Hi everyone,

I really should be working on one of the four essays that I have on the go, but while reading around one of the subjects a thought has struck me! What is the earliest that you have seen a membrane sweep carried out?

I saw one performed (at the womans request) at 37/40. She was a multip and had some social/family reasons for the sweep. As I was on my first placement I really didn't think too much of it. Now I am not too sure.

What are your experiences? Do you think that this was acceptable? I am really thinking from the midwife's point of view in relation to accountability if anything had gone wrong. I am sure the guidelines (was in a different trust then) said membrane sweep from 41 weeks.

erm my trust normally disucuss and offer a sweep at 41 weeks. and a second at 41+5/6 mainaly because induction is booked about 42 weeks. I think thats the rationale. But no more that two sweeps.

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when out on the community my mentor offered them at term + 7

if this didnt work then they were booked to be induced

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Student Midwife jan 08

StudentMidwife.NET Moderator






Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

Yeah, thats what I thought. NICE recommend a membrane sweep should be offered to women at 41 weeks of pregnancy and I have seen that often, including some at 40+. I wondered wether I had actually remembered this situation correctly and had to go through all my old notebooks to find the woman. Hey presto, 37/40, membrane sweep.

The terrible thing was that I was so new and did think the scenario was a bit odd but didn't question it at all. In fact the woman had a bit more than a normal bleed afterwards and I think that I could sense the midwifes' uncertainty, so kept quiet. I would never do that now! How we learn, eh?

Great thread idea, evsky!

I was wondering this when out on community this year too, must've been our old trust?

I saw it too at 39 weeks for maternal request and on examination, the woman was showing no signs and a sweep could not be performed to have any effect as the os was closed. I saw this alot then too and never questioned it, knowing as little as I did back then.

The is wide variation in practice, some midwives on the team I worked with at the start had very different ideas, one's practice was to offer membrane sweeping at 39 weeks if accepted by the woman. Others would wait until Term or T+ . Great subject and would like to look into it in more detail!!

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Hi

May have been different in my case but I myself was given a sweep at 37 weeks, I had Gestational Diabetes.

Not sure if it is just because I had the diabetes though!! x x x

I asked for a sweep with my second baby at 39+2 and i was told no she was not willing to do one until i was 41+ as it may cause labour pains but without the labour! She told me too drink lots of raspberry leaf tea lol and funnily enough he was born 2 days later!

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Wolves Sept 2008
SM.NET Project Manager
SM.NET Wolves Student Rep

Thanks everyone and my pal (smwife) for your interest. I have spoken to my old mentor today and she has told me this:

In her area (trust) the guidelines for a sweep are between 37 - 41 wks.
Previous lscs (vbac) the woman is offered one at 37,38,39 and 40 wks. At the 40wk sweep she is booked for the hospital.
If a woman has personal reasons they can perform them at 37/40 onwards, for instance painful SPD.

Its amazing how trusts differ. the one I am with now states that it is 41 wks on and then only two in total.

I am sure that your sweep was performed at 37/40 due to your gest diabetes, (sorry, didn't look your name up properly).

Anyway hope this adds some light on the subject!!

Cheers, Mrs!

The last trust I worked with only do sweeps from 41 weeks too, are we all the same? I dunno!

Thanks for the info, I remember something being said about their own trust guidelines, but didn't know what it was!

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On a personal note I was offered one at 39 + 6 and 40+6

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