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Childbirth

Any experience of stretch and sweep when cervix "soft and 1cm dilated" but also posterior and not effaced??

11 replies

mummabubs · 12/10/2017 15:43

As title says really!

Just had my first stretch and sweep at 40+5 and the midwife said my cervix was very soft and 1cm dilated (which sounded good!) but also posterior and not effaced (... doesn't sound so good?!) The sweep lasted literally 1-2 minutes when what I'd read on the NHS website suggested it should be more like 5-10 mins but on the plus it didn't hurt at all.

I guess given the mixed cervix messages I was just wondering if anyone else had a similar experience and whether I'd be getting my hopes up to think that this might work or if my cervix is technically unfavourable? (Midwife didn't say either way, just a non-committal "let's hope you get some more cramps after this") ??? Feeling confused 😩

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Mummyme87 · 12/10/2017 18:20

Sweeps last as long as they last. Find the cervix and if open put finger between cervix and membranes sweeping around baby's head. Usually a couple of minutes maximum.

Cervix sounds reasonable to be slightly dilated and long & posterior is pretty typical at this stage. Means you will have a baby between now and the birth 😁 What your cervix is doing means absolutely nothing

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Gunpowder · 12/10/2017 19:16

Mine cervix was long and posterior and I was 1cm and I had a baby 5 hours later! Might not be ages.

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mummabubs · 12/10/2017 21:22

Thanks both! You speak sense @Mummyme87 and thank you for giving me hope @Gunpowder! I'm feeling really sick on and off now so fingers crossed, really want to avoid induction if I can!

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Gunpowder · 12/10/2017 22:00

I hope you are cuddling your baby soon. Last couple of days are so tough.

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sthitch · 13/10/2017 12:09

I was in the same position and it didn't work for me- I had two sweeps prior to induction and then a load during induction and it didn't get things going enough (just a bit of cramping) but all was well in the end with induction.

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mummabubs · 13/10/2017 12:53

That's good that you still had a positive experience with an induction @sthitch. I feel pretty much normal today so guess I'll have to go along for stretch number 2 tomorrow. I read a thread yesterday where the OP updated with how they ended up needing an induction and it was an utterly horrifying experience which didn't exactly make me feel better but I have to just try and stay calm no matter what and hope things kick off before then!

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Csd17 · 14/10/2017 13:06

I had two sweeps prior to induction. One was gentle and didn’t do anything. Another caused bleeding and following it, my mucus plug plopped into the loo. I had a third vigorous one prior to the induction pessary being inserted. Whether it was the sweep or pessary, things got going very quickly after that.

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mummabubs · 14/10/2017 15:44

Just had my second sweep and been told my cervix is still very posterior and unfavourable. Gutted 😩 They've booked another 2 sweeps in for next week but I'm almost just giving up any hope of going into labour naturally now.

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mummabubs · 16/10/2017 22:25

I'd say I've had the "third vigorous one" today @Csd17! I did tell them to really go for it but have to say that it was painful at times and I had a fair amount of bleeding immediately afterwards (not spotting like the first one). Had lots of braxton hicks since but as the midwife helpfully pointed out these "do nothing". She followed this with "we just need you to start having proper contractions". I couldn't agree more but I'm still nowhere closer to having those it seems! 🙈 The particular cruelty was that my stretch and sweep today took place in one of the Birthing rooms on the MLU where we then had to discuss that I might not be able to come and use the lovely room I was sat in! Begging baby to come before Friday now 😬

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Csd17 · 17/10/2017 01:47

Haha you told them to ‘really go for it’. Well done for braving a third. Have you had any developments? Hope you manage to avoid induction as you wish.. but my induced birth was wonderful. You’ve got this, mama.

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mummabubs · 17/10/2017 06:52

Thanks @Csd17. Keep losing what I assume is mucus plug, but I know this isn't an immediate sign of anything. Nothing so far but I'm permanently sat on my yoga ball trying to engage bubba's head on the cervix (they're 4/5ths engaged now) and I'm off to aquanatal this morning. Fingers crossed!! Really glad to hear your induction was a positive experience, if I end up having to go down that path I hope for the same 😊