38 wks pregnant and had a sweep.

[vickie984]

hiya
i'm 38 weeks pregnant with my 3rd son and had horrendous backache and period pain for almost 1 week. i've been to the midwife this morning and she says i'm in slow labour. i'm 2 cm dilated and ready to pop. She gave me a membrane sweep 3hours ago to see if things can hurry up a little. Now i'm having even more backache/stomach pains. Is this the after effect of having a sweep or is this the start of proper labour? how effective is membrane sweeps? anyone got any ideas to hurry this little boy along? i really dont want him to arrive on christmas day.
thanks vickie

Keep active is the best thing you can do, but baby will come when he's ready - Christmas day or not!

38 weeks is rather early to have a sweep! Some women have backache and cramps after a sweep and then it all stops, others go into labour - but as sweeps are generally done around 41 weeks then it's quite likely these women would have gone into labour then anyway. It sounds like things are moving along for you - hopefully by Christmas you'll have your lovely newborn :)

I don't want to dishearten you but I've had 3 sweeps (40+5, 40+9 and 40+11), to no avail. On the other hand, I didn't show any signs of labour at all, so fingers crossed for you!

Likewise I have had 1 on Friday which achieved nothing and looking to be induced tomorrow at 40+12. Agree with earlier poster keep active and the midwife told me to stay positive which I know is tough