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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Having a sweep, whats involved please?

22 replies

Sherida · 07/02/2008 12:20

I know, I should have asked the midwife but soooo not comfortable with that! She is coming to my house next Friday to do a sweep even tho I am only overdue 1 day. Will she need me to be on the bed? The sofa? On all fours? Standing with one leg up in the air, balancing a plate on my nose reading a book? And more importantly will it hurt???

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beansprout · 07/02/2008 12:21

You will lie down(like a smear test) and the MW will basically stick her fingers inside and give your cervix a good rub. Only takes a few seconds. It's a bit like a really bad teenage sexual experience.

dizzydixies · 07/02/2008 12:23

at hosp I was on the bed and at home I just lay back on the couch

am not going to lie its not pleasant but its one of these things where the more relaxed you are the better

am sorry to have a little giggle about you not comfortable asking the lady who is about to perform it!

don't be frightened if you have a little show after either too

will let them guage how ripe your cervix is too. I was 1.5cm dialated when I had mine, didn't work for me but was very successful for a couple of other girls I knew
xx

MAMAZON · 07/02/2008 12:25

yeap. its not pleasant.

mine was mortifying. i barely saud hello before she had her hand up my fanjo.

she then told me to relax. i looked at her incredulously and said " i will, just as soon as you take your arm out of my vagina"

Lulumama · 07/02/2008 12:25

the traditional position is you lying down on your back, probably on the bed. maybe the sofa. she might ask you to juggle whislt she does it

TBH, there is not a lot of point having it done at 40 +1. if a sweep works, it will work within 24 - 48 hours...and there is more chance of it getting things going if you are 41+

she will insert a fingertip into the cervix and strip the membranes from teh inside of the cervix, which can help release the hormones that are part of getting labour going. it might be uncomfortable and might set off some niggles.....take deep breaths and make a concious effort to relax

i would think about delaying it for a week if you are only one day over

sagitta · 07/02/2008 12:26

LOL at bean sprout - that's exactly what's its like. Bit sore. Not much fun. And not much point for me, either, I had three, none worked...

beansprout · 07/02/2008 12:27

I told myself that it was not the worst sensation I was going to have before the baby was out. It's really ok, just take a deep breath and count to 10.

dippydeedoo · 07/02/2008 12:27

sory this will be no help but made me giggle....my neighbour was having a sweep and her husband said to me in all seriousness i dont know what difference a clean floor can make if shes already 3 days late!!!!

Original poster

Sherida · 07/02/2008 12:27

TY so much for the info and dizzy feel free to giggle I know its silly not to want to ask, but DH was there, and trainee midwife, and I felt kind of rushed and....goes away to think of more excuses for being a silly moo...

OP posts:

dizzydixies · 07/02/2008 12:28

beansprout couldn't have desc it better myself - am now regressing to awful fumbling teenage moments and think I have to go and spoon out my minds eye!!!

sagitta · 07/02/2008 12:28

It's also the first stage in a long process of losing your dignity...if it helps, remember, (if you're anything like me) that once you get into hospital you'll be trying to get them to look up your fanjo and find out how dilated you are every five minutes....

beansprout · 07/02/2008 12:30

Lulumama is right (as in so many things!! ). If you are ready to go it can tip you over, but it will not start something that your body is not eady for. I would wait another week at least.

dizzydixies · 07/02/2008 12:30

not being a silly moo at all sherida - its amazing what you'll let these people do to you the minute they stick on a mw outfit

am off to bathroom before I wet myself at dippydeedoo comment - fecking priceless!

Original poster

Sherida · 07/02/2008 12:33

Hah yeah, like being a mw gives you automatic access to anyones fanjo.

Seriously tho, you'd wait till 42 weeks before having a sweep?

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beansprout · 07/02/2008 12:39

I did and even then, it didn't really work. It's just uncomfortable and if it's unnecessary too you will just feel that your body isn't doing what it is "supposed to" by the MW's timetable. They are then likely to start saying, "oh well, we have given you a sweep and that didn't work, so let's have you in for a pessary" etc when all that is actually happening is that your baby is not supposed to be coming out yet!!

Only 5% of babies are born on their "due date". The 40 week figure is like the classic 28 day menstrual cycle. Some people operate by that timetable, but most of us don't!!

Original poster

Sherida · 07/02/2008 12:41

Well, I'll take the sweep, but I'll delay the induction if it comes to it. I'd rather let things kick off on their own, and MW did say babys head isn't engaged yet.

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beansprout · 07/02/2008 12:41

If the baby's head is not even engaged, I really am not sure why she is offering a sweep as the baby is not ready to come out?!

PavlovtheCat · 07/02/2008 12:42

Had a sweep at 38+4 weeks as they were going to induce me a few days later anyway. I gave birth two days later. It might have been the sweep. It might have been the sex a few hours before I went into labour!!!

It was uncomfortable to say the least, but was over with quickly.

Lulumama · 07/02/2008 12:43

i agree with beansprout.. seems a bit too soon to try to hurry things along if the head is still high....

why has she offered you a sweep?

JodieG1 · 07/02/2008 12:44

I had one with ds1 at 38 weeks by the consultant as I'd been in and out of hospital in early labour for a week. I went into proper labour the next day but it started off contractions right away.

With ds2 I didn't know I was going to be given one. The midwife examined me as I went in in labour and I thought it was hurting a bit much and taking a while and I was just going to say something when she stopped. She gave me a sweep but did it for about 3 or 4 mins. After that ds2 was distressed and his HR kept dipping, didn't beforehand so I always wonder if the sweep had anything to do with it. My waters had already gone as well and I was contracting.

Luckily it was a fast labour and I just about pushed him out myself. They were literally stood between my legs with a needle about to use it then cut me to get him out as his HR was so bad. They tried 4 or 5 times to get a clip on his head but couldn't do it and I ended up giving birth with consultants, senior consultants, doctors and a few midwives in the room.

Dd came at 36 weeks so never had a sweep with her.

It doesn't hurt as much as the contractions do anyway!

Original poster

Sherida · 07/02/2008 12:46

Lulumama and Beansprout, apparantly they do a sweep at 7 days over and that's what I'll be Friday.

OP posts:

Lulumama · 07/02/2008 12:48

oh right, from your OP, i read it that you are only overdue 1 day.....so by friday you will be 41 + ? if so, then it is worth a go !

Original poster

Sherida · 07/02/2008 12:51

Yes thats right Lulu, sorry if I caused confoozion. Tis something I excel at!

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