How succesful is a membrane sweep?

[alicemama]

Well its my due date today and no sign of baby making an appearance any time soon so have been booked in for a membrane sweep tomorrow morning.

I'm well prepared for a bit of pain/discomfort but was wondering how effective they are. I know it varies from person to person but did it work for you and if so how quickly did labour start?

I had 2; the first one was 2 days before my due date (I had high bp) - no result at all - and the second 3 days later.

I went into labour within 24 hours of the second sweep but don't really know whether it was due to the membrane sweep or not...

Although it wasn't a pleasurable experience it was less painful than I'd feared. Hope it does the trick for you.

Alicemama - I went into hospital after a tiny tiny bleed. I was 39wks pg with my 2nd. I was 2-3cm dilated, but not in labour. MW did a sweep (didn't hurt at all as cervix was already opening).... went back in 48 hrs later and dd was born. GOOD LUCK!

Is there a reason that you are having this so early alicemama? I thought that this was something to be done around 7-10 days.
I don't think that a sweep will have any success if your body isn't gearing up already on its own, so I would suggest delaying it, but I don't know your full story.
I think that sometimes they work and sometimes they don't - maybe someone else could come up with some statistics??

sorry Alicemama, but I hated it - was v.painful and asked the nurse to stop. Also ineefective for me.

I had one last pregnancy that didnt work but am planning to try it thsi time if I go late again. I think it has about a 25% chance of working - if you check out the Royal College or NICE guidelines it will gave you all the statistics.

I found it uncomfortable but its pretty quick - it felt lik the Dr was pushing her hand too far up IYSWIM. I took a couple of paracetemol beforehand and had some cramps that afternoon but then nothing . But its got to be better than being induced by whatever method so well worth a try IMO. Good luck!

Not really sure why a sweep has been booked early but I think its because I'm booked into a birthing centre and not a hospital and they'll only allow me to go over 1 week before referring me to hospital, which I desperately don't want.

I had one when I was three days overdue; it was a lot better than I anticipated and DD was born less than 24 hours later.

I had one and found it extremely painful. Waters then went with a pop about 5 hours later and had relentless and extremely painful contractions that I even had trouble walking to the car to get to hospital and an 18 hour labour.

I think my lady was particularly ruff though as she was a grumpy old cow who didn't speak and told me to behave when i complained how much she was hurting me!

I'm gonna decline it this time I think if I get that far!

It was uncomfortable and a bit wierd. wv could feel top of baby's head as I was 3 cm dilated.

BUT didn't work and he was born 10 days later and 12 days late.

i mean mw not wv?!

Hi alicemama

Was wondering if you had your baby yet? My due date came and went on saturday and absolutely nothing. I'm starting to think that I'm just not meant to have my homebirth. Hope you at least manage a nice waterbirth at the birth centre.

Fingers crossed.
CADS

Hi CADS,
I'm beginning to think you and me are jinxed! Fingers crossed for us both over the next few days. I got really depressed on friday as knew nothing was going to happen so dh came home from work early, took me shopping and then we went out for tea, which really cheered me up. Its beginning to wear off now tho, the bar of galaxy in the fridge is calling to me!!!! Can you hear it

Yes, we must be jinxed!! Seeing mw today, wonder what reason she is going to use today to try and stop my homebirth. Let me know how the sweep went. Haven't had one before but am considering one if baby isn't here by the end of the week.