Did your sweep work?

[ToffeeAddict]

I'm full term today and have been given a sweep. The consultant said I'm 2 cm dilated and was able to feel the baby's head.

I've been told by quite a few people that they are largely unsuccessful, and not to get my hopes up. However, I wondered if likelihood of success might be correlated with whether and how dilated you are at the time of the sweep.

So, for those of you that have had sweeps, were you found to be dilated at the time, and did things get started afterwards?
Would love to hear of your experiences...

yes, worked a treat for me too.

i was 40+2 and MW did sweep at 2.30pm, my contractions got stronger and stronger.
waited for DH to come home from work at 5pm and went to hospital.
DD born at 7pm that night......hurrah

wish you all the best!

LizP77. Sorry to hear that your wife is having such a long drwan out induction process. In the unit I work in, prostin tablets are used. Propess is meant to have the benefit of slower release prostin but I don't have experience of using it. I believe it is more expensive than traditional prostin tablets and that is why we haven't changed!

There are options that you can discuss with the obstetricians. It sounds as though at the moment your wife is not ready to go into labour. If the baby seems happy when monitored then you could ask for a break in this induction process. You could also request a scan for reassurance about the baby's health. Some babies are just not ready at 42 weeks and the pregnancy can be monitoed a bit closer and allowed to continue for a bit longer.

It may well be that your wife will start contracting tonight if she is so uncomfortable. Prostin itelf does cuase painful tightening which women often describe as worse than labour. The combination of a bath and paracetamol can help ease the pain, possibly even cocodamol.

All the questions you have written here you should take with you tomorrow. Your wife doesn't need to consent to anything else until you have had a full discussion of your options.

You might get a surprise call at 3am with your wife in labour though.

Thanks guys...

Just spoke to her and nothing happening after propess no.2. She was monitored every 4 hours last night, and baby still seems quite happy in there! She's managed some sleep too which is good

Thanks to all of you I am going in armed with questions which we will make sure come with acceptable answers!

Fingers crossed everything moves in the right dorection today.

Well I was quite optimistic yesterday that something might start following the sweep, but its now 24 hours later and nothing to report. Thanks for all your stories, sounds like on the whole it's a bit hit and miss and babies will generally come when they are ready, although some may be more receptive to a helping hand.

Got an induction booked for T+11, my hospital doesn't offer any additional sweeps in between - really hoping I don't have to wait that long though!

Oh and meant to say, LizP77, good luck - this is my first, so can't offer any advice, it must be very frustrating for you and your wife at the moment.

Well I had one on thursday, then lost the mucous plug thingy on saturday, but since then nothing has happened. V frustrating, and expecting to be offered another sweep tomorrow.

Oh, I have just this minute lost my mucus plug! Superbean, very annoying for you, you must have expected something to happen following the show, I know I am hoping things are starting because of it. Best of luck to both of us...

Thanks ToffeeAddict, yes good luck to you too. I am very bored now and just want these babies out!

I had one at 40+3 and DD was born within 24 hours.

With DS2 it was expected he was going to be rather large (he was 10 lb 12) so I had to go and see the consultant on my due date so she could book me in for an induction a week later as they were worried he would exceed 11 lbs if they left it any longer.

She examined me and gave me a sweep - I was 3cm dilated at this point.

I went into labour 4 days later so I don't think the sweep really worked, it was just time for him to come.

ooh, toffeeapple, I started contracting 12hours after my show with DD, so fingers crossed for you. - The MW had told me on the thurs it was going to be a big baby and advised me to have a sweep and she would guarantee baby would come by the weekend. I refused, had a show on sat and she arrived sun morning - so if I'd had the sweep, it would have been put down to being that having brought on labour IYKWIM, even though I was obviously going into labour naturally by myself.

Yes, had a sweep at 41 wks and went into labour the same night - baby born 48 hrs later.

Well it's been 48 hours since my sweep and about 20 hours since my show - was hopeful that labour might start yesterday evening/during night, but am sat here now still pregnant! Had loads of BH yesterday, but they have tailed off this morning.

Hi ToffeeAddict.

I had two sweeps, which did nowt except hurt.

I know this waiting bit is awful, but you'll have your baby in your arms in a couple of weeks max!

I was induced in the end with two pessaries. They did make me very sore, but luckily I didn't need syntocin as I was very worried about being put onto a drip.

Good luck. Will watch this thread!

Oh, and I believe the concencus last time I was in your position was that nipple-twiddling was the most effective way to start labour. Hoorah!

(Twiddling your own nipples, that is).

Thanks Booboobedoo, might give it a try!

For how long and how often is necessary to make a difference I wonder?

I'm going out leaflet dropping later as a favour to a family member, am hoping the walking involved might trigger something.

About half an hour at a time, I think.

Sounds a bit uncomfortable tbh. I think I'd try the curry-and-sex method instead.

None of my sweeps worked, i had 3 with ds1 and was induced at T+15, I had 5 with ds2 and was induced at T+12

the only thing 'clinically proven' to work is sex because of the prostaglandins in semen, also orgasm can be beneficial.
Dont waste time or money on:
pineapple
raspberry leaf tea
curry
nipple twiddling
reflexology

FWIW I dont think anything works if that baby doesnt wanna come, with ds2 I had 5 sweeps, propess, prostin pessaries and an ARM and he was still dragged out in an EMCS

Hi Toffeeaddict. Any news? Have just had second sweep and am really hoping it works this time. Was not as painful as the first one which is something I guess. If it doesn't work though it will be the crochet hook next week and I've heard this sends you straight into quite painful contractions, which I am really not looking forward to....

Mosschops - 5 sweeps plus all the other induction stuff - baby was definitely comfortable where he was!! I suppose your story at least reminds me that whatever happens, I'll have him here in the end, however and whenever he decides to make an appearance.

Hi Superbean, well, went out walking for a couple of hours yesterday, had a bit more of a show, but nothing since. I'm still quite hopeful that things will start off on their own, but who knows. It will be the crochet hook for me as well on Sat 10th April if nothing else happens as I think they will skip the pessaries seeing as my cervix seems to have softened and started to oen of its own accord. What day ncxt week will you be induced if it comes to that? Are you having twins?