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Pregnancy

DIY membrane sweep?

15 replies

mumtotwoboys · 03/04/2010 15:04

Bit hesitant to ask about this.
But don't want to wait until 41 weeks for midwife to do this as only support (sister) is booked off work just for a week before and a week after my due date (from today)

I could really use her help for the first few days at least after baby is born as I have a 3 yr old too who I'm nervous about his reaction to baby and I'm completely alone otherwise.
Don't want to end up having the baby the day before she leaves.

Had a friend who said she did her own 'sweep' after midwife explained how and it worked for her.

Any thoughts?
Eek

OP posts:

Report

Mumcah · 03/04/2010 18:36

Do you think you can reach?I can barely get down there at 34 weeks!
Also i'd imagine you'd need some skill and experience to seperate the cervix from the membranes?(think that's what they do).

pigleychez · 03/04/2010 18:56

There was a similar thread about doing this a little while back
here
Might be worth a read.

Personally I wouldnt. A) I wouldnt know what i was doing B)would be frightened of doing something wrong c)I cant even see what im doing to defuzz, let alone reach any further!

Octaviapink · 03/04/2010 19:01

It might be worth asking the midwife if she would give you a stretch-and-sweep a bit early. A DIY job isn't recommended - plus I doubt you could reach far enough! Though you would be able to tell if your cervix is softened, so it might give you a clue to whether you're going to be late.

Shaz10 · 03/04/2010 19:03

Maybe you could give yourself some other kind of DIY?

TulipsInTheRain · 03/04/2010 19:05

I could have reached but i chickened out of actually doing it as i wa far too worried about breaking my waters accidentally and introducing infection and endangering the baby.

sweeps don't really work unless your about to start labour anyway so would be a pointless risk imo

mumtotwoboys · 03/04/2010 20:35

Thanks so much for your replies guys.

Well I tried

Everything is really soft and there's a big veru hard curve bulging down which I'm guessing to be the baby's head.
I reached the cervix and it's really really soft, not like how I've felt it to be in the past, it seems very flat and open, I pushed 2 fingers through the cervix and didn't reach anything, struggled to reach further.

I don't know what this means or what I expected to find, eek..
Anyone with knowledge on this stuff know what's going on?
I'm 39 weeks

OP posts:

mumtotwoboys · 03/04/2010 21:14

I'm dying to know what I found means!
Am I 2cms dilated? or is it usually like that?
Struggling to find info online...

thought I was in labour at 5am this morning while very sleepy, but nothing today..

OP posts:

WorzselMummage · 03/04/2010 21:16

Your very brave

I'd say that yes that means you are 2cm dilated but i think thats normal this last on pg with your 2nd baby.

I got to know my cervix quite well when i was TTC. they are very strange!

MadameCheese · 03/04/2010 21:59

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

TulipsInTheRain · 04/04/2010 09:38

well i was never dilated before labour with any of mine (i checked )... in fact even at the beginning of labout my cervix was hard and tight so i'd say you're on the way to something alright.

Try making some cumin tea (a teaspoon of cumin seeds on boiling water).

also try nippple stimulation, it really worked with both my boys.

MadameCheese · 04/04/2010 10:59

mttb hope everything works out for you, does the silence mean something positive is happening?
TITR LOL at your nipple stimulation comment!

TulipsInTheRain · 04/04/2010 12:25

i stand by my statement though.... it definitely kept my labour going with ds1 privacy required though!

Octaviapink · 04/04/2010 14:28

Nipple stimulation is supposed to be the only medically demonstrable method of bringing labour forward, but you're supposed to do it for up to three hours a day...

mumtotwoboys · 05/04/2010 08:43

Well I hoping to come back here saying something's happened, but two days later and absolutely no signs.
I'm convinced this baby will be at least a week overdue (due date next saturday).

I'm sad that nipple stimulation seems to be the only think to possibly work!
As anyone or thing touching me there irritates me emensly!

Feels like I'm going to be pregnant for the rest of my life..

OP posts:

MadameCheese · 05/04/2010 18:15

TITR sorry I meant the aspect of how "it worked with both my boys" IYSWIM. Nipple stimulation is fine by me

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