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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Extremely painful sweep..anyone else?

42 replies

RockLover · 29/01/2011 14:33

Had a sweep today and it was excruciating. Mw was lovely and gentle and gave me lots of time to breathe etc, but I felt like a right prat.

I know that I am very sensitive inside, but wasn't expecting it to that painful. Mw said I did seem to find it more difficult than alot of women and wrote on my birth notes that they needed to be gentle when doing VEs in labour.

But it's got me worrying now, am I the only one who finds sweeps this uncomfortable? Please tell me I'm not a freak.

I have another one booked in for Monday and I'm bricking it already. I am pregnant with DC2 by the way, was never offered a sweep the first time round.

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MinnieBar · 29/01/2011 14:38

I found the sweep I had at 40 weeks with DD1 (2nd child) incredibly painful, but I think this was because my cervix wasn't very soft or remotely dilated or any of those things which help. I had to ask her to stop.

I did go into labour later that evening though so you never know...

With DD2 I was expecting the same (but was desperate to get her out) and actually it was fine. Same as a smear really. (She was born the next morning.)

Now last week I had a coil inserted and cried like a baby in the car park. The tampenade bit made me want to punch the GP in the head.

Er, not sure what you can conclude from all that!

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 29/01/2011 14:45

I had one at 40 weeks with ds1 and it was very painful. The MW really should have left my cervix alone as it wasn't anywhere near ready for a sweep.

I know I have a high pain threshold, so I also know I was not being a wimp.

I would say it's more a reflection on your cervix not being ready than you being a wimp.

sunchild77 · 29/01/2011 14:48

Agree with the others... Mine was sooooo painful I actually yelped...!

Wont be long now though... Hang in there :)

Original poster

RockLover · 29/01/2011 14:49

Well my cervix is soft and 1-2 cm dilated (but apparently that is normal for subsequent pregnancies), so it shouldn't have been that difficult.

I feel like an idiot.

OP posts:

StealthPolarBroccoli · 29/01/2011 14:50

mine was agonising - I had gas an air
I had DD 3 hours later though so well worth it (the contractions got worse instantly)

Original poster

RockLover · 29/01/2011 14:56

Thank God I'm not the only one. I hope it will help now I've gritted my teeth and had it done. I do have a slight tummy ache, but nothing else.

OP posts:

Liskey · 29/01/2011 15:01

I had one at 36 weeks and it was agony - i nearly cried. reviewing my notes after birth and found MW had been very dubious about doing sweep as my cervix was so hard and unready but doctor had insisted.

Hope DC2 makes an appearance soon!

mummytime · 29/01/2011 15:04

MW tried to give me one but gave up it was so painful. DD arrived 3 days later, extremely quickly.

I would refuse to even try in future, mine seem to just arrive 7 to 10 days later, usually the day before the "chat with the consultant".

Pingpong · 29/01/2011 15:08

I had three sweeps with DD2 and none of them worked but the first was very painful as my cervix was still unfavourable. I didn't expect it to be that bad. I had requested a sweep though as I was trying for VBAC but was only given 5 days to get the baby out before further intervention.

littleyellowchicken · 29/01/2011 15:35

Oh dear. Mine was absolutely fine - hardly felt it. But that was 3 days ago and nothing has happened since - no pain, no gain perhaps?

RMCW · 29/01/2011 15:39

Mine with ds2 was quite sore...BUT I was already 1 cms and "favourable" for a sweep, maybe that was why I didnt find it too bad???

Your MW should only be offering a sweep if your cervix looks favourable i.e. soft and short.

You dont have to have the other one if you dont want to.

Good luck x

mejon · 29/01/2011 16:43

I had one on Wednesday at 40+6 - have to say it didn't hurt at all I was just aware of a vague sensation. My cervix was short and soft and MW could feel the baby's head with her finger . Unfortunately it appears to have done nothing. I've had a few niggly pains at the bottom of my bump but not a sausage (or baby) since yesterday evening. I'm booked in to be induced on Tuesday morning if nothing's happened in the meantime.

lala21 · 29/01/2011 19:41

me me me
I had one yesterday at 40 wks owwwwwwwwwww with my first son he came spontaneously at 38wks so had no bloody clue.

I was climbing up the bed it was so painful and the doctor was lovely as she was pregs too but no I was a complete wimp. I think it can be but please please don't worry about yourself, although I'm in new territory as no idea what when and how it will all happen. Good Luck

Original poster

RockLover · 29/01/2011 20:42

My DD came on her own at 41 weeks and I was never offered a sweep, so like you lala I had no idea what a sweep was like.

I am very sensitive inside anyway, but still didn't expect it to be unbearable. I'm hoping that theb sweep on Mon won't be as bad, but I won't count my chickens.

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 29/01/2011 20:44

Mne was brutal but effective

Went into labour 2 hours later

I heard that you can be offered gas and air - I think that would have been helpful for me

rubyslippers · 29/01/2011 20:44

Should say all signs were favourable and I had a show so things were happening

EgonSpengler · 30/01/2011 12:20

Mine was super painful!! So much so that I called my DH to come and pick me up as I felt that I would faint if I tried to walk home. God it was awful. I had the sweep on the day before I was due and went in to labour four days afterwards. I think that they're supposed to work fairly quickly e.g. going into labour the next day, so I can safely say that I don't think it worked for me.

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 30/01/2011 12:24

i had one with dd2 and it was very painful. this might have been because my cervix was unfavourable, although i did go into labour 12 hours later.

shitmagnet · 30/01/2011 12:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RobynLou · 30/01/2011 12:31

I had a sweep which was hideous at 40+1 with DD.

I found it far worse than the actual pushing her out bit!

Original poster

RockLover · 31/01/2011 09:26

I'm going to be a wimp and give today's sweep a miss. Been feeling poorly over the weekend (upset tummy and yet more nausea) and I just can't cope with another painful experience.

OP posts:

EauRouge · 31/01/2011 09:47

Glad it's not just me! I had a really painful sweep with DD, I didn't want one but the MW told me that I would have to be induced and that I couldn't just be monitored if I went over 42 weeks (I have since found out this wasn't true). It hurt like hell and I spent the rest of the day in tears at being talked into something I didn't want.

This time around I shall politely decline a sweep.

StrangewaysHereICome · 31/01/2011 12:46

I've not had a sweep but in both my previous labours I found internals excrutiating and had to ask the mw to stop much to her consternation. I am tempted to refuse any VE in my next labour as I find them so painful.

babylann · 31/01/2011 12:49

I had three sweeps, 1st one was excruciating. It was a VERY big man with HUGE hands though. Felt like my insides were being torn apart. Apparently I was very "brave" when I only made one or two little groaning noises during it.

I didn't care about the pain though. I was in my desperate phase.

hollywoodstar · 31/01/2011 14:16

I had one at 41 weeks and it was awful. In fact, the MW could not reach my cervix it was so tilted the other way. The pain made me sweat it was that intense!! MW then said I had to go to the hospital that afternoon so that someone there could try as it may be that she had short fngers and [hmmm]. I immediately phoned my husband in tears to get him to come and take me as I couldn't face it again on my own!!

Fortunately I got a rather lazy doctor who just took one look at me and said, well if she can't do it, I'm not going to try... I was booked in for an induction for a few days later! Maybe he had short fingers too!!

I'm off to the midwife tomorrow at 39+5 and not sure how to react if she offers me a sweep. I think I shall ask her to show me the length of her fingers .

Hope it all goes ok for you.

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