Do membrane sweeps always work?

[atlasthebrute]

Will be thinking of sweep next week if bubba doesn't arrive soon. Has anyone had one? What level of uncomfortability does it reach and more importantly, do they bring on labour??

only had to have a sweep with my third child.
it wasn't painful at all but took a couple of attempts to get things started
if you try raising yourself with cushions it should allow the midwife to really get in there
sorry if that sounds like tmi
hth and all the very best

They only kick start labour if your body is very close to starting naturally. She they can bring things forward by 24 or 48 hours but they can't make labour start if you aren't anywhere near ready. In fact they often can't do the sweep when they try because the cervix is so tightly closed and so far back in the body.

I had a sweep at 39 weeks (due to high BP), I was already 3 cm dilated but nevertheless the sweep did nothing but produce a show. I had another at 40 weeks and again I got a show and nothing else. I had a third at 41 weeks and 48 hours later I was holding DC2 in my arms. Who knows if that was down to the sweep (or the acupuncture, the sex, the evening primrose capsules, the long walks...) or whether I would have had the baby then no matter what.

Just a bit uncomfortable had one at 41+2 and it worked about 48 hours later I was holding dd . I hope you are soon holding your baby.