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Parenting

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Original poster

How long would it take for a sweep to work?

23 replies

June1999 · 04/12/2021 19:42

Had a sweep this afternoon. Still nothing has happened I was only 1 cm dilated. Would it have worked by now? Any previous experiences? Thank you

OP posts:

Fallagain · 04/12/2021 20:34

There is no evidence that sweeps work.
Try putting on a cosy/funny film or two and bouncing up and down on a birthing ball the whole time

Clevs · 04/12/2021 20:36

I had three sweeps and none of them worked. Then I had an induction which also didn't work 🙁

RandomMess · 04/12/2021 20:48

4 overdue pregnancies they never worked for me but I never had a Bishops Score past 1 when I was induced either.

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Namechangegardens · 04/12/2021 21:37

My sweep made me lose my mucous plug/bloody show that night, however was another 4 days till my waters broke and that may have happened anyway since I was overdue...

MGee123 · 04/12/2021 21:46

I think my sweep did work. I lost my mucus plug in 2 parts the following day and started to get a continuous back ache, then went into labour properly the day after that. I think general school of thought is if nothing has happened after 48 hours it probably has had no effect. Personally I think if your body is getting there on its own and you have a sweep it perhaps speeds things up a bit, but if your body is nowhere near it doesn't have much effect. Just my thoughts on it though! Still early for you, 🤞 something happens in the next 24 hours. I hated the overdue days so you have my sympathy!

MGee123 · 04/12/2021 21:47

Should add prior to sweep I had had no signs at all, absolutely nothing!

mamatoTails · 04/12/2021 21:52

I had a sweep with my 3rd, at 40+4, but I was already 4cm before midwife even started.
Baby was born that evening.
Not sure if it was the sweep that helped things along or if I'd have gone into labour then anyway.

Combustablecustard · 04/12/2021 21:58

I started having cramps the next morning, plug went at 8.30pm next night and dd2 born at 9am the following day. Her birth was the absolute textbook (nothing like dd1s )

Tee20x · 04/12/2021 22:01

I had 3 sweeps none worked for me

Mummywantsaweewee · 04/12/2021 22:03

I’ve read a few times that sweeps (a form of induction) actually don’t speed it up and just interferes with natural process. Your body will start moving along when it’s ready.
I had a sweep in my first labour but was already 1cm and it did nothing imo, and told midwife I didn’t want any done for my second labour. In my opinion the less interference, the better (excluding medical necessity of course).

Whereland · 04/12/2021 22:05

I think it only works if you were favourable to begin with. Had a sweep at 39 weeks and she said I was "very favourable" and the head was right there. Labour started that evening

Theunamedcat · 04/12/2021 22:05

I was told it takes 24/48 hours mine began working that evening

mnahmnah · 04/12/2021 22:10

Things kicked off within 24 hours with both of my pregnancies after a sweep. I was only 1cm and on due date

Original poster

June1999 · 05/12/2021 01:02

Thank you for all your replies! Still waiting not much has happened apart from I cannot sleep!! Hopefully won’t be long now!

OP posts:

Dryshampoofordays · 05/12/2021 01:16

I hope you don’t have to wait too much longer OP, remember that your baby will come when they are ready! I hope you get some sleep and can enjoy this exciting time waiting to meet your baby!

1984Winston · 05/12/2021 01:19

I had a sweep with my first DD which did nothing, had another one a week later and had DD1 5 hours later and with DD2 I had one and my waters broke as they did it and she was born 4 hours later

Namenic · 05/12/2021 01:21

Good luck! Sweep didn’t work for me.

I had some reduced movements, but was already 40+3 and they offered sweep and then induction if that didn’t work. Pessary worked v well for me kickstarting contractions and cervical softening - they said this was likely to happen as this was my 3rd baby (though neither of my others had gone overdue or required intervention).

Bobholll · 05/12/2021 15:38

Sweeps worked a treat both times with me. I went into labour 12 hours later with both! But I think both times I was favourable to go into labour.. my first, I’d been having very mild, infrequent contractions for 24 hours prior. And with my second, I’d been loosing my mucous plug for a couple days. I actually had a small bleed that morning & went to get checked over. They offered to do a sweep. It was my due date so I said yes! That was 9am & I was 3cm dilated. I was in full labour by 9pm, DD arrived 3 hours later!

Good luck OP! 🙏🏼

Original poster

June1999 · 05/12/2021 17:29

Thank you all for sharing your stories. I seem to have lost my mucous plug but that’s about it. Really hoping to avoid being induced this week as was not a great experience last time!

OP posts:

TataMamma · 06/12/2021 12:41

My first one did nothing; I had a second 9 days after which brought on 4 days of horrendous cramping and then baby came just a few hours before an induction. The thing with sweeps is you never know if they make a difference - even if baby comes soon afterwards IT might have happened anyway. I'm pregnant with my second now and will certainly be looking to have one again, assuming I don't pop early which I'm not expecting :).

Namenic · 07/12/2021 13:36

PS - I don’t regret having a sweep even if it didn’t work - as it just meant a bit of a delay, not really any bad side effects (and it would have been less intervention than pessary if it had worked).

Original poster

June1999 · 07/12/2021 14:42

Thank you. Still no sign of baby just a lot of pressure in my pelvis. They have offered me another sweep tomorrow but not to sure if I should or not?

OP posts:

Namenic · 07/12/2021 15:23

It depends on your outlook and experience. I was keen to deliver my baby quickly as every night I would worry about movements. I ended up going in at 40+3 due to reduced movements - the monitoring was fine, but they offered me an induction as I was past due date (and my others were 40+0 and 39+ 4). I was not overly keen on induction as I was worried about risk of instrumental delivery, but I spoke to the doctor and they thought it was likely that either with sweep or pessary things would progress (as I had no complications from previous labours). I tried sweep 1st as no harm trying, then I went for pessary as I was keen to deliver soon and not constantly worry about the movements. I think it is unlikely that a further sweep would have worked for me - as I had already lost mucus plug at 39+4 and was only 1-2cm dilated at 40+4, with no change after 1st sweep. But different people are different - you might have different situation. Could you talk to midwife and obstetrician about your options?

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