Pain after a sweep - what/why/OK?

[designerbaby]

Hi all,

Back again... had a sweep today at about 3pm - and really very uncomfortable now...

Apparently cervix less that 1cm dilated, and still posterior, but she was still able to do the sweep - although it was quite uncomfortable as a result. She did say she would be quite vigorous, as I'm only getting one chance at this working - I'm 42 weeks on Saturday and due to be induced on Friday if nothing comes of this.

Since I got home, baby has been very active, but I'm feeling pretty rotten TBH... feels like constant BAD period pain with bouts of more acute pain... feel a bit sick when the pain gets bad.

Is this normal after this procedure? A good thing? Not a good thing?

Haven't had any bleeding or any kind of 'show' yet - again, good, not good?

Just not sure how it all should feel, what's a positive sign and what's not., etc.

Any wisdom/experience/advice out there?
I'd really appreciate it...

DB
xx

[LadyOfWaffle]

I had a sweep about 3-4 days before I was induced - it made me achy painy and feel like pants, but nothing happened for me. The period pain might just be braxton hicks?

[FrannyandZooey]

sounds a bit like labour starting to me

good luck

[designerbaby]

Hmm... haven't had pain quite like this before - although fairly sure I've felt Braxton Hicks they haven't hurt... LadyOfWaffle - achy painy and pants pretty much covers it, yes...

How was the induction in the end?

Franny - I'm finding it increasingly hard to feel optimistic about anything actually being labour - I've had so many false alarms and got excited only for nothing to materialise - I don't think I'll believe I'm in labour until I have a baby sticking out of me...

Thanks for such swift response though...

DB
xx

[FrannyandZooey]

very sorry to hear you are feeling so down db

however have reread your OP and it really does sound similar to my early labour which started early the next day after having a sweep

I do wish you well, whatever happens next

[charliemama]

Being overdue is pants. All 3 of mine were ds 1 & 2 both 5 days and dd 9 days. So I understand your frustration.

I had a sweep with ds2 and the next day he was born.

I felt period pains at the beginning of ds1s labour.

Good Luck with everything. Whatever the outcome by this time next week you will have your baby.

[designerbaby]

Oh... light pinkish brown bleeding this morning - is this normal/OK?

I can't seem to find much info on the net about sweeps - can anyone point me to some??

DB
xx

[charliemama]

This sounds like the labour I had with ds1 (with no sweep). Hang in there. Can yu phone your midwife?

[FrannyandZooey]

a show?

I am really hoping for you here

I hope lulumama will be along later, but I also hope that later on things will have developed so far that you will not be around on MN

[Lulumama]

morning

what sort of browny bleeding? gushing blood is not good, but some bloody mucus or a bit of blood when you wipe can be a good sign as it means dilation.. frank bleeding must, must be checked

the pains and the show sounds promising, try not to spend all day waiting for the next pain, just go about your day, relax, eat , drink, wee, empty your bowels as you need to, sip RLT and honey. and just chill

[designerbaby]

Lightish bloody mucus, I guess - no gushing!
Enough to need a light sanitary towel.

Is this a show? Goodness, I thought I was well informed, done my research, read the books, gone to all the NCT but when it comes down to it, I've no idea whatsoever

AND THE BLOODY BOOKS DON"T HELP!

Thanks goodness for mumsnet...

Still uncomfortable today - but no regular pains or anything. Refusing to let myself get excited...

DB
xx

[charliemama]

Don't worry. I've had 3 and was never sure if I was in labour with any of them!

Ditto to Lulu's advice: try to go about your normal day and relax. Make sure your bag's ready just in case, and phone your midwife if you want some advice. Mine came round and checked me when I started having pains with the 3rd.

Good Luck!!!

[designerbaby]

Oh... bag has been ready for WEEKS!!!

As have I...

Trying some nipple stim to see if it'll help kick start something... really don't want to be induced if I can help it - at least I want to know I did everything I could to get that water birth!

DB
xx

[designerbaby]

Ok definitely the show... big lumps of the stuff. TMI - sorry!

Still, it doesn't really mean much, does it...

