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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

is a sweep painful? do they work?

10 replies

RayeB · 09/03/2011 08:58

I am 5 days overdue and so fed up. This is baby no 2 and my first was only 3 days over so thought this one would be here by now!. Midwife has me booked in for a sweep in 2 days when I will be 41 weeks. Is it painful? Will it work? Any tips or experiences would be grateful. I just don't know what to expect. Should I take dh with me? Can I drive afterwards etc

Thanks

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Crawling · 09/03/2011 09:03

I didnt find it painful had a few stomach cramps after nothing major though and I went into labor 24 hours after

SarahScot · 09/03/2011 09:05

I've had 2 last pg and 2 this time, so they don't seem to work for me! They don't hurt though, just a bit uncomfortable and you should be fine to drive afterwards. I'm still glad I had the sweeps though, last week I was told I was 1-2cm dilated, then 2 days ago I was 3cm dilated - nice to hear there's some progress going on. After my sweeps I always feel achey and period-crampy but it's never turned into anything else yet.

BiddytheKnackerwoman · 09/03/2011 09:07

It hurt though not excrutiating but worth it because things raced along after that.

BuongiornoPrincipessa · 09/03/2011 09:10

For me it was not painful but uncomfortable, had mine at 41 weeks, which just produced a show (well daily shows for a week!) and some mild cramps. I still had to be induced a week later.

You should be fine to drive but you might want your DH for moral support

Flisspaps · 09/03/2011 09:16

How can anyone tell if they work?

You could go into labour within 24 hours of having one, but there's never going to be any way of knowing whether or not you'd have gone into labour then anyway.

theunmentioned · 09/03/2011 09:16

My first pregnancy the sweep was agony and I bled a lot afterwards - drove home etc though.

With my second pregnancy it didn't hurt it just felt horrible.

I went 13 days over with both so sweeps didn't work for me but I know a lot of people they did work for

Original poster

RayeB · 09/03/2011 09:36

Thanks. All sounds ok. Will definitely take dh with me as I have low pain threshold so good to have support. Hope it works quickly for me too!

OP posts:

fairylights · 09/03/2011 09:43

I had a sweep with dc2 who was 10 days overdue and I definitely think it helped get things going. It was uncomfortable and a bit painful but definitely worth it - i soooo didn't want to be induced! All the best

RenniesFromHeaven · 09/03/2011 09:46

I think it's probably human nature to fiddle. Better option is probably sex to be honest. Your opportunity to have a midwife wristdeep in you will no doubt come along soon enough.

(too early in the day for that thought...?)

mixedmamameansbusiness · 09/03/2011 13:28

In my experience they didnt work (twice with DS2).

However, I had a sweep yesterday (DS3 was due 3 days ago) more to ascertain how favourable cervix was etc and feel like I am better infomred abotu where I am at as a result but the result wasnt great, but am fine with that for the moment.

In terms of pain, well my cervix was quite high and posterior so although she just managed the tip of the finger it was uncomfy as she really had to push up hard.

However, just remember that labour is much more painful and long isnt it.

I did feel a bit uncomfy for the rest of the day though. Not sure what that was due to as I came home and had some sex to help things along

Still waiting tho.

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