40+6... Midwife due any minute to do first stretch and sweep... what to expect?

[GinGirl]

Was quite excited earlier about the prospect of things finally getting moving (though I know there are no guarantees) but am getting more and more nervous now!

Is it going to be horrendous?!

And what can I do afterwards to improve my chances of it working?

Any help and support much appreciated, she didn't give an exact time so just sat here waiting!

It bloody hurts I tell you - feels like they are trying to reach your teeth trhough your Noonie!!

Sit on a swiss ball afterwards until you start to feel the contractions - worked for me and missed fist stage labour too -none of that crappy 10 minute apart contractions - over and done with in 2 hours - am still shaking thinking about it 3 years later too!!

I don't remember it hurting that much (although clearly I have done more fun things in my life). I went for the most energetic walk I was capabale of afterwards and went into labour the next morning.

Good luck.

It is uncomfortable, but it didn't hurt, certainly no where near as painfull as labour, and at least you know the sweep is going to be over in a few seconds....!

Didn't really hurt (i would describe it as uncomfortable)....but it didn't work either!

Put it this way....if you think thats sore, then labour is going to, ahem, 'smart' a bit!!

Didn't really hurt, just uncomfortable. Had mine at 10am walked for the rest of the day and went into labour at 5pm. good luck.

Thanks all, still sat here waiting... feels like the story of my life at the moment!

DH is winding me up as he seems to think that a) I'm going to go into labour spontaneously like a normal person (family history suggests otherwise) and b) that it is all going to happen really quickly once it starts. He didn't want to go to work today, but packed him off this morning as he would have done my head in by now!

Am prepared for uncomfortable, have quite high pain threshold (though not tested by labour yet!) so hope will be okay.

Will go for walk afterwards I think and then bounce on ball all evening!

Hi GinGirl

If the midwife hasn't already been and done the 'dirty deed'

The best advice I can give is for you to try and be as relaxed as possible, I know that it's easier said than done!

If you've attended any ante natal classes and discussed deep breathing, that is what you should try and do while the examination and sweep is being performed.

If you are tense, what could be uncomfortable can become downright painful.

Long breaths in throught the nose followed by along blow out through the mouth.

Easy for me to say sitting here, but truthfully it will help.

The easier it is for the midwife to do the examination, the less discomfort for you.

Slightly longer post than I meant to do and it may be academic now. The breathing though will haelp with vaginal examinations in labour.

All the best

Hi GinGirl

I am 40+8 and had my first ever membrane sweep this morning. It wasnt all that bad, did hurt a little but Im sure you can be big and brave and if it gets things going a little quicker then it'll be worth it just to get the waiting game over with hey?

Im fed up of waiting, family and friends keep checking in on me and Im like "no, not yet". Im booked in to be induced on Thursday if the sweep doesnt work, do you have an induction booked?

Regards
Lu xx

Its uncomfortable yes, painful no.
Might be for some though.

I was told to expect a show and maybe a bit of bleeding.
Do lots of rocking either on a birth ball or rocking chair etc and walk up the stairs sideways one foot at a time

i had a sweep by the consultant with my ds2 (he's now nearly 3) wasn't really uncomfortable, bled a little - tiny bit
Just be prepared, mine was done at about 5pm
got home with dh and dd1 at about 7pm ( after picking up dd1 from MIL, nice cup of tea etc) DROVE MYSELF HOME!!
felt a bit painful as we arrived home, turned straight round went to hsp and ds1 was born 20 mins after we arrived in a birthing pool (1hr 20 minute labour!!)
apparently if the cervix is "ripe" as they put it it can work very quickly

Hi Littleboo. They said mine was 'ripe' this morning and did a sweep on me at about 10.30am. Had a little bit of bleeding but no 'action' as yet. Am hoping it will work, gonna go for a long walk in a mo!

fwiw, i went into labour 4 days after my sweep and I was "very favourable" apparently.

goodluck lulabell hope things all get going. Its awful all the waiting at the end.

Great names they use too "ripe" "favourable"
another one the MW's always seem to say in labour is "cracking on nicely"

LOL. I was given the 'favourable' one this mornning too. Maybe they just say that to everyone. Although, she did say i was 1cm dialted which is a good sign for a first time mum who is not actually in labour yet. Had lots of niggling pains and false labour over the past week though.

Have to say that I did find it painfull (but have always found smears painfull too). But ..... I did go into labour the next morning and was fully dilated within 8 hours of the first contraction (first baby). Did have some slight bleeding too.

Loving all the positive stories and thanks for all the support but am quite disappointed in myself.

Cervix was too posterior for the midwife to reach. She said I could still have a show etc but that it was unlikely. So far, nothing! Went for brisk walk afterwards and have been bouncing on my ball.

Have to ring her again Thursday and she'll give it another go. Will be 40+8 then and we'll discuss a date for induction with the hospital as apparently the unit like the mmidwife to have examined you recently so they can judge how much inducing you are going to need.

At this rate sounds like I'm going to need the works!

NoName thanks for the tips, was really only uncomfortable, not as bad as I has been expecting. Personally found it no worse than internal scan, and have had 3 of those this pregnancy!

Thanks again everyone, have warned DH that I'm not in the best of moods and he has promised me a nice evening as a distraction!

Sorry, forgot to ask...

Does anyone know if the cervix can be posterior and still softening etc? Or does it have to have moved forward before the softening and thinnning starts?

Shameless bump incase anyone has any info??

Hi GinGirl

Rubbish internet access or I would have responded earlier>

Yes the cervix can still be posterior when thinning (effacing) and dilating.

Particularly, when the head is very low down it can be difficult to reach the cervix.

Good tip for vaginal examinations (if you haven't already been told), make your hands into fists, place them under your buttocks and raise/tilt your pelvis.

Thank you, thank you, thank you NoName!

Gives me some hope back again! Didn't know about sitting on my fists (though thinking about it did have to for an early internal scan) and it make sense. Midwife didn't suggest it though and I think I would have been too nervous at the time to suggest a different technique!

Will definitely bear it in mind for next attempt which will be tomorrow or Friday...