What is a sweep?

[Bonnyone]

Hi
Am 38 weeks now so am sure this is going to come up soon! What is it exactly?

It's an optional procedure which may help to trigger labour.

It's where the midwife does a VE and tries to get a finger into the cervix and 'sweep' the membranes (amniotic sac) from the uterine wall. It's uncomfortable - some women find them very painful.

It can work if you're ready for labour anyway. The later in pregnancy it's done, the more chance there is of it working. It's usually offered at 41w.

I may be bitter but I dont believe ANY form of induction (other than an oxytocin drip!!) works unless you were going to go into labour within 24hrs anyway.... that said had rupture of membranes the day after the sweep. Which didnt start labour... but at least it got me induced earlier lol.

I had a sweep earlier in the week and it really wasn't that bad. In fact, I thought it was better than a smear test... so yep, pretty uncomfortable but no worse than I imagined. I declined the second sweep since I figure nothing's working at this point. Everything's worth a try once eh?

They should only do it if your cervix is soft and short (i.e. labour is imminent). Otherwise it won't work. Increasing numbers of Obs are against them because there is a risk that they MW/Obs introduces bacteria into the uterus from the vagina/ outside. Therefore if you don't go into labour soon, there is a risk of infection.

Hello - with my 1st I had 3 sweeps between 41 & 42 weeks, cervix 1cm dilated already. It didn't work for me. With my second, the midwife tried once, but cervix was still closed, so she was honest enough to stop and say there was no point. As others said, it's sweeping the membranes, which CAN apparently get things going. I am 100% with Nigglenaggle I'm afraid. It didn't really hurt me, uncomfortable, but no pain, so if you want to give it a go, nothing to lose:)

Bloody painful.