So what exactly happens when you go for a sweep?

[llamallama]

I'm booked in for a sweep next week. What can I expect from the appointment?

Do the midwives have a look up there to see if its favourable first? Are you lying down? Do they use one of those smear test contraptions?

I know it's probably TMI but can anyone tell me?

If I remember right, I just lay on the bed (mw came and did it at home) and the mw basically had a good old rummage, no smear test contraption. It was awkward and uncomfortable but not exactly painful. I was 1-2cm dilated already though, mw could feel the baby's hair. IMO worth going through as it might work, and 30 secs of being uncomfortable is better than being induced.

I'm not sure whether they do it if you are uncompletely closed though.

From what I recall no instruments or.prior looking. Yes you are lying down and basically midwife puts fingers up and has a good old rummage.
Had a sweep with dc 2 & 3 - uncomfortable more than painful and no more odd than a smear I would say (although I am fairly unconcerned about that sort of thing, I know others shudder at the thought). Good luck, hope it works for you.

I wasn't even dilated when I had my sweep no contraptions or anything I had mine at the doctors it's just basically 2 of the nurses fingers inside you and sweeping it all the way round to be honest It did nothing at all to get my labour started, if your having it at the doctors it's just laying on the bed thing they have I didn't find it uncomfortable or painful though but everyone is different :)

Lie down knees up and feet together and then you spread em! I always had some of that crap blue roll stuff covering the groin so you cant see them prodding you.

Then they lube up and put a couple of very cold fingers up. I found it to be just unconfortable except for when trainee midwife had a go of pulling my cervix forward...ouch!

Its quick though no need to worry! And if this is first baby then defo no need to feel embarrassed as midwife has seen it all a million times over.

Thank you. I'm not fussed about smear tests or midwife having a rummage up my lady garden (can you tell this is a second baby?)

But knowing what to expect is really helpful.

I'm going to be 39+5 (blood pressure issues plus previous c section means the plan is to try and get baby out before 40+9 when I have booked c section) I'm assuming that the midwife won't do it if cervix is closed? Maybe send me home to come back after a few days?

Thanks littleginger - that's the exact level of detail I was after!

I had mine early for Dc2 at 39+2 - didn't work and 39+6 - did work.

Needed to get baby out re expectation of massive baby after dd1 was c. 11lbs.

Just as described. Home on bed, lying on towel. I'm awful with smear tests but it was ok with some deep breathing and so quick.

Bit of blood after first. Bit more blood after 2nd. Within hr of 2nd one was feeling a LOT of pressure. DD2 born following lunchtime :) (c.10lbs)

Good luck it's a wonderful time x

Remember to breath! Very important to try to relax and use your breathing to help.

Depending on how your cervix is, your MW may have to reach up quite far and that can be really uncomfortable.. She will be able to tell you what your cervix is doing, if you are dilated and 'sweep' around it with her fingers. Try not to shift up the bed to escape. It can be very uncomfortable (I had 5 with DC4). You might lose your plug afterwards (bloody mucus 'show')

Good to ask though. I remember being quite shocked when in labour with DC1 and being examined to see how far along I was. Not sure what I was expecting, maybe peering in and having a look?

Good luck with it all.

Thanks all! That's really helpful and I feel a bit more prepared now!

I'm really hoping it works as I'm due for the sweep Friday morning then DH around all weekend so, for convenience, that would be fab! Though midwife has said I can have another one during the week if it doesn't do anything!

How do they reach if your cervix is quite far back? I always need to shift around during a smear and have my fists under my bum. Can't see how 2 fingers would reach where they normally need the speculum (?) thing.
Sorry for hijack - might need one next week.

Hi chickenfactory. Apparently my cervix hadnt turned from being in posterior position which usually happens before 40 weeks like effacing commonly does. Is this what you mean?

Well i had flashback after answering OP and i recall that the reason trainee midwife sweep was painful is that she couldn't reach so was really rummaging about for aaaaaaages. In the end it was a failed sweep. I had 3 sweeps before being induced and then many more whilst waiting for a bed in delivery suite. No one else struggled and my normal community midwife had a go of 'walking' my cervix forward which was a bit sore too bt didnt take anywhere near as long as trainee's attempt.

