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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Anyone Had A Membrane Sweep - Did It Work?

67 replies

emmanumber3 · 03/08/2011 13:22

Hi! Just that really, have you ever had a membrane sweep & did it make any difference?

I had one about 24 hrs ago & apart from a few "twinges" nothing's happened. Am due to have another one next Tuesday. I'm only 37+3 but have had loads of problems during the later stages of pregnancy so can't wait to get the baby safely delivered now!

If the sweep is going to help, does it normally happen within 24 hrs or is there still hope?

Many thanks.

OP posts:

Report

MrsVidic · 05/08/2011 07:24

I'm not going to believe any of the symptoms r real until I have a show

MrsVidic · 05/08/2011 07:30

Just had my show - woo hoo

Helenfellows32 · 05/08/2011 07:37

I had one on Monday had my show ans still nothing hoping for something over the weekend. Back to see my consultant on Monday so maybe another one then.

I thought it would work straight away but no such luck for me. Hope your baby comes soon.

owlbooty · 05/08/2011 09:06

PriincessJenga tis shite when an induction hangs on the outcome of the sweep and people are applying pressure. I am in a similar position and they don't want me to have a homebirth now so with every day that passes the more hassle I'm going to get. I suspect that the emotional pressure makes it less likely that things will start naturally, which is v.annoying.

Really hope things kick off for you (and me, and Emma3, and poor MrsVidic!) over the weekend.

PrincessJenga · 05/08/2011 09:39

emmanumber3 · 05/08/2011 10:53

at taking a 5.30am walk in your pyjamas to get things going. I'm prepared to try practically anything now though - this morning, for example, I have invited some of my 10 year old son's friends over to play . The idea being that running around after them may a) get things moving & b) take my mind of whether the tightenings/pains etc. are getting any worse or if it's just wishful thinking!

Let's hope we all get some "movement" over the next few days! .

Oh, and, of course - if anyone does find any walking technique etc. etc. that works please pass the info on!

OP posts:

PrincessJenga · 05/08/2011 11:59

I've just had my second one. Now off for a long walk to meet a friend for a raspberry leaf tea. Am hoping that the PJS aren't compulsory for the 'MrsV Technique' as I don't want to scare my neighbours; the bump's scary enough under a wrap dress, let alone poking out of my PJs

emmanumber3 · 05/08/2011 13:57

When you say "wrap dress" you could almost mean "dressing gown" I suppose. Something to think about if it turns out nightwear IS essential after all .

OP posts:

rooks14 · 05/08/2011 14:01

When were you due? I was due on the 3rd and the midwife hasn't booked me in for a sweep until the 14th!

emmanumber3 · 05/08/2011 14:06

Christ Rooks - I'd be insisting on an induction by 11 days overdue! I'm 37+5 BUT I have had lots of problems with BP in the last few weeks & it is my 3rd baby. If you are young, healthy & having your first baby then it is very common for you to be left 14 days before an induction I think. Maybe that's what they have in mind - if your sweep at 11 days over doesn't help then you will be given an induction date?

Hopefully though, baby will turn up without help well before the 14th .

OP posts:

rooks14 · 05/08/2011 14:40

the 14th is my 21st birthday so I bloody hope he's here naturally by then :D

I saw the midwife today and she said that after 10 days i've got to go to the hospital for a talk about possible options and a sweep! Wish I would of demmanded one there and then if I knew it wasn't such a big thing! Am so sweaty and fed up! Just want him here!

PrincessJenga · 05/08/2011 17:10

I was due on 27th, had first sweep on Wed (40+7) and second today (40+9) so it sounds like they might be leaving it a little late rooks. Is it worth phoning to see if they'd do a sweep earlier? From what little I understand a sweep is much less invasive/painful than full on inductions.

They wanted to induce me on Monday (40+12) if baby hasn't turned up by then, but have agreed to monitoring on Monday and to wait until Wednesday before inducing so long as baby and I seem fine on the monitoring.

BTW, sorry if TMI, but a question for the second/third timers on this thread... my discharge has got darker since the second sweep. Almost like it's blood tinged. Does this count as a show? Sorry for being so clueless!

