Anxious & sweep in the morning

[Stressymcstress]

Hello lovelies

I have a sweep booked in the morning, 40+4 and the anxiety is keeping me awake.
Did anyone have a successful sweep first time round?
Is there anything I should do after to help things along? Or are you meant to rest?

TIA

It takes 8 women having a sweep to get 1 to labour 24-48 hours sooner than she would naturally. So chances are it won't help. I wouldn't have one. It's uncomfortable, doesn't work, can introduce infection, can accidentally break your waters and put you on the 24 hour countdown to further intervention, often gives niggly contractions which aren't labour that tire you out before labour has even begun. Sorry.to be so negative but they aren't the benign natural thing most people see them as. They are a form of induction with risks attached and many women aren't properly informed.

I had a sweep and went into labour that evening, but I think I was just ready to go to be honest. Get the midwife to talk to you about how ready for birth your cervix is feeling. It’s not a perfect guide by any means, especially if you’ve had kids before (mine was still thick and 1cm dilated 6 hours before I gave birth to my second) but it can be indicative for first time mums. I know it’s easier said than done but try to relax. Stress is not conducive to going into labour! When I was overdue with my second I was under a ton of pressure to induce, which I really didn’t want, and I think having a quiet evening with dinner cooked for me by husband with a quarter of a glass of wine for the first time since ttc and a bit of tv did more to get things started than the midwife’s attempt at a sweep on my really not ready cervix!

Hello. Mine wasn’t successful the first time, but I was 39wks. 2nd sweep at 40w - midwife was able to easily touch son’s head. I think they only really “work” if you’re ready anyway.

What are you feeling anxious about? It working, or it not working? 🙂

I’d just get on with the day as normal afterwards. Staying active is good. I think bouncing on an exercise ball helped move things along for me.

Up trying to get my 4m old back to sleep!

Good luck 🙂

@Esssa can I ask where you got your stats from? I’ve seen some reports of up 90% effectiveness - which just sounds made up to me! No need to apologise for being ‘negative’, I appreciate the honesty.
I’ve read there’s 10% chance of waters breaking, which is awfully high…but the risk of infection only goes from 0.5% to 1% after 24 hours.

@Roseandgeranium
My MW has already said she wouldn’t do a sweep unless she was sure my cervix were ready - too sore and wouldn’t work anyway. The frustrating thing is I did have a lovely relaxing evening; DH made dinner had a bath 🤦‍♀️

@Mytigerhasstripyfeet
I think I should be ready…I had false labour pains at the weekend, every 10mins for over 24 hours, head is engaged, so fingers crossed I’m nearly there!
I have anxiety anyway and a lot going on atm. Mostly worrying about DH being back at work before baby arrives!
Hopefully baby is back sleeping soundly ☺️

He went back to sleep... for 45mins! 🤦‍♀️

How did it go?

Cervix too high.
Booked in for next week and an induction date just incase.

The joys!

Aw no!

Have you got an exercise ball? There’s no way of knowing for sure but I do think it helped me - bouncing gently bumped the baby’s head against my cervix? That’s how it felt.

I bounce on the ball to get him to sleep so they’re handy for when the baby arrives too! I’m perched on mine right now with a snoozing boy.

@Mytigerhasstripyfeet
I don’t sit anywhere else anymore - only the ball!