1st sweep fine, 2nd really painful and told I'm too swollen?!

[N0va]

Hi,

I am currently 41+2 with first baby. I had a sweep at 41 weeks and midwife said everything looked good, cervix was soft, 2cm dilated and bishop score of 7. Had a sweep and it was uncomfortable but not painful at all.

I've just had another attempted and it was excruciating! Midwife said I was really swollen and she couldn't really get to anything and she tried her best to do the sweep but isn't sure it will do anything. I've lost some of my mucus plug before the 2nd sweep and been having tightenings and period type pain the last few days. Does anyone have any experience of this?
They have sent a urine sample to the hospital because they were a bit worried about how swollen I was! I'm feeling a bit scared now and also worrying if I can't cope with a sweep, how will I cope with labour?!

I'm sorry that was painful for you, didn't she say anything else about being swollen?

Just to reassure you I had two slow labours which took about 3-5 days where my cervix was dilating, I had period cramps and back a ache and felt restless, for me it was a relief as both of my active labours were very short.

Some people do Labour like this and it's a much more gradual process, I'm sure someone with more experience will be along soon but try not to worry too much.

And also how exciting!

@needtodrinkmore thank you for your response. That's reassuring! She was worried and took a urine sample to hospital for analysis, all she said was she wasn't sure what it could be but hospital can rule out infection. She has since called me and said to get a canestan pessary and see if that reduces the swelling while we wait for results

Hope you're feeling ok now?

I think I would ask to be induced in your shoes....with an epidural in place.

@needtodrinkmore thank you for checking back I'm feeling okay but anxiously awaiting urine sample results. After reflecting, I feel a bit let down by midwife not really explaining next steps, options I have etc or even explaining her findings of examination apart from being told I'm really swollen (maybe there was nothing to tell) but I will just take each day as it comes I suppose.

@dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby I'm booked to be induced on 2nd, I'm aware that my hospital is quite overwhelmed also and it's a weekend? I'm not sure on what to do really!