For and Against a Sweep?

[glitternanny]

I've got a possible sweep at the drop in centre tomorrow.

I'll be 40+5 with my first.

I know some people are totally against sweeps but I don't think I have a preference, I'd prefer to try a few sweeps (tomorrow, friday, tuesday) than just leave it and end up being induced next Wednesday.

I don't think I'm one of these ppl who would refuse an induction and opt for monitoring.

Is there anything I should think about/consider?

TIA.

Emma

ok i'm gonna just come out and ask... what is a sweep exactly

Kiki the midwife uses her finger to stretch the cervix a little. Not sure if she also does something with the membranes. Its meant to help bring on labour. Did nothing for me and really hurt.

thank you sprinkles i thought it might be something like that :)

glitternanny i would go for it worst case it doesn't work n hurts best case it works :)

Hiya I had two and they did not hurt, just a bit uncomfortable. I think they work within 48 hours or not at all. Its worth a try. It didn't work for me had to be induced!

Well I had one without being told,and it hurt so much I started to cry and DH had to ask the midwife to stop as she just kept on rummaging away.It was really horrible,and pointless as I was nowhere near ready for labour (I had pre-eclampsia and they were trying to induce me). I was in pain from it for hours later and I think it contributed directly to my c-section and thus to my second c-section,as I was frightened and in pain,not the best way to get labour to kick-start. My view is that they only "work"if you are ready anyway,in which case they are pointless.I would leave your body alone as much as possible,and trust it to do what it needs to do at the right time.

I've had 4 sweeps in the past and started off my labours both time albeit slowly, absolutely not anything more than uncomfortable. I'm having one next week at 40 weeks and will have them regularly until they work after that.

I think it is probably down to technique and where your cervix is to do with comfort. I had swabs last week for group b strep and that was very bloody uncomfortable as the dr couldn't find my cervix.

Hi

I'm all for sweeps. Evidence shows that they don't increase risk of infection to mum and baby and there is no adverse outcome (from Cochrane review which is where there analyse lots of different studies together). I was gutted that I couldn't get one last week as cervix hadn't opened enough as I thought it would set me off into labour. Apparently, 40% of women go into labour within 48 hours of membrane sweep. Point of it is to decrease amount of women needing induction of labour which can be painful.

Don't think we're given enough information about it though and this is something I researched myself. Can't believe the midwife didn't ask your consent hellymelly! Sounds pretty awful.

I'm 41 weeks today and still waiting for labour to start, hopefully have a sweep tomorrow (3rd attempt...).

Talking it through with my midwife consultant on this my second pregnancy, I agree with stellamac...I'd much rather have the sweep and hope that it speeds things up than to be induced. I think that inducing just does too much against what your body is ready to do and it didn't work at all for me, I think it just prolonged labour. Kiki22, membrane sweep info here: www.direct2mum.co.uk/1152/what-is-a-membrane-sweep

Best of luck ladies x

I am all for sweeps. Particularly good if you are overdue with a 2nd or subsequent baby - so there is a good chance the MW can actually do the sweep.

I was induced 1st time and it would be worth avoiding if you are both doing well.

In summary, I'd opt for sweep over induction any day!

I had a sweep at 39+6 with my son, and went into labour within 24 hours. The midwife said she would examine me and if I was "favourable" she'd do the sweep. I was keen not to end up being induced so I said yes, she found I was good to go, and actually 3 cm dilated, did the sweep and he was born on his due date. I didn't find it uncomfy or painful, but I guess that was because he was ready anyway.

helly OMG I had the same experience as you, though not because of re-eclampsia, but because DS had stopped moving. I had already spent 2 days / nights in hospital having pessaries that had not achieved any dilation or softening. Probably not helped by the doses being way more than the required 8 hours apart, due to poor staffing. Each time they inserted pessaries I realise now they did a sweep. Fuck!!!!!! It hurt soooo much. I was nowhere near ready (despite being 38 +4). I am still really angry when I think about what happened. No actual harm resulted, but I was in so much pain, and having things done to me that I didn't know about and had not consented to. I had gas and air for them to break my waters (imagine how much that hurts when you are not even 1cm dilated). Even the synocinon drip did nothing. I'm sure my body shut off because of the exhaustion and the way I was being treated. Also ended in EMCS. Now pg again and I am going to the same hospital (because the antinatal care was great, it is local, the post natal care was mostly OK). Will be much more assertive this time, and am going to discuss what happened at my booking appointment, in no uncertain terms, talking about lack of consent and violation.

Sorry OP, major hijack!

glitter, if they can do it with your consent, and if your cervix is favourable, go for it. The worst that can happen is it hurts and does not do anything. I think if it works you would have gone into labour fairly soon anyway.

Thanks ladies!!
We'll see what they find tOmorrow!!

Sprinkles, I am sorry to read your post -that is just what happened with me,I was told they would put a pessary in and had no idea she would also do a sweep.(I would have refused) .My cervix is high and hard to reach and she was rummaging around as though looking for a sock stuck to the side of the washing machine.It hurt such a lot and I was so shocked and already worn out and stressed (had been awake in hospital all night).My DH was shocked by how she reacted,when I said "you are really hurting me" she replied "sometimes its hard being a woman" and carried on,he had to insist she stop. I too think my body shut down and refused to co-operate as I was so full of stress hormones. If it helps,i tried for a vbac with dd2,and although I did end up with another section,due to concerns about my scar,it was a much better experience.
I really do think that sweeps are nonsense though,either you would go into labour anyway,only slightly more slowly,in which case why on earth bother? Or you won't ,in which case it won't achieve anything other than pain. Michele Odent thinks sweeps interfere with the natural course of labour,as if they shove you into labour speeding up a bit then they disrupt the hormonal process.

sweep much much better than induction. Over quickly and if you're worried about the discomfort take some paracetamol half an hr before and get in the bath afterwards. Good Luck. A sweep is nothing to be worried about.

Well I had it done!

Not too bad a bit uncomfy! Certainly not plesant!

She seemed positive - I'm 1&1/2 - 2cm dilated (didn't think that happened til labour!6 bubba still isn't full engaged.

Wait and see now if nothing happens mw again on Friday afternoon.

Glad to hear it went well, OP. Good luck and hope everything kicks off soon (if it hasn't already). Let us know when your baby arrives.

There's a thread on childbirth I'm in the middle of IT!!