Sweep - does DH need to be there?

[breatheslowly]

I'm having a sweep on Wednesday assuming DC1 hasn't turned up by then. I will be 41 weeks, first baby. My mother has offered to drive me there (community hospital, not hospital where birth will happen) about 15 min away as DH has work.

How likely will it be that things happen and I need to go straight to the maternity hospital (another 25 min further away)? If this is likely then my DH would like to be there to take me. DH has made it very clear to me that my mother isn't going to be driving me there!

Hope this makes sense.

It's unlikely to happen immediately, I think they generally say within a few hours. Both times I had one it was either the evening of that day or the next morning. The jury's out as to whether they really have an effect anyway.

What's so wrong about your mum driving you there? I drove myself to both of mine (and home again).

I had a sweep and went into labour 2 hours later

Unlikely you will go into labour straight away

It's really unlikely that things will get going that quickly. I know people who have had 3/4 sweeps and still nothing has happened so it's definitely premature to be getting DH on standby ready for the birth.

I had two sweeps with dd and nothing happened. I would take your mother up on her offer and let dh go to work.

I had a sweep (brace yourself - it's quite intimate and not terribly gentle) and DD didn't arrive until 4 or so days later. Just buy yourself a soothing hot chocolate or the like afterwards. It was more hands on than I expected and DH almost killed himself laughing when I explained it to him.

Had one last Thursday afternoon and drove myself home afterwards but it was a pretty uncomfortable drive (had to grip the steering wheel a few times when I had a twinge!). Kicked off a few practice contractions later that night but still waiting... Would recommend taking your Mum up on her offer!

MinnieMummy DH doesn't want my mum to drive me when I am in labour as her driving is a little erratic at the best of times and doesn't know the area. He also doesn't want her at the hospital when I am in labour (which she would probably love). A while ago she suggested that DH wouldn't be a good birth partner and she would be a better choice with her medical background - she's a dentist .

I had a sweep with both DD's. Nothing happened til the next day with DD1 and with DD2 nothing happened for 4 days.

Take a couple of deep breathes and relax while its being done. It doesn't last long.

breaths!!

I had three sweeps with DD2 and nothing happened. I found the first very uncomfortable but the next 2 less so. I think it depends how favourable your cervix is. If you are not ready to pop then it won't do much (and is uncomfortable).
I was told that if it is going to work something will happen in 24 hours.
Good luck

ven if you went into labour immediately, on average , first labour is around 12 hours, so even if you started contracting immediately, you would not need to go to labour ward for a good while yet

Oh and my community MW came to the house to do it which was good

Thanks for the advice - DH can stay at work then!