Membrane sweep - how painful??

[Blondeinlondon]

Hello
I'm just after some opinions really -I'm 41+5 & I had a sweep yesterday - it was awful.
The midwife was truly brutal and I feel as though I've got internal bruising. Is this normal??
I asked her if I was dilated at all and she said no - although my notes say "admits finger tip"

I have an appt tomorrow at the post-dates clinic to discuss induction etc - will I be subjected to the same sort of thing again?

Hi there,
Poor you having such a painful sweep. The mw sounds really awful, at the least she should have prepared you for how it might feel.

I think its really up to you whether you want to let them do another sweep or not. They could examine you to see if you've dilated any more without doing a sweep. They did this for me with DS as my aptmt was on Christmas Eve and I didn't want them to do a sweep and potentially start my labour off on xmas day!! I think if you've barely started dilating then theres prob no point having another sweep coz my understanding of this is that it will only start things off for you if you're ready to go anyway and it doesn't sound like you are. hth

I'm sure Mears or Pupuce will be able to give you more info but hope everything goes ok for you.

Oh, I can relate. I was 2 weks over due almost two years ago. I went to see the consultant, who offered to do a sweep. She said there might be a bit of discomfort and I might bleed. Desperate to get the show on the road, I said ok. Discomfort my arse! It bloody hurt. Then, for the next couple of days (I was induced that night) I can't even remember the number of times an internal exam was offered. This too is bloody painful... worse then the sweep. So, if anyone starts offering an intenal exam, just be forewrden that they are goung to stick their fingers up there and then spread them apart as much as they can (basically trying to forcefully dialate you) OI! My legs are crossed just remembering it.

Perhaps this doesn't happen to everyone. Just wanted to warn you in case it happenss to you. Personally, I would refuse the next sweep.

Hi Blondeinlondon - There is another thread on this at the moment, but I can't do the links to it!

I had a sweep at 39wks. I was already 2-3cm dilated and in very early labour. She did the sweep to try to strengthen my contractions (couldn't feel them at all!!). The sweep was painless and I worked.

The conclusion I've drawn from the other thread seems to be that if you weren't just about in labour anyway, then it hurts. But if have started to dilate a bit and the cervix is a good position then it isn't really anymore uncomfortable than a normal internal.

Really sorry you had a horrible experience.

I had an internal from a Consultant whilst I was in labour. I was 6cm dilated and things hadn't really kicked off! Anyway, she gave me a really brutal internal exam that really hurt, I nearly kicked her.

I think the level of discomfort you feel would depend on whether or not it is your first baby and how used you are to internal examinations. I found the internal exams absolutely awful with my first baby, so much so that I refused any internal exams with my second, right up until I was ready to start pushing.

My third was overdue and I had two sweeps by a midwife, which I didn't find too bad, and another internal in the hospital by a doctor, when I went in to be induced. The doctor was a lot rougher than the midwife, but, TBO, this may have been what finally got the contractions started on their own so I avoided an induction.

After I had had 3 or 4 of those horrid internal exams, I was in delivery and planning an epidural anyway, and the midwife said she wanted to do another. I said, "After the epidural is in and taking effect". It cetainly got my epidural sped up.

I should (or maybe shouldn't?) add that there were reasons that I hadn't gone into labour on my own, and ended up in emergency caesarean.

Has your baby engaged? Mine didn't.

Thanks for your replies. I found the other threads on sweeps after I had posted - oops

It is my first baby and the head is 3/5 engaged. I was offered another sweep at the post dates clinic today and sensibly declined . Managed to avoid an internal altogether.
I'm now booked in to be induced on Monday night

You sound just like me 2 years ago. My baby never totally engaged (although she did linger down around 2/5 and 3/5, but then I think popped back up) because she was so wrapped up in the cord that it was literally suspending her up. So, when I was induced the contractions tightened the cord around her neck, and her heart rate dropped. SO, it turned into a caesarean.

I don't know how common this is, but I justed wanted to share my story in case it happens to you so you can e forwarned.

I will also add that a ceasarean is not as bad as some would have you believe. SO if it is suggested, it isn't the end of the world. In fact, I'm such a fan now thatI plan to ask for one in May.

Good luck with the induction!

Message withdrawn

To be honest I don't actually remember an awful lot about labour! I do however remember having a sweep when I went in to the delivery seep I was 4 cms dilated and although I could feel my contractions they apparently weren't strong enough! It didn't so much hurt but was a bit uncomfortable and I think that also had a lot to do with the fact that it was the first internal I had throughout my pregnancy. The midwife was very good in that she explained exactly what she wasgoing to do

Hi all
Just wanted to let you know that we didn't make it to induction - baby arrived Sat morning after a long labour. All is fine and we are home trying to get to grips with breastfeeding etc

Congratulations BlondeinLondon