talk to me about sweeps!

[NinjaChipmunk]

Just that really. I'm 40+6 today with dc2 and have sweep booked for Thursday if nothings happened by then. What did it entail for you and did it kick things off? Do I need to take anything with me apart from a pad to wear for afterwards? I'm assuming I can waddle home from the clinic (about 5 mins walk) on my own ok?

I wouldn't bother. They only work if you're going to go into labour soon anyway. Neither worked for me, was induced with DD and went into labour days after a sweep with DS. I don't know why I had the one with DS. I didn't really want it and was prepared to wait as long as it took for him to appear anyway.

Didn't need a pad either time. Yes to being ok walking though, I went shopping after the one with DS.

I had one at 41 weeks with DD2 - did nothing for me despite the MW saying I was 'favourable' (whatever that means). Didn't have any bleeding afterwards either so no need for a pad. Walked back down the steep hill from the hospital and back up the steep hill opposite to the car with no problems beyond those you normally get when you're 41w and look like a small whale. Fingers crossed it works for you but don't be surprised if it doesn't.

Another one for whom it didn't work I'm afraid!! Had one with DD1 at 40 + 4. Lost a bit of my plug the next day, but it didn't kick things off and ended up being induced at 41+5. Although it was painful/uncomfortable, you can definitely walk afterwards. Just like a bad smear test.
Having said that - i've booked to have another one at 39 + 5 with DD2 (due in 2 weeks) as let's face it - anything that has a vague chance of working has got to be worth a shot hasn't it!

This is not filling me with the confidence I had hoped for!

I had one at 36 weeks and was contracting when I went in for induction the next day. Can't say if it would have carried on but they were mild yet regular

Sorry! I've got a friend who swears her sweep set her off with her DD2 - she had the sweep at 40+2 and then her daughter was born 2 days later. That's a better story isn't it!!

I had one at 1pm on a friday and my contractions started at 1am that night. Ds arrived at 5.30pm on the saturday. I was 40+6 on the day of the sweep.

I had one on my due date. Had baby next day.

Had one on due date had DS day after as well.

yay! thats more like it!

I had one at 41+3 and ctx started 4hrs later.

I'd had false starts on and off from 37wks (4-6hrs at a time of mild regular ctx), and was fed up so I asked for one. Mw said cervix was forward and soft so she's do it. Realised afterwards that the on and off pains were baby trying to move from b2b position. I wondered afterwards if I hadn't had the sweep he might have managed to move and labour might have gone better (baby was fine, 'failure to progress' with irregular back ctx, emcs in end). Ho hum will never know.

HTH and good luck!

Had one day before due date and DS popped out next day

I had one at 40+5, regular contractions started 12hrs later. Ds took 4days 19hrs (to be exact) before he made an appearance. Waters had to be broken etc etc. makes me laugh now cos ds will not do anything he thinks he can get someone else to do for him

Agree with flisspaps that if your body isn't ready anyway their impact can be minimal. However, for both my labours I had sweeps and cx started within hours. Had a sweep on Friday at 3pm being 41 weeks. Cx started at 6am, dd2 born 12 hours later.

As for what its like, mine weren't bad. Ball your hands into fists and put under bum cheeks to lift yourself a bit, breathe deep through your nose and out through your mouth and go to your happy place!

Good luck!

I had 3 with ds3 and a week of prodromal labour never again!

I had one with ds at 41 weeks, had my bloody show the next day, but still didn't have him until 42 weeks exactly.

Waste of time and I will decline this time. Fucking painful as well.

I had one at 40.5 - I had been having mild infrequent contractions since 2am anyway and was apparently 1cm dilated. Don't know if the sweep made the difference, but things kept going and baby was born at 9pm that night. It was uncomfortable but not unmanageable and I don't remember any lingering pain once the sweep itself was over.

I would have one again.

Luckily I didn't need one and dd arrived at 3.30 weds morning

My sister had a sweep with both her kids - set her off both times. They tried to give me a sweep but my cervix was nowhere near ready. My limited understanding of them is that they'll help things along if you're headed that way already but that they wont start you off if you're nowhere close!

Congratulations on your DD Ninja!

Congrats!

Had two with DD1 - second one was either coincidence or it did work as contractions started about 2 hours after.
Had 2 again with DD2 and neither worked - mind you I'd doubt gunpowder would've shifted that comfy madam .
Good luck x