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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Do sweeps work?

15 replies

benne81 · 10/09/2011 22:27

I am going in for a sweep on 19th (when I'm 39 weeks) and I'm just wondering what the chances are of it working. Has it kicked things off for people? How long did it take to get things going? and if it didn't work was the midwife able to tell that is wasn't likely to work on the day?

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matildawormwood · 10/09/2011 22:31

Yes they definitely work. I had my first one at 41 weeks which didn't work and then one at 41+5 which did. The doc told me she had made me 2cm dilated and promised me I would go into labour that day. Got my first contractions about 6 hours after sweep and DD arrived next day.

IHeartKingThistle · 10/09/2011 22:40

Yep! Well mine did and the midwife who did it said she was famous for her strike rate! I was late at that point though.

Hope it all goes well!

lollystix · 10/09/2011 22:40

Yes but it was my 3rd. Have heard less successful for a first baby.

SardineJam · 10/09/2011 22:56

I had three sweeps, not convinced it worked, after the final one, ds was born two days later, him being 11 days overdue already!

blondieminx · 10/09/2011 23:42

I had 2 at 39+5 and 40+2, neither worked :( (I had prurigo of pregnancy - like stinging nettle rash all over my body, so I was desperate to have the baby), DD eventually arrived at 40+6.

Hope you're not waiting too much longer!

MustControlFistOfDeath · 10/09/2011 23:48

Had 2, neither worked, DS finally came at 41+6. He liked it in there

josieangel · 11/09/2011 18:33

I had one on Friday at 38+6, no success unfortunately (midwife had been pretty hopeful and said she had managed to pop me open a little). Being induced tomorrow instead now. First baby so getting little nervous now!

phlossie · 11/09/2011 20:10

I went for a sweep with DC1 at 40 weeks and 41 weeks, but my cervix was too closed for the midwife to get a look in. With DC2 I had a sweep, but I was already having contractions!

josieangel I was induced with DC1 and it was ok.

Good luck both of you!

Umnitsa · 11/09/2011 20:18

I had one at 40+2 - no effect, and another one at 41 w. The second one was more thorough and intense and felt like a rape but I started contracting immediately. DD (first child) was born 7 hours later.

Good luck!

rubyslippers · 11/09/2011 20:20

I had one at 39 weeks

Was brutal but effective - had already had a show and was around 1/2 cm dilated so was getting ready

Started contracting 2 hours later and DD born 7 hours after

Good luck

Flisspaps · 11/09/2011 20:23

Not for me. Had one at 40+7, was induced at 40+15.

The problem is that you can have a sweep, and go into labour later but you'll never ever know if you'd have gone into labour spontaneously then anyway. They're performed (generally) on women who are 'overdue' and can only be done if the cervix has already started to dilate, which means that they're likely to go into labour soon anyway.

HandMini · 11/09/2011 20:40

I had one at 41 weeks, and it worked (in a manner of speaking), in that it started my contractions, but I then had a very long and annoying latent labour phase of around 48 hours with contractions coming and going in phases, which left me very knackered by the time labour properly started. As previous posters have said, you can never tell what would have happened if you hadn't had it, but I blame the sweep for starting a labour that wasn't really ready to start.

If I have another baby and go overdue, I will not have the sweep (unless I am told I need to be induced, in which case I would give it a go).

I did find it uncomfortable and a little painful but not awful by any means.

Describing a sweep as "like a rape" is really inappropriate and (I think most people would agree) totally off the mark, so OP please don't worry about having the procedure done if you want to.

Flisspaps · 12/09/2011 08:26

HandMini I wouldn't bother next time, but then I won't be agreeing to induction either!

I agree with the inappropriateness (?) of describing a sweep in such terms as well.

phlossie · 12/09/2011 13:13

Me too Handmini and Fisspaps (your name never fails to make me laugh!): it's not particularly comfortable, but midwives make it as quick as possible and they always do their best to make you feel at ease. Obviously if you feel uncomfortable or nervous from that point of view, don't have one. I know someone who was sexually assaulted and can't handle any type of procedure, including smear tests.

mumt1 · 12/09/2011 13:36

Just to join in, I had 2, one at 40 weeks and one at 40+7 , neither worked and ended up being rushed to hospital as blood pressure high and had pre-clampsia, gt induced at 40+11. I think it all depends on when the baby is ready, its the baby that releases the hormone that brings on labour. I'm now 8 weeks pregnant with DC2 and hoping I don't have to be induced and overdue. But anyone no what chance is of developing pre-clampsia again?

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