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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Do sweeps work? And if so, how quickly?

26 replies

MardyBum · 19/12/2006 17:53

I'm a week overdue and having a sweep on Thursday morning if baby hasn't made an appearance. Do they hurt? Do they work? And do they work quickly when they do? Any advice would be gratefully received!

OP posts:
spykid · 19/12/2006 17:55

IME, no they dont hurt, and no they dont work....soryy!

busybusymum · 19/12/2006 17:57

Had 2. Mine didn't hurt. Yes they appeared to work as I went in to labour within an hour of it being done. (I was on way home from hospital)

danceswithreindeer · 19/12/2006 17:59

My friend's waters broke during hers

NbgSparklyYellowFeathers · 19/12/2006 18:04

Had mine at 41 weeks exactly and had ds 4 days later.

lulumama · 19/12/2006 18:11

ok... a sweep will work if you would naturally have gone into labour within 24 - 48 hours..if you go into labour after that time.,, it is not to do with the sweep!

if you are overdue , and your first was , then your babies might need to cook a little longer

also, EDD , is estimated. and some babies need to be in utero for 41 - 42 weeks

i've had sweeps..i have found them uncomfortable ...they can break your waters, which can mean you are then under a time limit to deliver and might end up being pushed to an induction...

try sex and nipple stim to help ripen the cervix and gently encourage the right hormones to come and start labour...

try to breathe deeply and evenly when it is being done and relaaaaaaaaaaaax!

TheBlonde · 19/12/2006 18:20

Mine hurt, a lot
Works for some, doesn't work for others

firsttimemama · 19/12/2006 18:20

contractions within an hour for me.

Thecharmed1 · 19/12/2006 18:49

I wouldn't say they hurt, just uncomfortable! I hadone with ds2 and had him 6 hours later!

Good luck, and make sure yu have a long walk after they do it(i went for a 3 hour walk), its what helped my contractions kick in!and let us know if there is any progress in the meantime, i love getting involved in live births on mn

TuttiFrutti · 19/12/2006 20:02

I have heard that they work in about 50% of cases. As Lulumama says, it depends if your baby was going to come anyway in the next 24-48 hours, in which case it will speed things up. If you are pre-programmed to have a 42 week pregnancy, then IME the sweep won't work.

TheOlihantheIvy · 19/12/2006 20:16

Mardy, I had 5 with dd and was still induced at 42 weeks!! She really did not want to come out. 50% of women go into labour within 24 hours of a sweep according to my midwife, I wasn't one of the 50%, but you might be - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Oh, and in answer to the other question, no they didn't hurt, can be a bit uncomfortable but it depends on who's doing it and how relaxed you are. Consultant was a bit 'oooh' but the mws were fine.

merrylissiemas · 19/12/2006 20:18

depends, with ds i had 3 sweeps and still had to have waters broken. but he was a big baby. my 2nd sweep was agony but i was having contraction at the time

Original poster
MardyBum · 19/12/2006 20:47

Thanks everyone. Will keep you posted on progress!

OP posts:
krimbokrackerskayzed · 19/12/2006 20:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

twoplusone · 20/12/2006 06:40

I had a sweep on my due date at 1pm mine really hurt but i started contractions at 8am next morning, mild all day and had ds 4.23am the next morning.

Good luck hun x

lollipopz · 20/12/2006 12:06

Mardybum, I am getting a sweep today at 3.30, i am 39+5 having number 3
so i will let you know if it works for me or not!! The midwife i saw yesterday told me that generally it works better in 2nd and subsequent pregnancies, but thats just her opinion!
Hope it works for you, will let you know if its sore or not! lol

Original poster
MardyBum · 20/12/2006 18:13

Good luck lollipopz.
Looks like I'll definitely be having the sweep tomorrow, no sign of anything happening today, and now 41+1.

OP posts:
santasbaby · 20/12/2006 18:21

Didn't hurt, had mine at 2pm and contractions started at 7pm. Good Luck

lollipopz · 21/12/2006 10:01

Good luck Mardy, I had mine at 3.30 yesterday afternoon and the midwife said I was only 1cm dilated and uneffaced, but the cervix was soft and moved to the front. The sweep wasnt sore, but doesnt seem to have done anything, I was slightly crampy afterwards but not too bad. She is going to repeat in next wednesday as long as i'm still here which i am now starting to think will be pretty likely!!
Hope yours works for you, def let me know how you get on!!

Original poster
MardyBum · 21/12/2006 18:48

Midwife tried to do a sweep but I was undilated and she couldn't manage it. Also said cervix needs to move forward. Am now booked for induction on Boxing Day, when I will be 42 weeks exactly. Scary. Pretty miserable about things, especially as baby looks to be about nine pounds.

OP posts:
lulumama · 21/12/2006 18:55

don;t panic...things can happen really quickly...don;t be disheartened...also, you know you will only be pregnancy for another 4 days !! not long at all! !

a lot can happen to the cervix between now and then

sex and sex and sex, nipple stim and bouncing on the gym ball can help start the softening and dilating....

stay positive, do some visualisation and relax now..you know that you have an end date in sight, so just chill!

DarrellRivers · 21/12/2006 19:11

I thought your question was , Do chimney sweeps work?
I thought this was an urgent chimney unblocking question in time for Father Christmas
Good luck with everything MardyBum

Original poster
MardyBum · 21/12/2006 20:55

Thanks Lulumama, really appreciate the support x

OP posts:
lulumama · 21/12/2006 20:57

no worries honey...keep us posted ! x

spinasnowflake · 21/12/2006 21:07

Hello Mardy!!

in first pg,had a sweep on Wed. went into labour on Friday.gave birth on saturday(20 mins before they where planning to induce me!)at 42 weeks exactly. MW claims sweep worked.I claim I'm a slow cooker and was going to go then anyway.

It was a bit "ouchy".

But then again I had a history of "trapping" doctors during internal exams in first pg.

So RELAXING is very good for all concerned!

TheOlihantheIvy · 21/12/2006 22:33

Spina, how exactly do you 'trap' a doc during an exam? My mind is working overtime .

Mardy, you still have time to go by yourself, you won't necessarily need to have the induction. You are just a slow cooker like Spina and I, 42 weeks is normal for us! Keep us posted on what happens over the next few days. I can really recommend nipple stimulation, especially with a breast pump, to help encourage the softening and effacing of the cervix. I'm sure it made a really big difference to my induction.

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