Has anyone ever asked their husband/partner to do a 'sweep'

[ilovemysling]

Didn't have a sweep with my first (2 weeks early) and approaching my due date (22nd) and getting fed up. Just wondering what exactly the midwife does and if it's just a feel around at the top of the cervix, if it's possible that DH could attempt this. Or is this a terrible idea?

just have 'pokey' sex

good luck xxx

I think its a bad idea. A lot of responsibility for dh. Why not just ask the midwife? I did.

I was booked in for a sweep but asked dp to do it a few days before. He told me I was disgusting. I'm glad he didn't though, think these things are best left to the professionals. Just ask mw to do it early, she can only say no........

wait until you're at least due.

There is no evidence that a sweep before you are due will help you go into labour.

You're pg for 40 weeks. It is the baby who decides when labour will start.

Thanks for your views. I guess I'm just really fed up because my first went naturally at 38 weeks so feel like I'm overdue already.
DH v supportive and wouldn't mind but I know what you mean about leaving it to professionals. I'd feel more comfortable with him having a go than the midwife but I guess I'll just grin and bear it or maybe baby will come before that. Fingers crossed.

If they perform a sweep because you actually are overdue, you won't care who actually does it.
A m/w will do it in clinic properly, I can't help if dp does it (no matter how clean a persn he is) what about dirt under fingernails and stuff? And to get finger that high up to dislodge plug, would you not be worried about infection?
We all get fed up at the end.

I wouldn't do it too much at risk, there could be infections and not to mention the fact that he doesn't actually know about pressure and positioning etc it could harm you and your baby.

We all get fed up at this stage, think it's anticipation or summit.

Ask your midwife to do it she probably won't say no if you ask at your due date but might before then.

I got one around my due date and it bloody hurt! Was apparently though because my waters had gone a week befor ethat but they wouldn't listen to me wasn't until I went into labour at 40+6 they actually realised there was very little fluid there. Thankfully everything was well

It is possible to break the waters by attempting a DIY sweep - it is a really bad idea on many levels. Sympathies though, late pregnancy is the pits.

hi i would leave this to your midwife .. today is my due date and my consultant tried to do one on tuesday of last week and my midwife tried to do one on wednesday of this week, both unsuccessful as too early and quite painful during and after for the same reason. I too am incredibly impatient and want this baby out now, but i know from my ds1 and ds2 if your body is ready then the sweep will be fairly painless and successful, but only your midwife will be able to judge if your baby is ready. They can tell how long and thin the cervix is etc, things your dp will not have a clue about. Good luck anyway and hoping we both pop soon xx

Please don't do it, he would have no idea what he's doing, and could break your waters. Plus I doubt you have sterile gloves etc.

If you are not even overdue then you shouldn't have one anyway. TBH I had one and it did nothing, anyway, went 9 days over because that's was the LO wanted, the tyke.

Agree sex if anything might help.

I wouldn't do it, just have lots of sex

a sweep will stimulate the right area... another way of doing this it to make sure you have 'hot' sex.... ie. dh doesn't even have to be around, just get your batteries out !! ( understand ? ) .... it is all about positive stimulation. ( TMI, just make sure you cum ).....

Goodluck xXx

LOL at Ilovetohohoho's suggestion of "pokey sex"! Is there any other kind?!

I mean proper pokey sex, the real cervix bashing type

To those who are saying why not just ask your midwife.... Well I wouldn't just ask a midwife because it is essentially just being fingered...
Also to those who say midwife is my experience a lot of these comments or them followed by people saying it didn't work or it was painful. In answers of those people who said that your partner could cause an infection. So could a midwife and they have done?
Also, having your partner do it could be more relaxing, less stressful, less likely to cause trauma mentally and physically and anyone who's partner thinks it's disgusting but it still thinks it's ok for a midwife to do it shouldn't have had a child with someone in the first place..

Given that the "baby" will now be around 14 years old I'm gonna go ahead and assume that the OP probably won't need to do a sweep any longer.

I realise this is a zombie thread but as a midwife I just wanted to say how offensive your post is and the content is downright dangerous.
Your post only shows that you aren't aware AT all in what is involved in a membrane sweep. Keep your I'll judged opinions to yourself.