a rare side effect from this method but that’s why I had to have a section with my first. I tried sweeps with my first from 39 weeks but my cervix wasn’t favourable for them at all!
If they can let you go naturally for aslong as safe then book you in for a section to avoid having to be induced again then you could also avoid sweeps too until maybe after your due date?? Xx
@Kayleigh oooh we will have almost exactly the same gap then haha.
Ah yes I think that's probably the way to go. I just have so many regrets from last time and maybe holding off I might at least have a bit more peace of mind this time with my decisions. They've not mentioned booking a backup c section at all yet! Everyone else seems to get a backup date, guess my local trust is very different!
Good luck with your VBAC! Hope all goes to plan for you xxx
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