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Childbirth

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

Original poster

How painful is a sweep?

51 replies

libertinelou · 06/05/2015 17:00

I'm booked in for a sweep tomorrow and starting to get nervous. Is it particularly painful or just uncomfortable? I don't mind the pain if it works but don't feel like there's any sign of baby coming and I'm 4 days overdue.

OP posts:
chickydoo · 06/05/2015 22:21

Ouch :(

Marvel101 · 06/05/2015 22:25

Had a sweep but can't really remember much about it so it can't have been too bad

Littleturkish · 06/05/2015 22:26

Not painful, and worked for me within 48 hrs. I was already 2cm dilated though, so I think that makes a difference.

katienana · 06/05/2015 22:27

Didn't hurt at all. midwife said I was soft and stretchy so maybe tbe cervix being favourable helps I lost my plug thr next day but didn't go into labour for another 3 days.

PatsyPasta · 06/05/2015 22:34

Please don't have one OP, they can be violating, painful and there is no evidence that they work.

HollyAndIvyTime · 06/05/2015 22:34

Uncomfortable but not painful. I had three with ds3 and went into natural labour (early and for the first time!) a few hours after the third so it worked for me.

puddymuddles · 06/05/2015 22:35

Slightly uncomfortable and I think it did work with DD2 at 41 weeks. Maybe would have gone into labour naturally anyway though. Currently pregnant and will have one again but only after 41 weeks - I have heard that if your body really not ready they can hurt a lot and be useless.

puddymuddles · 06/05/2015 22:36

Induction on drip with Dd1 very painful so would rather have a million sweeps than be induced again!

strawberry01 · 07/05/2015 01:26

Barely felt a thing and was in labour 12 hours later (even though the nurse said my cervix was barely dilated at time of sweep- she just managed to do it)

ilovemargaretatwood8931 · 07/05/2015 02:00

Had 2, both uncomfortable and not pleasant, but not actually that bad. Didn't work at all!

Original poster
libertinelou · 07/05/2015 07:34

Thanks for all your responses. I'm going to go prepared for pain and ineffectiveness then anything else is a bonus. Will still remain positive though.

OP posts:
Greymalkin · 07/05/2015 19:55

Hope you got on ok today OP

Original poster
libertinelou · 07/05/2015 20:50

A bit painful but nothing I couldn't cope with. Midwife couldn't reach my cervix though so we know it won't be effective. Am booked in for induction on Monday now.

OP posts:
oneowlgirl · 07/05/2015 22:01

Glad it was ok. All the best for Monday (if not before Grin)

YoniMitchell · 07/05/2015 22:30

Good luck on Monday!

WasabiNuts · 07/05/2015 22:31

Do remember that five days past your EDD isn't really late. EDD is just pure guesswork - it's really a five or six week window - three weeks before, and two after, or a little bit extra with monitoring. I am nine days past my EDD now, and having a scan tomorrow morning. I don't feel late, just that my body/baby know better than the people who guess the EDD.

ilovemargaretatwood8931 · 07/05/2015 22:38

All the best on Monday

FlaviaAlbia · 07/05/2015 22:49

Glad it went OK, good luck for Monday!

flowerygirl · 08/05/2015 18:09

My midwife says she'll do a sweep next Friday if baby doesn't come before then. I'll be 40+1. After reading these comments I'm having second thoughts now Shock

PatsyPasta · 08/05/2015 18:32

A MW should offer a sweep. Have one if that is your choice. MW shouldn't do sweeps unless they are requested.

DrCoconut · 10/05/2015 08:50

They did one on me when I'd already started labour and didn't tell me they were going to do one. I guess to speed it up, why I don't know as I went to 9cm dilated in 2 hours. It was horrible if I'm honest but maybe if I hadn't already started it would have been different. I'm refusing one this time, expressly saying that if they do a VE I don't want a sweep.

Silvercatowner · 13/05/2015 18:43

I think it depends on how ready to labour the cervix is as to whether it hurts a lot or a little. Mine was uncomfortable but not painful, the sweep triggered a huge contraction and regular contractions followed, then baby 5 hours later. I was a week late. I suspect it sped things up a little, no more.

imwithspud · 22/05/2015 09:25

I had two sweeps first time round. First one was really painful, cervix was really high and midwife struggled to reach it which didn't help, it obviously didn't work since I had a second one. I made the most embarrassing "Shock ahhh" noise whilst she did it. Second one was done by a different midwife at the hospital on the day I was meant to be induced, she did it and I didn't even realize, not sure if it worked or not but my waters broke the next morning although I still had to be induced as I wasn't progressing. I think it can depend on a lot of things, how favourable your cervix is, the midwife doing it and how relaxed you are. I have one booked for Tuesday and I'm kind of worried, considered declining it but I figured it's only a few seconds and then it's done.

ishallnamehimsquishy · 31/05/2015 05:51

I had one round about my due date in my first pregnancy. Was very uncomfortable and I didn't go into labour until a week later. My second baby was born before my due date so didn't get offered one.

It's written in my notes this time that I'll be offered one around my due date, but I'm going to decline it as I'm happy to just wait and see.

I'm not convinced about evidence of effectiveness either.

BathshebaDarkstone · 31/05/2015 05:58

Yes I'd call it uncomfortable. Luckily my boy got moving and I didn't need the induction. Smile