Membrane sweeps

[softmusk]

having sweep on friday just wonder if worked for u and if so how long did it take

I had two with no effect, and I can reiterate that unless you are already partly in labour they can be v painful (this is based on the fact that mine were okay but the girl in the next bed was crying after hers - either that or I am GI Jane )

On the other hand, the decision had already been taken to induce (pre-eclampsia) so this was just a measure to try and avoid more significant intervention. So worth a try for me, although it didn't work and I had my waters broken + syntocinon anyway.

Sorry mears but sex didnt work for me . To induce labour I mean. Obviously it worked to get me pregnant

And we really REALLY tried........ another Mner called it "mercy bonking"

I had a sweep at 5 days overdue and started contractions about 5 or 6 hours later. Baby arrived later that night. Wasn´t really painful at all (the sweep that is, not the labour obviously!).

Anyone heard from softemusk since her sweep - hope all is well.

DH and I have discussed this sweep business more and been on midwife website - I'm having second thoughts now - going to wait and see how next week goes due on 23rd sweep available 22nd.

Kristingle - sex can ripen the cervix for labour, but like sweeps will not make labour start if the body is not ready. Sex is less of an intervention than a sweep though IMO.

Babies will come when they are ready. Sweeps interrupt the natural process. If only we would change the calculation of due date as 42 weeks pregnancy, we would have less women getting geared up too soon for labour.

Instead of trying to get labour started, pamper yourself in the last few days/weeks you have left of peace

Labour that is stimulated too early can result in laly not having adopted an ideal position for labour. You may well get labour started by a sweep, but labour itself may be long and protracted. However, a labour that starts off by itself has more chance of being easoer because baby is in the correct position to come.

Thanks for your post Mears - I think after the intial excitment we have realised that maybe we are being a tad selfish wanting our little boy here ASAP - and that I am quite comfortable at the moment and as long as I stay like this over the next 6 days there's no reason why we should get the sweep done.

But main thing is of course that our little boy seems fine where he is - after losing a twin in first trimester and a couple of scares I think we can easily wait a bit longer - like one midwife said some babies need to cook longer.

I knew that due dates were an average at 40weeks based on a 38 to 42 possible gestation lengths - but I have now learnt that due dates are also dependent on length of cycle and when you ovulate - varies for everyone so bearing this in mind I think if he needs longer then he should be left well alone - I think its fair to say I am more a less convinced.

But then again if you use a due date calulator based on conception dates I could be due today or monday! ..... and not that I'm obsessing or anything this depends on how long the sperm survived and the egg.... bloody hell

As you can see i've tried to do my homework and make an informed choice!!!!!!

Well done bigbaubleeyes. There are so many variables that influence the length of pregnancy. Even 42 weeks is not long enough for some babies, but at least it is a length of time that will capture the majority of pregnancies. In a pregnancy that has no problems, things are best left well alone. Enjoy the excitement of the coming weeks, your baby could arrive any time Sweeps can raise expectations and ruin some of that exciting time I think. Have some nice meals out, time at hairdresser etc. The best trigger for labour is having a date to do something else planned in the diary
Good luck.

LOL mears -am 39wks and have now great great hair, fixed central heating and well, made many appointmentsmade them all so far....
BBE, really glad you read up on this like you did, I didnt put it very well on our dec thread, mears said it much better. i hope that your little guy comes soon enough to keep you sane and stay int here long enough to be fabulous healthy

TC, Did you get my CAT. I would like to get the details of that Yoga class you were attending in Watford.

went to midwife but could not have sweep cus midwife could not get to my cervix but she could touch the babys head so i still waiting and wainting this baby to come

Mears, what you say is really helpful. I didn't realise membrane sweeps were classed as 'intervention'. It was put to me by the midwife that it was more favourable to encourage labour in this way than by induction (didn't realise there were any downsides to it), and I didn't anticipate it to be any more uncomfortable than a smear test. It was much more uncomfortable than that, and I felt awful for the rest of the day. If there ever is a next time I would think carefully before having it done. Sex didn't work for me either so I guess ds just wasn't ready to put in an appearance at that time, but when I finally was induced he didn't hang about!
Good luck Softmusk

SOFTMUSK - hope your discomfort is over - you never know itmay have done the trick - as oyu can see I've done some research while you were 'away' all the best - post on Dec thread if oyu have any news.

DQ - you were right!!!!!

Cori, cat me again as I was still down with my work email and I won't be there till June now, have just updated my details on mumsnet so tghey have my new email address now.

Further to all this, I've got my 41 week hosptial appointment tomorrow when apparently they may do a sweep if my cervix is favourable (mind you, they'll probably have a poke around anyway). I'm not very keen on this as I had one with ds1 after my waters had gone (when NOT favourable) and it was awful. However... I was induced with my next two and that was worse because I wasn't allowed home and had to spend the whole labour (and pre-labour) on the ward (esp with ds2, dd came quickly). So, my question is:

Did a sweep work for you? ie within 24 hrs?

If so, was your cervix 'favourable'?

This is really silly, does it make a difference if a male dr does it vs female mw (I'm thinking about finger size!!!)

Thanks!

Oh yes, also worried about baby being in a bad position, last two were posterior (face up) and face presentation (chin first) and being big ie over 9 1/2 lb. Don't want to be induced but also don't want to be hanging around at 43-44 weeks like my mother!

I had one with my first child -- bloody painful and didn't do a thing. I was not at all dialated. From what I understand, if you are close to ready (soft cervix, effaced/dialated, etc.) then they hav a chance of working and aren't too painful. But, if you are not ready, they are bloody painful and don't work anyway. Personally, I would never accept one again. Of course since this joyous experience of sweep, induction, fetal distress, emergency caesarean, I go for planned caesareans so this is never again going to be a concern of mine. But if I had been warned about the sweep ahead of time, I would have said "no".

I had two sweeps, both not painful, just a bit uncomfortable. First one (39) didn't do a thing, but it was probably too early. Second one (40+6)was on 15th Dec at 3:00pm. Immediately started having contractions every 10 mins. At 7 went into hospital with contractions every 3-5 mins, but it stopped again. At midnight back in again, and baby born 8:23am next morning. So, the second one definitely did something .

Bump - anyone else?

Not sure if they work or not but are a lot better than being induced, so if you are over you time its worth giving it a go.

I was induced with my 1st, no membrane sweeps.

I had 2 with my 2nd, went into labour 12 hours after having the 2nd sweep.

OH well, I had it and it wasn't so bad despite being unfavourable - have to go in and be induced today due to sudden high bp and protein etc 'new partner' syndrome apparently. Wish me luck please!

Good luck!