DB
[still resolutely NOT getting hopes up emoticon]

xx

[FrannyandZooey]

oh good! fingers still crossed for you

[Lulumama]

oooooooooooooooooooooohhhhh!

[MegSophandEmma]

DB I have been induced twice but never had a sweep with DD1&2 but had one with DD3 and within the next 42 I had the show and wojke up early hours next morning with bad backache that came and went. Got to hospital and was 6cm dialated. So sweeps really can work. Keeping me fingers crossed hun

[designerbaby]

Bad Lulu...

NOT getting excited ? I told you!!!

That way if anything DOES happen it'll be a nice surprise. [stoic emoticon]

Ah, bollocks.

Maybe I'll allow myself to be just a bit more hopeful than I was this morning.

Meg, it's good to hear positive tales about sweeps - most of them seem to be 'did nothing for me ? ended up having a C-section' type affairs.

Right.

Going to eat some more pineapple, drink some more raspberry leaf tea, walk up and down the stairs a few times and get DH to rub in the clary sage again before rewarding him for his efforts as I see fit...

DB
xx

[charliemama]

I can't help it DB I am getting excited thoughts for you. Have a good night. I hope all goes well.

I have also remembered that with ds1 I had a test to see if my waters had broken, which used the thing they used for a smear test and the next day ds1 was born. With ds2 I had a sweep and again the next day ds2 was born!!

[weeonion]

ooh DB - exciting!!! i had a sweep on due date, show and contrcations on teh next day and long early labour til dd turned up 2 days later. sweeps can get things moving. i walked, walked walked and raspberry leaf tead that baby out!

waiting for your news................

[Lulumama]

well, that told me, didn't it !

[designerbaby]

Only joking Lulu... wasn't really cross trouble is, irony doesn't necessarily come across in print...

As it turns out I was right not to get too excited - yet another uneventful night...

Going in today for a scan and some mointoring, and then I may be selected as part of a trial to have a dose of prostin gel and then go home overnight (they're trying to work out if it's more successful to leave women a bit longer witht he gel than the usual 4-6 hours and have them in a more relaxed environment).

Either way, it's back in on Friday morning for the full induction whammy...

Still, it looks like my waterbirth is down the plughole (pun very much intended). Having said that, I'm so fed up, frustrated and uncomfortable that knowing the end is in sight, in whatever manner is helpful.

Here's hoping it doesn't all end in a C-section... thankfully it seems that the rates for C-sec after induction at the hospital I'm at are still relatively low.

Thanks for all the support, though. Who knows, maybe the one dose of prostin will be the final push she needs to make an appearance...

DB
xx

[charliemama]

Chin up DB, your baby will be here soon one way or another.

I am sending you lots of positive thoughts.

[ChocolateHobnob]

Hi DB

In a very similar position to you only a few days behind, as you know - just to say good luck tonight.

I'm likely going to lose my waterbirth too Oh well.

Hugs and it may still kick off before 5!

[Lulumama]

i know you were being ironic

anyhoo, loopymumsy had a dose of prostin and discharged gherself, IIRC, and had a home birth..

think it is a great idea to have the gel and go home, you can potter round, do what you feel like, and not be stuck in hospital...

being mobile , active and able to listen to your body is a great way to help yourself

[designerbaby]

Hi Lulu... phew - though I'd really offended you there!?

Back from hospital - there was a bit of a cock up their end, and in the event, no-one there doing the study today, so no gel for me ? which might turn out to be a blessing in disguise...

They out me on the monitor for an hour or so, as I'm so overdue, to check her out ? baby's heartrate was a steady 140, and right on cue I strated contracting.

Gave me another sweep just before I left ? why not, eh? and it seems have definitely had a show, and am now 2cm dilated.

Have been contracting, allbeit irregularly, now since 2.30... still not getting excited, as this has happened before (although not for quite so long), but we'll see...

See chochobnob - there's always hope...

Maybe baby finally realised if she didn't come out of her own accord they were going to come and evict her ...

But like I say resolutly NOT getting my hopes up... yet...

Thanks for all your support guys - you're all stars...

DB
xx