Membrane sweeps 38+3

[Charliem15]

Hi I need some positive stories please from people that have had membrane sweeps from 38+3 and gone into labour … I had a very long traumatic induction with my son & we are doing everything this time to avoid having to be induced again, but also don’t want to go very overdue . My first membrane sweep is tomorrrow when I’ll be 38+3 , has anyone got any experience of a membrane sweep kick starting things??!

Would you not wait until due date to see if you go naturally? 🤔

Sweeps are routinely offered around this gestation anyway, it’s something I would rather have so that I’m the instance I do have to be induced again the sweeps may of helped me slightly dilate meaning I can skip the dreaded 48 hours worth of pessaries I needed with my first child 🫠

Ok.. personally I would hang on and refused a sweep at 39, didn't see any rush but I appreciate you've had a bad first experience. Wishing you all the best.

I had a sweep at 37+5 with DS1 and he arrived in 4 hours.

The big caveat here is that I was already 3-4cm dilated without knowing and contracting.

I also had one with DS2 and he arrived at 38 weeks.

Sweeps might work if your cervix is favorable and the baby is ready to come but won't do much if they aren't.

Good luck!

Hi OP, so sorry to hear about your traumatic induction with your son. It isn’t a positive story per se but I did have a sweep at 38 weeks with DC2, and while it didn’t get labour going (a decision was made due to other factors that I should have a c-section) it was a perfectly fine experience. I had a sweep with DC1 and it did kickstart labour but I was in agony. Second time around I knew what to expect and barely felt any pain.

I feel confident that if I had had another sweep or two I could have probably gone into natural labour. I also would have been happy to go to 40 weeks if circumstances had been different so don’t despair if it doesn’t work first time around. You still have two more weeks where it could happen naturally / with a sweep if you could be happy to go to 40.

Ps - please don’t by shy about telling midwives / doctors about your first induction experience. I found mentioning my mental health was key to being taken seriously with my worries and concerns second time around.

I would hold off. I’m convinced a sweep at 38 weeks is actually the root cause of my own traumatic birth. My body wasn’t quite ready but my waters broke a couple of hours later and I ended up with a horrific induction and forceps delivery.

Also what is really weird is that my above post was written almost exactly 10 years to the hour/minute after my waters broke!!

I was 39+4 when I had mine, gave birth a few hours later BUT I was already 3cm dilated without knowing so I think it just sped up the inevitable

Worked for me OP, has one at 38+1 and DS was born 20 hours later. No previous signs (except for pressure which I had misread as constipation ) however MW did say waters were bulging and I was 4cm dilated already.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I agree that this was likely the cause of the difficulties that followed. Babies, generally, know when to come and come when they're ready. I hate hearing of women and babies being rushed into birth before the time is right. Not suggesting you here OP but so many friends say 'they had to induce and then... 'and it's always difficulties and it is often a consultant who is clocking off or going on holidays the following week. I'm v cynical of any intervention that doesn't have a real reason. Again, not speaking on OP's situation on this.

I had a sweep at 39 weeks because I needed an induction anyway, I was 2cm dilated but the sweep broke my waters (they went when I stood up off the bed afterwards)! As PP have said this wasn’t ideal as the hospital gave me 24 hours to get into active labour after this and I didn’t. I started contracting properly about 18 hours later however didn’t dilate any further so ended up with a c section.

I had a sweep at 40 weeks. I truly believe this is the reason I ended up in a c-section. My waters broke, but I clearly wasn't ready, I had the drip, but didn't dilate.