Sweeps

[emsylou]

What are people experiences of sweeps, I had one today and have a few aches and pains, nothing major, interested to hear other peoples experiences. This is baby number 3 for me. :)

I had 2 with dd and neither worked. Ended up overdue and being induced

I had one with DS at 9am on a Friday, the midwife said that she didn't think that he'd put an appearance in in the next 24 hours. And to be honest neither did I when I went to bed that night. However DS had other ideas and he was born at 6am on the Saturday. Brings back memories as he turns 4 next week

It took 3 sweeps to get my DC3 moving, but he was born within 12hrs ofthe last one. Good luck

dd2 born within about 12 hours of a 2nd sweep.

not convinced she would have been much longer anyway though. I was 40+12 and 3cm dilated at the time of having the sweep.

good luck op.

4sweeps with DD (DC3) and still ended up with induction at 42 wks.

Thankyou...is good hearing about your experiences. Just the waiting game now xx

5 with DC#3. Still didn't budge until he was good and ready. :o

First sweep was uncomfortable but did nothing. Second sweep was the day before I was being taken in to be induced.
My MW announced she was determined to get me into labour without induction (was a very scared first timer) and so was I so had the mother of all sweeps (swore at her like a trooper and still shudder at the memory of it) but it sent me into labour without having to have any further assistance in so I was actually thrilled with her after the event! :)

Had two. Had to be induced twice. Had elective c sec eventually. Baby is lazy takes after his dad clearly.

I had a sweep 24 hours before each of my DS were born - I was 40+5 and 40+6 when they were born so it may be a co-incidence? I did go to Tesco for last minute and insisted we walked approx 5 miles there and back as I had some idea in my head that the gravity might help but it's probably better to rest up and conserve Your energy for labour lol. I would go for it if they offered me one this time if I go over - good luck :-)

I had two (one without consent )

Neither worked. I'm not convinced they're that effective, as they're generally only performed on women who are past 40w and are therefore likely to go into labour anyway.

This is making me more convinced that turning down sweeps is a good idea...

I had one attempted last time at about 39+6 as I was at a mw appointment. Labour didn't start till 41+0 and DS was born at 41+2 (by EMCS).

Not keen on trying it till i am well overdue, as it seems a bit pointless unless your body is ready anyway?

Am 33wks ish with DC2 btw!

I had one and 1hr 47mins later DS2 arrived!!

I had 5 attempted sweeps, none worked ... ended up getting induced at a full 2 weeks overdue anyway. But they seem to work for many women!

I had one at 40+7 at 2pm, labour started about 36h later. The midwife did say I was already 3cm dilated though, so not sure if he'd have come then anyway? It wasn't particularly uncomfy and I was desperate to get him out by then so I was willing to give it a go!

I think they are only effective if you've already started to dilate. If you are 1 cm they can 'stretch' you to 2cm etc to get things going. I had 3 attempted sweeps with DD from 40 weeks and none worked. Was induced at 40+10.

I had one with dd1 and less than 24 hours later she was finally here :) wasn't the most pleasebt experience but the thought of another week or so filled me with dread and I was pleased it ended in getting my home birth and avoiding induction. Having said that I think im right in saying that they don't work unless things were ready to happen anyway :)

I went into labour less than 48 hours after above mentioned sweep and have a beautiful baby boy born at 03.21am on 12th march at home...am now in the blissful baby bubble xx

Congratulations so glad it worked for you! Enjoy your gorgeous bubba

I was admitted to hospital at 40+11 with a view to induction which I was very keen to avoid. They sent me home after monitoring and told me to come back if anything happened. In the night I had pains and so we went up. They told me I wasn't in labour but decided to keep me again anyway, and then I started having lots of pain. I was sent for a bath and the pain escalated. Then they got me to a bed and started to do the sweep they'd threatened promised. It hurt massively, the only time in my life that everything has gone sparkly and I thought I would pass out. Then the MW announces "oh, you're 9cm dilated" and calls for G+A and help to get me to the delivery suite! I think they'd thought I was making a fuss over nothing with the pain as in their minds I was due for induction not already in labour.

Nice one! Congrats x

I had one without consent too.

I was being examined in the antenatal clinic with a view to induction. The doctor said that I was 3 cm, and then she kept on twiddling her finger about inside me without explaining what she was doing. This went on for a few minutes, getting more and more painful until I cried ouch, at which point she removed her glove (which was bloody) and looked pleased with herself. When I asked what she had been doing, she replied a sweep, and then told me to go to the labour ward straightaway and not to go anywhere else. There, I was given prostin and dd1 was born 2.5 hours later.