Membrane Sweep

[Samkate]

Hi all

I'm 40+1 and had my membrane sweep today. Midwife told me I'm 2cm dilated, with a soft, short cervix that is in a good position.

Interesting thing I learnt from her, apparently after you've had a baby your cervix never properly closes again, so you're always 1cm dilated even when not pregnant!
(Makes be being 2cm dilated slightly less exciting!)

I had two sweeps with my first baby so not getting my hopes up to avoid induction this time, but she said it's more likely to work with subsequent babies.

Anyone else getting close/over?

[AudreyBradshaw]

It's the same thing I think happy I thought I was losing mine after I had my sweep but it seems to have stopped or just become more liquidy. You can lose your plug but have nothing happen for a while I think.

Ooh hope the twinges mean something sam

I'm just blinking exhausted now. I didn't murder him, only because I'd never be able to shift his body by myself and it's not fair to my sister that she becomes an accomplice!

[Samkate]

happy I started losing my plug at 38 weeks (the start of the false hope!). It was just a clear/yellowish mucus.
Since my sweep it's been red/brown, which is normal. Think the trauma of the sweep can cause some bleeding, and maybe when you're close to labour it can naturally bleed a bit.
Any appearance of the plug/show can mean it's imminent as your cervix is opening. But for some (clearly myself included) the cervix can open a few weeks before the big day!!

[happydays00]

I started to lose my plug 10 days ago but that was mucousy and not really bloody whereas today and yesterday has been very much bloody and not mucousy (sorry, this really is TMI!!)

Another twinge to get overly excited about it seems

[Samkate]

When you say bloody but NOT mucousy...do you mean you're just bleeding?
Google image "bloody show". Does t look like that or is it just blood?

Btw we are all having babies...TMI really goes out the window!

[happydays00]

No, not just bleeding. Definitely similar to the more bloody ones on google images (wish I could un-see some of those pictures )

My back pain has cranked up a notch after my afternoon dog walk. Bouncing on my ball but struggling to get comfortable.

How are you two getting on?

[Samkate]

Sometimes period/back pain is a bit worse, sometimes it's just average.
If we aren't gonna go into labour soon, what the hell are all these pains all about??
If it wasn't going to progress into labour I didn't think it would have been going on this long, it's been 3 days, surely it should become something more productive now?

[happydays00]

Yes samkate , that's what I think. Bring on the pain if it's leading somewhere, otherwise what's the point?! I think they're just messing with our minds now...

[Samkate]

The things we do!

I wonder which of us will have our baby first. I'm betting on me in last place! Lol
Wouldn't it be lovely to all just go into labour together!

[happydays00]

Yes, would be amazing! Audrey are you busy having your baby? Wait for us!!

[AudreyBradshaw]

Still bloody pregnant! No joy at all! Not even a twinge! This kid has its father's time keeping skills for sure!

Hope we are all well!

[Samkate]

Aw I thought you might have been having more luck than us audrey!!

Do you both know what you're having?
I'm having another boy, cue everyone saying 'that's boys for you! Never on time!'

[happydays00]

I'm having a girl.. so she's clearly doing her own thing in there.

Contractions are back... 6-8 minutes apart this time and worrying already that they're going to fizzle out again soon

[Samkate]

Even if they do its all progress happy. Your body is trying to get going.

Please say they haven't though...

[Bigfam]

Can I join? 😆
This is baby number 5 and I'm 38+1.
My 1st arrived at 37+3 second 38+2 third 39 and fourth 39+3. I'm creeping towards my due date (9th) with no signs of arrival and starting to worry about going over or even being induced, which is utter madness!! They've offered a sweep on my due date, which is also dp's birthday, but my god I need this baby out before then... I had all these fake starts and on/off pains in my last pregnancy and it's happening again. How's everyone else doing?

[Samkate]

Welcome big! Oh wow, number 5! How lovely! My DH assures me we are stopping at two...we shall see

You had these false starts before, and you were still early then, so it could happen again!

Wish I could have had a slightly early baby, to be fair I just want a baby any day now!

There were pros of being induced, nice calm progression and it was nice to be able to plan and know exactly what was going to happen.

But this time I REALLY want it to happen naturally. If my DH gets his own way, this will be the last time I do it and I really want to experience going into labour at home and the whole drama of rushing to the hospital etc. I think I'll be quite upset to not get a natural experience. But I've got a sinking feeling that I won't.
Plus I REALLY want a water birth, couldn't have it last time with me being induced.

[Samkate]

How old are your kids big?

[happydays00]

Contractions disappeared. I'm going to be pregnant forever.

bigfam, yes misery loves company so welcome aboard! My question for you: how have you done this 4 times?! I had an absolute meltdown on my DP last night: I think I actually ended up crying about my cankles these false alarms are very draining!

[AudreyBradshaw]

Still bloody pregnant! Dh in work at 7am, so I'm getting shipped to my parents while he's at work as my dad can't cope with me being on my own (for three hours as he usually picks me up at 9 am while dh is at work)

Anyone got their second sweep booked? I'm in tomorrow afternoon, going watch my sis in a horse show tomorrow morning though first.

How is everyone? Any twinges?

[happydays00]

Yup, I'm back on Monday for another glorious sweep. What about you audrey?

[Bigfam]

Thanks
The false stop/start tease labour only happened during my 4th (last) pregnancy & it went on for weeks. She wasn't born until 39+3 & it felt like I was pregnant forever having carried her longer than any of the others.
Dd1 will be 8 in december, ds 7 in december, dd2 5 in january & dd3 2 in january, adding to that the baby's due on the 9th which is dp's birthday & mine is the 6th so all in December & January!
It does feel like that towards the end happydays

[Samkate]

Oh ive had a horrible night. Wish I could say it was down to contractions but sadly it's my sons cough! He's been awake most of the night coughing. For just this once baby, please don't come today! Don't think I'd be able to go through labour with 2 hours sleep!!

Sweep booked for tues, wish it was sooner.

My sons birthday is next Friday so they could share a birthday! I thought WE were bad for having these birthdays closer together! My nephew was also born 4 days after my son.

Oh and for what is becoming my token line...lost more plug this morning. Seriously!! I'm starting to think this plug is bigger than the actual baby!!

[happydays00]

samkate you poor thing - you must be exhausted!! I hope you can at least have a restful day today and your son feels a bit better? Also hope that your naughty baby stays out until you're better rested!

I'm with you on yet more plug loss this morning - they're well corked in aren't they?I've swapped back ache for period pains today.. just mixing it up over here, keeping me on my (fat) and swollen toes!

[Bigfam]

Oh no sam hope he's better soon, dd2 was sick at school the other day from coughing too much. Any chance you can grab a nap?

I've never lost my plug. My waters have gone in only one pregnancy & that was before my contractions started. I'm mainly looking out for contractions, but it's hard with braxton hicks and constant period like aches that you mentioned happydays

[happydays00]

bigfam you've made me feel slightly less paranoid and neurotic if you're also struggling to decipher between all the various twinges and aches!

My contractions are now 4-5 minutes apart - bouncing on my ball and pottering about the house trying to keep things moving. About half a day away from attempting a circuit of squats and lunges

[Bigfam]

Don't worry happy I even get my hopes up from pooh pains (please tell me I'm not the only one that gets crampy when I need one, and it's bloody painful?!)
Ohhhh good luck, I hope they keep coming and it's the real deal!