Booked in for a sweep today...help...scared!!!

[foosfan]

Hi, I was due on the 17th October and allthough I've tried dates, Raspberry leaf tea, fresh pineapple and yes even sex nowt appears forthcoming!
I'm booked in for a sweep today and have heard that this is a painfull procedure...is this true?(Ridiculous I know to be worried about a finger through your cervix when shortly a babies head will be coming through!)
Does it work though?
I really dont want to be started off as it means I have to go to a different hospital to my local one and I was hoping for a waterbirth.
Any of you had sweeps? I would appreciate hearing of your experiences.

Hi don't be sacred i've had it with both dd's and with dd2 it was only uncomfortable as my cervix wasn't fully ready. Is this your first i take it

Yes it is and its all come as a bit of a shock as she was in perfect position from 29 weeks but last week I was told she is back to back as well.
For about a week I have been getting period type pains at night but then they go and I've had no show or anything yet.
How quickly after your sweeps did you go into labour?

I forgot to say. With dd1 it worked went into labour that night and dd born pretty much on time. With dd2 it was to try and induce me early but didn't work and i was induced with gel. Best of luck.

I was having the pains etc and i didn't have the show either just like you with dd1 so don't give up all hope!

You just get to the stage dont you that allthogh your petrified you just want it over with so you dont have to wonder how horrible its going to be!
DH keeps telling me to stay positive, the baby will pick up on negative vibes...easy for him to say but never mind I'll get my revenge when I break his fingers in labour

Good luck Foosfan.
I had sweep with both ds - worked second time round. Neither hurt any more than a usual smear so don't be scared. (If you get yourself scared and tense it will hurt more though).
Just hope it works as the more stuff needed to induce you the worse it seems to get!

Feel a bit of a plonker as all the way through pregnancy was telling everyone how I KNEW that she would be early and noone could tell me otherwise.
Now she looks like shes happily going to stay in there until shes forcibly evicted, contrary little bugger!

My induction was great had no problems at all. I kept myself moving on my birthing ball and after second gel dd2 was born 2hours 45mins later. So not all inductions are horror storys.

i was 16 days over and in one day had a sweep, hot curry with loads of cumin, fresh pineapple, long walk and uncomfortable sex, contractions followed immediately after sex (tip dont have sex at night just in case does start you off, better in morning so at least you have had sleep!)
... so who knows which one of those that actually did it but from sweep to labour was about 15 hours, sweep isnt pleasant but doesnt take long, can't you still have waterbirth if have sweep?
it is scary time but focus on lovely bubba at end of it all, I would relive every agonising moment just to experience the first few minutes with DS again (feeling broody moi??!!)...good luck!

I had two sweeps with my last baby and they were really not that bad. If they can't reach your cervix or it is not ripe for it then they don't do it - so there is no forcing involved. Thinking positive birthing thoughts for you.......

Forgot to say - first nothing happened but second 2 days later - had a show and then baby within 12 hours!

Yes you can have waterbirth but not when you've been induced

Thanks for all your advice, well I'm off to see midwife now so fingers crossed!
Curry, dates, raspberry leaf tea are all ok but I have to say Pineapple is YUK! nearly made me barf!
DH far too grumpy in the mornings to have sex probably not helped by being kept awake by the snoring dribbling walrus lying next to him!

any luck?

I had 2 sweeps with DD2 who hung in there as long as poss and was eventually born 13 days late, 8 hrs before I was due to be induced in big horrid hospital.
So glad she decided to put in an appearance just in time in lovely midwife run birthing centre so close to my house I walked there

I bet she's cuddling her lo right now.

hope so! and perhaps a bit of the old !!