So i don't know how but it was possible by the more experienced midwives.

Just for balance my experience of a sweep was it was horrendously painful, traumatic and felt like some hideous form of assault. It also was a complete waste of time. My cervix was high and unfavourable apparently so she had to really dig around.

Chicken - the reason 2 fingers reach is because they sort of force half their hand in there. It was my first baby so obviously everything was pretty tight hence the pain.

My community midwife (who didn't do the sweep) had told me she doesn't rate them as they only work if you are about to go into labour anyway.

Sorry for hijack... but... re the two fingers/half hand thing. Is that the same approach during labour? If so, are they just guessing when they say '4 fingers dilated'? Or is it more than just a 2-finger job.

I'm another one who naturally has a very high up cervix - smears are torture and feel incredibly invasive due to the amount of extra posturing required.

Brave - once you are in labour you'll have so much else going on you won't even notice them checking your dilation. You really won't! Also your cervix will be easier to reach then. I found the sweep more intrusive than the birth, which was ventouse so required a fair amount of faffing about in my nether regions.

Being a woman sucks. That's all

(Tho thanks for the insight WS - I think I have more of a problem with stuff being 'done' to me, esp when flat on back. I'm the same with dentists)

So I guess on that basis a sweep is worth it on the basis that if it works it prevents induction and myriad other pokes and fiddles being inflicted on you, right?

IME inductions are horrendous and i would endure a million sweeps if it prevented another induction but thats me.

My sweeps werent too bad (just embarrassing) but giving birth was just utter shit. Another lady may find sweeps excruciating but induction goes smoothly.

One person will swear blind that sweep brought on labour whereas none of mine worked.

Id recommend that you go along to sweep and tell mw that your cervix is very high and then if things get too uncomfortable tell her to stop and decline any further offers?

Thank for replies Worcester.
Brave - looks like I've got one tomorrow so I'll let you know!

Let us know how it goes chickenfactory

I'm also very keen to avoid induction so hoping the sweep does kick everything off!

I had a sweep earlier today - it was slightly uncomfortable but not too bad.

However now I'm very uncomfy - cramps, pressure and sore. Hope it's worth it!

Im booked in for a sweep next week, do they just book everyone in for a sweep if they have not given birth yet or do they book the ladies who they think are likely to go overdue? My midwife communicates terribly sorry.

I think everyone is offered a sweep after 40 weeks to hopefully kick start things and avoid induction.

At my mw check up at roughly 39w they just said they'd book me if for a sweep a day or two after my due date. I didn't ask anything about it, I have to admit, though I have got the impression from the boards that this isn't entirely standard practice.

I was told with my first DC that my hospital didn't offer sweeps till at least 41 weeks. I never got that far so didn't have one.

This time I'm hoping for a vbac though have c section booked for 40+9 so have been offered a sweep from 40 weeks to try and get labour going. Because of my previous section plus blood pressure issues the hospital don't want me to deliver too late.

Forgot to thank littleginger-sorry!
Well I had a failed sweep today.
Lay on the bed, feet together, knees apart. Midwife was lovely, said she wouldn't attempt to reach if it was obviously too far. She could just about reach it and asked if she could walk it forward (two fingers in the come here motion) that was painful. Kept having to remember to breathe! Deep breath in and exhale slowly but she couldn't get close enough. Pressed slightly very low on my tummy where head is. She tried for a few minutes (seconds probably!), DH said I looked like I was going to cry. Was easier when I managed to relax a wee bit. Said cervix was posterior and just not ready. Wasn't sore or crampy after and a couple of hours later had a little blood. Another booked for end of week. Used the Doppler before and after to check baby. Hope that helps, think I remembered everything. Hasn't put me off another one.

Mine will be next Tuesday at 40 + 5. Really useful to know exactly what to expect. Feeling very twingy this eve so hoping I won't make it :)