what does a sweep entail

[justwantcheese]

What does a sweep entail and does it have a high success rate? I was never offered it with my first and went 41+5 induced.

I have been offered one next weds at 40+5 . I think the midwife uses two fingers to massage your cervix. If it works things will happen in 48 hours I was told. It is s step they can try before induction.

Yep, they stick their fingers up your fanjo and run them around your cervix to try to stimulate it and induce labour. It is quite uncomfortable but doesn't last long. I had one with dd and it didn't do anything. Should have had a 2nd but the midwife was snowed in and couldn't get to me.

I had two with my second DS as I was 40+8. Thr first did nothing,but the second 24hrs later had me in labour within a couple of hours.

Midwife stretches the opening of your cervix, if she can get at it. I had at least 4 with DS, had no effect at all and really hurt.

I had one at 40 plus 6, had dd at 40 plus 7. Bit uncomfortable.

AFAIK a sweep will only "work" if you are about to go into labour anyway, so pretty pointless really.

In my opinion after having 2 attempted sweeps and 1 they could do it involves a me sticking their mit up your fanoir and ragging you round like a bloody glove puppet

But that was just my experience

Me *mw

mellie you have a wonderful way with words .

Agree with itsallgoingtobefine- my consultant has written in my notes that I can have sweeps from 38 weeks, not sure why exactly and when my midwife saw it she just laughed and said it would be pretty pointless unless my cervix were 'favourable'.

Bear in mind that there is some risk of infection and also some risk of waters being broken - in which case you are usually given 24h to start labour before you are induced.

I was under pressure to have a sweep from EDD but MW confirmed that they only work if you are on the way anyway.