Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Sweep booked tomorrow how does it work?

34 replies

freddysays · 08/08/2006 19:52

Got a consultant appoointment booked for tomorrow and as I am 41 weeks gonna beg her for a sweep as I heard it could work. But my post dates clinic appt not til Friday.

Anyhow, how does it work if it worked for you and what can i expect????

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Tommy · 08/08/2006 19:59

don't know if this is the correct medical term but my MW just seemed to have a poke around when I was a week over due. She told me it would hurt but I didn't feel a thing and then she said I was 3cm dilated!
DS2 arrived about 30 hours later after 2 hours labour

liquidclocks · 08/08/2006 20:03

Hi - you lie on the bed like you would for a smear and the m/w puts a speculum in to open you up. Then she puts a gel on the end of her finger and pushes it inside the cervix, has a rummage and then out again. Personally I found it hurt but it didn't last long at all so wasn't too bad. I did have light contractions (not like real labour though) for about 2-3 hrs after which was a bit uncomfortable.

Definitely have one - they do work!

gigglinggoblin · 08/08/2006 20:04

i think they swirl a finger round inside your cervix and thats it really. i had a few sweeps, feels a bit like a smear, not painful but maybe slightly uncomfortable. had a bit of a show and a few spots of blood after each, some contraction-type pains but didnt actually start off. however this was 1st of 3 babies which did start off naturally and i think the sweeps helped me on the way. would def do it again. mw told me they worked a lot of the time so worth a go!

laundrylover · 08/08/2006 20:06

I had a sweep with a male consultant and he was really rough and it bloody hurt!!!He kind of hooked his finger in and turned it around quite alot (make sense?) and said I was 1cm.
Anyhow had cramps from then on and went into labour at 9pm that night so guess it was worth a bit of pain.

CodGuevara · 08/08/2006 20:07

dont worry he is a last resort

Tiggerish · 08/08/2006 20:07

The MW didn't use a speculum with me. Just had a poke around. It was a bit uncomfortable but not really painful. I then had mild contractions for several hours. dd arrived after 45 minutes of "real" ones!

Original poster
freddysays · 08/08/2006 20:15

thanks loads for all your comments and pictures (ouch)

It sounds really encouraging..if it kicks things off so quickly do you hang round the hospital or just go home and wait and see?

OP posts:
Belo · 08/08/2006 20:18

It didn't feel at all uncomfortable. I thought it would be a bit like having a smear, but in fact I hardly felt anything. The midwife put her gloves on, had a quick feel with her hands and then it was over. 12 hours later my waters broke. Two and a quarter hours later I gave birth! It was so easy. Wished I had asked for a sweep earlier.

Hope it all goes well for you.

Belo · 08/08/2006 20:19

I had mine done at the GPs surgery. I went home and had a bath and a nap!

BoudiCat · 08/08/2006 20:29

Mine was uncomfortable not painful. Like a smear test but without the crank-open-metal-thing.

Didn't work for me though.

Good luck

trix1 · 08/08/2006 20:54

Would they do it at 39 weeks? or do you have to be overdue?

gigglinggoblin · 08/08/2006 20:55

i think they did mine at 39 weeks. they wont do it too early but they dont set you off unless you are ready so isnt dangerous

you go home afterwards, can take several hours if it does work

trix1 · 08/08/2006 20:59

How do they know if your ready or not?

Toady · 08/08/2006 21:01

I had a sweep at 39+2 weeks and I went into labour about 3 hours later. That was on the Tuesday but tbh I had had my first sweep on Sunday night by my DH iykwim . Have you got this option?

trix1 · 08/08/2006 21:07

The option of dh doing the sweep? I suppose I do but he would worry he would cause me damage, he would be funny about going there as this late stage in pregnancy.

trix1 · 08/08/2006 21:08

Toady - did you have any signs of going into labour before the sweep by midwife?

Belo · 08/08/2006 21:23

They did mine at 39+6. I was already 1cm dilated apparently.

Original poster
freddysays · 08/08/2006 21:38

My dp is up for it but I am not.. i think i need a physicological push forward too at this stage...i am almost convinced this baby will never come out..goign 6days over has been a real test of my nerve.

So i think the professional procedure element may be what i need to get things started...Please let this theory bear out x

OP posts:
Belo · 08/08/2006 21:47

You may as well let your dh do his stuff - you may not be wanting his attentions for a while after the birth .

Original poster
freddysays · 08/08/2006 22:03

Hmmmmmmmm, he agrees. im off to bed now anwyway, night night

OP posts:
mrsdarcy · 08/08/2006 22:22

They will only do a sweep if your cervix is favourable. I had one at 38 weeks as I was being induced early. The mw warned me that it might make me feel weepy and hormonal, and it did. Didn't particularly hurt though but it was by a midwife I knew and on my bed at home, so much easier to relax.

Toady · 08/08/2006 22:51

Yes definitely, not proper contractions just more uncomfortable and stronger braxtons

trix1 · 15/08/2006 11:51

Just had a sweep this morning? I wonder will it work? Im desperate for labour to start as I have tried everythjing else.

Uwila · 15/08/2006 12:34

I had one and it was bloody painf ul, literally. Will never do that again. Apparently, if you aren't close to going into labour already it hurts more and is unlikely to work. Yeouch! Never never never again.

BabiesEverywhere · 15/08/2006 12:40

My aqua natal midwife said that sweeps are less likely to work in first time mums as we have never dilated before

Swipe left for the next trending thread