Did having a sweep help you? ...

[clarebear1]

and how long after did labour start?

Thanks

It helped me in that my waters broke about 12 hours later, however labour did not start so I can't help thinking I wasn't ready. I then had the ever so pleasant clock watching in case of infection, leading to a drip induction and emcs. I did dilate fully but DS didn't descend after 2 hours of pushing. I really feel the sweep started the cycle of intervention - but I was borderline pre eclampsia so they were going to get him out of me that weekend somehow!
Sorry I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear!

i had a sweep when i was 7 days over. hated it and she couldn't even do it properly (cervix, not MW at fault!). i was due to have a 2nd sweep at 9 days over but went into labour that morning (so about 40-odd hours after 1st sweep). i think maybe the sweep helped, as well as my walking up hills and eating hot curries. also the fact that i was overdue anyway.
good luck!

it definitely helped me - went into labour about 12 hours after I had one. the midwife (and warning, this is VERY GROSS) said she had really long fingers and was really good at sweeps ...

mind you, I was 40+12 so it really was time something happened!

Sorry I should add I was 38 weeks

Yes & no.

ds2, had sweep at 9pm 7days over, having had no signs whatsoever. Went into labour 5hrs later, born 1.5hrs after that.

dd, had sweep about 3 days o/d after weeks of her being engaged & lots of random contractions. The only thing it did was make her move to an odd position and jump out of my pelvis. She came a few days after that on her own.

When's the earliest you can ask for a sweep, when a MW won't object to doing one? Ta!

I had a sweep and the next went in to be induced, was already contracting though, so yes. I was 36 weeks with DC1

No. Had one at 41 weeks but nothing happened despite 'everything being favourable' according to MW. DD2 finally arrived after being induced at 40+12.

Sweep at 41+8 11:00am. By 4pm contractions started. Waters went at 8pm. Baby arrived the next morning 8am.

Not sure if this is true for everyone but my sweep hurt loads, I had to grit my teeth not to leap off the bed. I didn't expect this as I've had loads of smear tests which I didn't feel at all (and I know some folks say smear test is painful).

Duh. That is of course either 40+8 or 41+1 depending how you count when you're overdue.

Thanks for your stories.

Im 39 weeks tomorrow, having a sweep next week the day before im due. She said with first baby they like to leave it until around 10 days over due and with 2nd after the 39th week. Whether thats the same with all midwifes i dont know.

This is my 2nd, i had one with on the 10th day with DD.

I had one when I was 41 weeks, which didn't help, then another 3 days later; about two hours after that one I had a very sharp pain that took my breath away and realised it was my first contraction.... that was Thursday, but my contractions weren't regular until Sunday night, and the baby was born on Monday morning. Have to add, on the Saturday night I was getting desperate and threw myself onto my poor DH and it all got going a bit more after that ? might be worth a try? Good luck.

I had one yesterday morning (at 40+9); Bishop's Score of 9, so very favourable for labour to start spontaneously. Have had some blood this morning - not a lot of mucus and it is brown - so might just be the effect of the sweep rather than a sign of labour, but hoping to beat Thursday's induction appointment.

Yes, went into labour that evening. Was 5 days overdue. MW predicted I was "ready", so it wasn't a surprise when I had a show.

Yes, I had a sweep when I was I think, 9 days overdue and I went into labour within 12 hours. Worth a try!

In a way.

I swear the MW 'accidentally' broke my waters, as I was leaking from right after the sweep but wasn't 100% sure that it wasn't wee!

What DID help was erm.. (ahem) a bit of 'self-help'....
Dp couldn't really do anything as my waters had gone, but an orgasm certainly kicks things off (whole bump pain though, in case you're wondering)

Oh, appears it's TMI Tuesday....

Erm, i've had 6 sweeps in 3 pregnancies. Not once did any of them get things moving. Sorry. Everyone's different though!

I had one with my DD at 40+6. Apparently my cervix was very 'favourable' (I'd been having a lot of tightenings over the previous week). It didn't hurt at all and she was born the next day :)

With DS1 I had one at 40 weeks - didn't do anything. Second one at 41 + 3 which hurt more and I went into established labour the next day.

I have had a few sweeps in 3 pregnancies, didn't do a thing. I would never have one again (not that I am going to be pregnant again) but you now what I mean.

Yep, went into labour that night. Apparently the midwife was very good at them though, she was very proud of her strike rate!

I had a sweep yesterday and I agree with you C4ro that it was very painful. I nearly jumped off the bed. It was a horrible experience and I don't think I'd go for another one. I've got an induction booked for 11am on Friday, when I will be 41+4. I had some twinges last night but that was it. My MW said her sweeps are successful so we'll have to see.

I'm going to go for a long walk now to see if that will help things a bit more.

With DD1 sweep at 40+5/6 (can't remember exactly ) and labour started 40+7 (born early on 40+9).

With impending DC2 sweep at 40+7 did nothing. Just had another sweep at 40+10.

The successful sweep with DD1, and this morning's sweep, were the same midwife and both hurt a lot. However, the sweep I had on saturday hurt less but was a different midwife. Perhaps with me it needs to hurt to work . IMO trying has got to be better than being induced without having done so.

I'm currently 37+1 and i've been told i will be given sweeps at 38, 38+4, 39, 39+4, 40, 40+4, 41, 41+4 !!!
This is because of my previous birth history.
DS1= no sweeps, went into labour on 40+7 and born by emcs. 9lb15
DS2= no sweeps, supposed to be home birth but did not go into labour by 40+14 so was born by elcs 40+16. 8lb10
They say they are trying to give me every chance of a VBAC by encouraging me into labour with prodding. I can't help but worry about the pre 40 week sweeps though. If I'm a naturally late baby haver then I'd be having a prem baby...weird.

I had three sweeps with DS between 40wks and 40+13 and apart from being 3cms when I turned up for my induction the sweeps did diddly squat... was finally induced at 40+16 but ended up with EMCS the next day.