Membrane Sweep at 40 Weeks -- to Do or Not to Do?

[lilly13]

Hi ladies, my doctor is insisting on giving me a membrane sweep at 40 weeks. This is my 1st baby. I don't fully understand what the procedure entails and whether I should go for it. Could you please share your experiences? When were you offered it and why? Did it hurt? Was it effective, eg how quickly you went into labour? Did your waters break as a result of the sweep? Would you recommend it? I have been wanting a natural labour and am really scared about being induced. Many thanks for your replies in advance!

Your doctor cannot insist on anything.

A sweep is basically a vaginal exam where a finger is inserted into the cervix and 'swept' around to try to detach the amniotic sac from the cervix to try to bring on labour.

I had one at 40+7, didn't hurt but was bloody uncomfortable, and I was induced at 40+15.

Others will come on and say it definitely brought on their labour - but there's no way of knowing if they'd have gone into labour without the sweep :)

By the way - if your cervix is not favourable (ie already slightly dilated) then a sweep isn't possible. At 40 weeks there's a chance that it won't be dilated at all, it's usually something done when you're overdue - and even when overdue actually is, is something that can be debated!

Hi lilly I had a sweep for both dd1 & 2 it did nothing for DD1 and it was a wee bit uncomfortable I ended up induced 10 days later, but DD2 on the other hand I had a sweep on the wednesday morning and it was a good sweep mw was firm and it did hurt a bit, after that I felt really crap the rest of the day, then ended up having DD2 the next morning so was all good, labour was great only the last hour of contractions were sore then she was born.

Agree with fissplaps dr cannot insist on anything its your choice.

I refused a sweep with ds1 because I felt uncomfortable about it and carried on til 40+11 when he came of his own accord. I accepted it at 40 weeks with ds2 because i was so fed up i'd try anything and he was born the next day - I could just feel that it was working. For minimal discomfort it's worth a try

Lily - I'm getting a sweep on Monday, will be 40+7 then. My midwife said about 60% of women go into spontaneous labour after having it.
But it's entirely your decision, they cannot make you have one!
Good luck!

I was deermined not to be induced with ds after having induction with dd1 so i praqctically sat outside the drs every morning and demanded sweeps from 40+ 7w first one did nothing did nothing but the 2nd seem to get the ball rolling, that said i was 40+11 when he was born. 40 seems very early imo very unlikely that your cervix be favourable. Why isn't your MW doing this she was the one who did my 1st both times and then after it was the consultant.

BTW it doesn't hurt at all.

oh and when the mw did them i was at home.

A sweep wont do anything unless you are just about ready to go. If you are already slightly dilated (which you need to be otherwise they cant do it) then it can be enough to tip you over from pre-labour to full labour, but if you aren't ready then it wont make any difference.

They can be uncomfortable, although I didnt feel anything when I had both of mine, but shouldnt be painful.

Your best bet is to agree to a vaginal examination so your doctor can see whether you are dilated or effaced and decide then. If you are worried about being induced then a sweep (or 2) would probably be recommended by the docs/MW first. They dont want to induce you either!

I would let my body go into labour naturally without any interventions until 40+14. Technically you are not even overdue until then.

thank you so much for all of your responses!! wishing you all good rest of pregnancies!