sweep - what does mw actually do?

[ThatllDoPig]

I know they examine the cervix and see if it has started to soften, but if it has, do they try to insert finger? prod it around a bit? curious.

i've had it done 3 times. as i understood it they sort of give it a bit of a tug just to try to get things moving - it was fairly gentle when i had it done by midwives, when done by consultant it was a bit more james herriot if you know what i mean!

A tug?! do you mean stretching it forward rather than widening it?
Did it work?

I had two - the first was painless and didn't work, the second actually very uncomfortable and eye-watering, and my waters broke a few hours later...

What I don't know is if the pain/uncomfortableness and the fact it worked were linked??

totally agree with loopymumsy and it worked within 2 hours for me but i was 2 cm dilated before i had it done

loopymumsy 's got it - they run a finger round inside. Mine was very uncomfortable and I've heard of women being offered G&A for it. Having said that, it was bearable and I was keen to have another one to try to kick off my second labour (wasn't needed in the end!)

I had 3 with my last pregnancy and it did not hurt! It was like a pressure, and they kind of stroke/run finger around the cervix to try and stimulate it into getting going (that's what they told me). I have a 'tilted' cervix apparently so had to tip my lower end up, and it REALLY did not hurt. Didn't work either, but hey, nothing else did either! Getting my husband to do the business was far more uncomfortable