PrincessJenga · 05/08/2011 17:12

Emma, I do have rather a nice new dressing gown actually (neatly packed in emergency hospital bag) so if we could adapt the rules to mean 'nightwear' then I might be willing to go out in it between the hours of 2am and 5am when no-one will see me

emmanumber3 · 05/08/2011 22:24

PrincessJenga - a show is a bit more that just a "smearing" as it were. Not a full on gush like when your waters break though. It is quite normal to have a smearing of blood/bloodish discharge after an internal I believe but if you feel like you have more than a smearing then maybe you are on your way! Time will tell . All the best.

OP posts:

emmanumber3 · 05/08/2011 22:27

Ah rooks, can't your midwife take pity on you wanting to deliver before your 21st birthday and at least try a sweep now? May not work obviously, but then again it might. A sweep is not a particularly nice birthday present . A baby would be though .

OP posts:

MrsVidic · 06/08/2011 09:08

Hi guys well the pj walking works I had dd at 4am after 3.5 hours labour and 3 pushes!

owlbooty · 06/08/2011 10:01

Excellent, MrsV ! Congratulations and blimey, that's a short labour

PrincessJenga · 06/08/2011 11:18

Excellent! Congratulations. I'm hoping vacuuming in my PJs will be equally effective!

jimmijam · 06/08/2011 21:55

Congratulations mrs v! Didnt work 4 me but with our 1st i remember walking the streets at night (tho not in my pjs) with 1 foot.on the kerb and 1 on the road. I didnt realise some midwives book u in 4 a sweep, myn were all offered at routine check.ups (apart from 1 during a hospital stay 4 an infection, the midwife examined me then said after 'ive just done a sweep'-she didnt even ask me b4 hand!

rooks14 · 06/08/2011 22:57

wow congrats mrvidic :D x

emmanumber3 · 08/08/2011 20:07

Congrats MrsV! Just to update you all - I've spent the weekend in hospital due to more random BP levels & am now on "home leave" from the ward before going back at 7.30am to be induced.

My Consultant has finally agreed that, at 38 weeks & after 2 months of "hospital yo-yo" enough is enough .

Best of luck to the rest of you still waiting - I will update when I get home with DC3 .

OP posts:

PrincessJenga · 08/08/2011 20:17

That's good news Emma. Good luck tomorrow.

I'm still waiting, but I'm feeling really well so don't want to be induced. I just want baby to come when he's ready (although I'd like him to be ready NOW! Come on baby!) I had monitoring today and baby and I are both fine, they will induce on Wednesday if nothing's happened by then.

I ate a whole pineapple in desperation earlier and am about to drag DP for a long walk round the local streets then maybe to bed

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changer22 · 08/08/2011 20:24

I ended up having 3 sweeps with DC3. The MW was sure she would come before Christmas - but she decided to wait until mid January! Each MW that did a sweep said everything was very favourable, blah, blah. 2 weeks late.

For DC4 I had a sweep on the Friday and it hurt! Was uncomfortable all day Saturday, DC4 arrived on Sunday morning. 2 weeks late again!

owlbooty · 09/08/2011 08:30

Good luck today Emma - hope the induction is nice and easy for you.

I'm still waiting too - nothing doing at all except bloody braxton hicks all day long. Was supposed to have second sweep yesterday but there were no midwives available to do it. I don't want to be induced either; that'd really bugger up my homebirth plan.

Changer that sounds rather like DC4 was about to turn up anyway, given DC3's late appearance! The last MW I spoke to did say she felt it was pretty much 50/50 as to whether it worked or not.

blueShark · 09/08/2011 15:53

I had a sweep with DS2 which is a 'normal practice' in the country abroad where I had him. On the due date or few days before (due to the lack of beds and the fact they keep the normal deliveries for at least 3 days) the gynecologist did a sweep at around 7.30pm, contractions started at 8pm ish and DS2 was born at 10.30pm :)

Its a shame noone does a sweep in UK until week 41, I am 40+1 today with DD3.

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