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Original poster

Sweep: how fast did it work for you (if it did)?

30 replies

TurquoiseTranquility · 17/05/2013 11:19

40+6 today with no. 2 Sad that's according to official dates though, according to my own I'm only 40+2 but induction looming nonetheless!

Was offered a sweep this weekend, then if that doesn't work, another one on Tue.

Was just wondering, I know the sweep is meant to work within 48 hours, but how fast could it possibly be? The reason I'm asking is, should I line up childcare for DS before we head to hospital for the sweep, or is it safe to wait till - if - something actually kicks off? Just really hate to bother people without reason. The friend I'm thinking of lives about 5 min from the hospital, but unless there's a good chance things would get serious within an hour of the sweep I don't want to cry wolf!

Already had too many niggles that led nowhere this time round Angry

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shelli135 · 17/05/2013 11:22

I had a sweep at 41 weeks, didn't work had to be induced. Not sure as its your second might work better?

shelli135 · 17/05/2013 11:22

I had a sweep at 41 weeks, didn't work had to be induced. Not sure as its your second might work better?

Original poster
TurquoiseTranquility · 17/05/2013 11:30

yeah who knows, DS was already 2 weeks old by this stage (yet I was in no rush to have him before the magic 40-week date!) This little madam is taking her time big style, yet I'm desperate to have her out ASAP Sad

Sod's law Wink

Had a bit of a scare on Tue (thought a small amount of waters may have escaped), got checked out. Midwife did an internal and said my cervix looked soft and ripe, so her gut feeling was I wouldn't last till induction. Head's been engaged for ages. So hopefully that boosts my chances of the sweep working, fingers x!

OP posts:
glorious · 17/05/2013 13:27

About 4 hours from sweep to first contraction. I had a very slow labour from then to 4cm though. I was 40+11, +13 when she was finally born. Good luck!

emsyj · 17/05/2013 15:36

Sweep at about 4pm, waters broke big style 9.30pm, baby born 3.40am.

bulletwithbutterflywings · 17/05/2013 15:39

12 hours from sweep to first proper contraction.

Original poster
TurquoiseTranquility · 17/05/2013 16:22

thanks for your replies,
so, so far we're talking at least a few hours. Not imminent. Good!
That was my gut feeling anyway, as one would assume if there was a good chance it would work real quick, they'd be doing it at the hospital rather than in the community (my local hospital doesn't have a maternity ward anymore, only an antenatal clinic Angry)

I'll let my friend know we could be requiring her services within the next 3 days just in case, but at least we should get some time to play with, anyway Smile

OP posts:
Pudgy2011 · 17/05/2013 18:03

Sweep at 0830, waters broke at 11am, started contractions baby born at 4pm.

I was 37+6 and was already 3cms though so apparently it depends on how susceptible your cervix is. I don't think my OBGYN would have bothered if baby didn't look ready to come.

Good luck OP, I don't know how you've gotten to 40+6, you're a hero!

happy2bhomely · 17/05/2013 18:22

Sweep at 40+5 with dc4. Contractions started within an hour, 11lb baby born at home 6 hours later!

LifeOfPee · 17/05/2013 18:35

40+1 I had a sweep which resulted in a few blobs of show but no labour. Had another sweep at 40+6 and DS was born the next day.

FattyMcChubster · 17/05/2013 18:43

Contractions started straight after sweep but dd not born for nearly 3 more days. Very very long labour Angry

Pigsmummy · 17/05/2013 18:46

Sweep on Tuesday and baby arrived Friday morning,

Original poster
TurquoiseTranquility · 17/05/2013 19:12

Jees homely, HOW did you get that 11lb baby out??? Shock was your homebirth planned, or did it just all go too fast?

I'm still hoping for a planned homebirth here you see, but running out of time Sad

Pudgy, just out of interest, why did they give you a sweep at 37+6? Is that standard practice where you live, or did they want your baby out sooner rather than later? It's just in my Trust, they wouldn't usually offer one until you're at least 40 weeks.

OP posts:
lovedimsum · 17/05/2013 19:14

I am 40 + 4 days with DC3 and had my first "attempt" at a sweep this morning. Was so horrendous- I actually think I would prefer to be in labour with contractions rather than go through that ordeal again! Did anyone else find it unbearable? I had to ask midwife to stop as in was so much agony!

Original poster
TurquoiseTranquility · 17/05/2013 19:26

loved, yeah I've heard it can be seriously bad Sad I think I'd still prefer a few minutes agony to being strapped to monitors, unable to move, with an oxytocin drip in my arm, for HOURS!!

Got 4 weak - but long - contractions whilst trying to get some sleep.. About 20-25 min apart.. was just getting my hopes up but had none since I got up! ARRGGGH! Angry

Hope your sweep works anyway, fingers x for you (and myself!) Wink

OP posts:
lovedimsum · 17/05/2013 19:30

Well I haven't been induced before so don't know what to really expect... DD1 was a week late and DD2 was 2 days early so in just praying that I start on my own without any intervention. Yes, fingers crossed it works!! Good luck! :)

Original poster
TurquoiseTranquility · 17/05/2013 19:53

haven't been induced either, and really hoping to never find out what that feels like! The idea of it is bad enough...

OP posts:
LifeOfPee · 17/05/2013 21:28

I didn't find it at all painful. I mean, I could feel the MW furkling around up there, I'm not completely numb, but there was no pain. It was fine.

MB34 · 17/05/2013 21:46

Life 'furkling around up there' - that made me lol!

I had a sweep at 40+10 and it didn't hurt either. My contractions started about 15 hours later and DS was born 10 hours after that!

glorious · 18/05/2013 06:53

Yes the one I had before labour wasn't painful as such, though certainly uncomfortable. The one I had at 2cm however... ouch!

Bibs123 · 18/05/2013 07:12

My waters broke the next day.

BNmum · 18/05/2013 07:33

Was 1-2cm dilated (didn't realise), they said I was ripe for sweep so I let them. In hindsight I don't know why I didn't say, if I'm already in labour I'll leave it and see what happens.

The sweep itself was fine, uncomfortable but not painful.

Contractions kicked in 2hrs later, DS arrived 21 hrs later

happy2bhomely · 19/05/2013 20:02

Home birth was planned. It was a fantastic experience, with no complications and no stitches!

I'm being induced tomorrow at 38 weeks. This baby is likely to be just 6lbs and I'm feeling quite scared this time around. I'd rather another 11lb home birth any day!

rockerrock · 21/05/2013 00:10

Sweep at 39+2 (baby #2, already at 2cm) at midday, proper contractions by 7pm, into hospital at midnight after constant bouncing on my birthing ball (and watching most of series 3 of Downton), baby born at 2pm (I have long labours though: the 'quick' second birth everyone promised me never happened...).

Could hardly feel the sweep but I was clearly 'ready'.

rockerrock · 21/05/2013 00:13

Oh and I was induced with #1 after waters broke but nothing happened.

I would have a million sweeps rather than be artificially induced again. It was agony. Utterly awful.

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