I had my sweep at 4.30pm when the other community midwife managed to get round to my house. I had not met this midwife before but she was as lovely as my midwife. She explained everything and she was so positive and upbeat - it put me into a much better frame of mind.
I got baby checked. Heartbeat great before AND after the sweep (when the baby had its head touched for the first time) It's on my right hand side as it tends to move from left to right, but it's anterior so that's fine. MY BP was fine too.
The sweep was uncomfortable but did not hurt. She swept round 3 times! I was at 1cm before hand and afterwards at 2cm. She said that was very positive. My cervix wasn't too difficult to reach and is thin and soft. The head is 3/5ths engaged. Just getting a progress report has helped me get back into positive thinking.
Anyway - she said there's a 50/50 chance of membrane sweeps working but that she was very hopeful for me. She told me it's a good idea to go for a walk an hour or two after a sweep so DH and I are just headed out now for a walk around the neighbourhood.
My mum just took DD back to her house to sleep just incase things kick off before morning. I can pick her in the morning if nothing is happening, so my mum can still go to work. It's just peace of mind having DD out of the house and also prevents my mum having to make a second trip over to our house today.
The really great news though is that I can still use the birthing pool if I am induced through the pessary gels or artificial rupture of membranes. Only the syntocinon will prevent me from using the pool. This midwife was hopeful all I would need would be ARM to set me off into labour and then I could get in the pool.
It's amazing how different this hospital's policies are to where I had DD. I'm so grateful to have moved ahouse nd be delivering in this hospital.
So andif and PC - anything to report following your membrane sweep? Cramps? Tightenings?
I'm going to have a glass of wine tonight and try and relax (after a vigorous walk)