Another sweep question - just how painful is it?

[MuffinMclay]

The obvious answer is nowhere near as painful as labour will be, but anyway...

I am seeing my mw tomorrow. Last week she said she'd do a sweep this Sunday, my EDD, but I have to confirm it with her tomorrow. After reading through old threads I'm wondering if there is any point having it at all, and I'm more than a bit worried about how painful it will be. I asked a few RL people today - 2 said it was uncomfortable but bearable, 2 said it was absolute agony. None were sure if it actually helped.

How does it compare to a smear or having the induction gel applied (have struggled with both of those)? I'm not keen on having near strangers sticking their hands up my bits!

I didn't find it painful and the mw had to fiddle around a bit. I found it took longer than a smear but better than having the speculum put in for a smear.

Mine was also successful as DD was born less than 24 hours later, which helped.

It was also less painful than having injections for fillings - less toe curling .

Hope it goes well for you and that your baby is here soon .

I don't remember it really hurting at all. Just felt uncomfortable and a little odd. Bit like someone doing the washing up inside you

I'm finding it really hard to imagine what that feels like.

I wouldn't quite say washing up, but rummaging

Yeah, Idris has probably given a fairer description

I found mine very painful and actually prefered labour to it!!!!! but my son was with me within 12 hours, I started having contractions whilst waiting for my notes to bw written!!! I suppose without it, things could have been more serious as they were worried about a creeping blood pressure, but it was painful, sorry. Good luck.

i had a sweep and by the time i had walked out the door i was bleeding loads. it really didn't hurt at all though. bleeding stopped and went out for coffee with the girls a few hours later. sweep was at 9.30 am and at 2.30 am next morning contractions started - and baby arrived 12 hours later. definitely worth giving a go, minimally invasive in comparison to other options

I think I will agree to it and force myself to be brave.

not a huge amount of point having a sweep until you are 41 + , i'm afraid.. it should not hurt, but it could well be uncomfortable

I had a sweep with ds2 and i found it quite uncomfortable, but bearable! (tbh in was just like having a viginal examination when they are checking how many cm dilated you are!)
I had my sweep at 6pm, then sent home, had dinner at 9pm, back to hospital at 10.30pm and ds2 was born at 1am!

Hopefully will be reading a birth announcement soon.

Good luck with tomorrow!

I had one with DS, it was more of a brutal jabbing at the cervix which was firmly closed, declined to have any more with that pg and refused their offers when pg with DD too

uncomfortable but better...much better than being induced with the injection....that is sheer hell within 20 mins!AVOID AS MUCH AS YOU CAN...GET THE SWEEP!

Mw is going to have a go on Tuesday 'if conditions are favourable'. I'll be 40+2 then. She promises to stop if it hurts too much.