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Original poster

Labour starting after sweep

23 replies

hails35 · 07/03/2011 19:49

Hiya! I am 4 days overdue and need some positive vibes please! Can anyone tell me about their experiences of labour starting (and how soon) after having a sweep.
Also, did anyone have more than one sweep - if so how many? My MW today suggested if things didn't move after this one to go and have another on Weds and Fri!!
Thanks xx

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OffToNarnia · 07/03/2011 20:17

I had 2 sweeps. According to midwife I was 3cms dilated before first sweep and 4-5 cms before second. A couple of hours after the second sweep I got twingey and then contractions started proper. So- timings- 2nd sweep 9am and baby by 5pm. Hope all goes well!!

dana4nyc · 07/03/2011 20:19

Hiya, I had a sweep 2 days after my due date. The sweep was at 10 am and I started having contractions at half eleven. My beautiful DD was born 24 hours later!!!

SarahScot · 07/03/2011 20:19

I had a sweep at 9 a.m. today, was 3cm and am not in labour. Was really hoping something would happen. 3cm sounds a lot to me to not be in labour! I had one last Monday too and was 1-2cm then.

TotorosOcarina · 07/03/2011 20:21

Hiya,

I had a sweep at 39+5 with my DD.

I was 'achey' afterwards and hadperiod cramps all day, by night I was in labour and had her by 6am next morning :)

Original poster
hails35 · 07/03/2011 20:51

All sounds encouraging - thanks ladies. Sarah if this isn't your first I think you can be between 1 and 3 cm dilated all the time! I don't think you ever fully close after you've had a baby! Or so I've heard. I may be wrong though. Keep with the positive stories - it is helping me through the evening!!

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sarahmia · 07/03/2011 20:54

hi

with DD1 i had a sweep at 39+4 i had my show that night, waters broke the next night and 2 days later had my DD on my Due date. :)

pigsinmud · 07/03/2011 21:20

I had a sweep with dc4. Sweep was at 3pm and baby arrived at 7:30pm. Mind you the doc accidentally broke my waters whilst doing the sweep. Left the hospital with contractions starting and drove home to have my home birth.

del1 · 08/03/2011 09:41

I had a sweep with my 2nd, when I was 2 days over. I had mild cramps straight away, and mild cramps during the night.
As soon as I got up in the morning at 7.30, I started getting strong contractions.
I had given birth just after 10am. So defo worked for me!!
I will opt for a sweep this time too!
Good luck

Annpan88 · 08/03/2011 11:30

Sorry to hijack - but can you ask to have a sweep earlier cause my midwife just booked me in for next sunday (was due 6th) but can I change it to earlier?

Original poster
hails35 · 08/03/2011 13:09

Annpan - i think they will give you a sweep as soon as you are over your due date - so I think you should change it to an earlier date if you can get one. Then you could have another one on the date already fixed if the 1st doesn't work. So far, mine hasn't worked - going for another tomorrow. xx

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silkenwings · 08/03/2011 14:17

@annpan88: My consultant has booked me in for a sweep on 21st, I will be 38+2 then. So I don't really know why your MW would refuse to give you one on or just after your due date.

And I didn't ask for the sweep, it was offered and I took the option.

Original poster
hails35 · 09/03/2011 11:11

Another sweep today - lets hope this one works!!

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OffToNarnia · 09/03/2011 11:34

Let us know how you get on hails 35. It was all action stations after my second sweep!!

cockle84 · 09/03/2011 11:40

I've got a midwife appointment the day before my due date...will she do a sweep then or do you have to be overdue?

shitmagnet · 09/03/2011 11:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LittleWhiteWolf · 09/03/2011 15:36

My daughter was born the following noon after a sweep at 4:30. I was told my cervix was soft and I was 2 cms. The sweep shifted my plug and my waters broke at home at 8pm precisely. So my sweep definitely helped nudge things along and DD was born 9 days overdue. BUT it will only work when your body is ready for it to work.

Tamashii · 09/03/2011 17:14

I had a sweep once I was 6 days overdue. The MW who did my sweep told me it all depends on who does it and if they do "a thorough job" so if you can handle being really, really uncomfortable for a couple of minutes it can make a big difference. She also said a good sign is when they finish the sweep and their glove is TMI ALERT a bit bloody... Sorry! Blush

Anyway, my situation was that I was 6 days overdue, getting desperate and apparently no sign of labour or softening cervix even though everything had started but then stopped as my DH has a car accident and car was written off (he was fine thankfully). So, MW did a thorough sweep taking a couple of minutes and when she finished she had a little blood on her gloves. She was quite happy about that but I was a bit Shock Went into labour during that night so it worked for me (I think) and things went really fast too.

Good luck. Hope it works for you this time :)

sittinghippo · 09/03/2011 17:55

Liking these success stories! I am 40 weeks exactly and consultant did a sweep at 4pm today. So I have my fingers crossed and trying to send positive labour vibes to myself!! And to you hails!

Will be having another sweep this weekend if nothing happens.

Original poster
hails35 · 09/03/2011 18:18

Well, not in labour yet! BUT had my 2nd sweep at 1:30 today. MW said I was 50% effaced and head pressing so firmly down on cervix she couldn't sweep all the way round! Sorry if tmi!
Had lots of niggles. Gonna get on my bouncy ball and hopefully things will start to shift. Midwife was very enthusiastic - she said she was on call for homebirths tonight and would look forward to my call.

Hopefully I am not being too optimistic!
Will let you know in the morning. Good luck everyone who is still waiting. xxxx

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sittinghippo · 10/03/2011 09:33

Well my sweep hasnt done much at all. This morning I feel as normal as ever. Sad

Have my fingers crossed for you hails that your MW was right and you are even now cuddling new bubs.

Original poster
hails35 · 10/03/2011 09:59

Arghhhh! Still no baby! Lots of pain, but I know it's not labour yet. Had a show and really hoping I don't have to go for another sweep tomorrow! Officially now a week overdue - can't believe it!
Good luck sittinghippo labour vibes to all. xx

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Original poster
hails35 · 11/03/2011 18:57

Well - there was no need for the 3rd sweep. Baby boy Albert John arrived this morning at 2:08am after just 1hour 10 mins of labour. Got the home birth i wanted which was just fantastic - even though the midwifes only arrived 17 mins before birth!! Sending labour vibes to all xxx

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sittinghippo · 11/03/2011 19:48

Congratulations! Welcome to the world Albert!

Got MW coming in the morning for sweep No.2... oh joy.

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