Membrane sweep?

[MummySunshine]

Hi all

I'm 40+4 and going out of my mind already! Had a mw appointment yesterday and she offered a sweep, I agreed but had to stop her early as i found it absolutely excruciating!! I've heard it is only meant to be uncomfortable so why did I feel like I was being ripped in two?! Feeling very disappointed that I couldn't go through with it, as I'm desperate for something to kick off now :(

Hello

Poor you - did you ask her how things were? I think it can vary according to position of cervix, whether or not it's softening and also just the midwife herself.

I had a sweep with DD1 and it was absolutely fine though I know others who found it really painful. Midwife was very gentle but I'd always thought my due date was incorrect with DD1 - I was sure she was due a week later so didn't have a sweep until 40 + 9, by which time cervix was softening, which must have helped. It might just have been a little soon for you - but just get your feet up with a hot water bottle or something to make you a little more comfortable.

Hope that it works for you though - I had a reflexology treatment the same afternoon and went into labour the same night - and MW delivering her did say she didn't look overdue as was still covered in vernix. Hope that it works for you - were you due Friday? I was due last Thursday so also very bored of waiting, though I can't get appointment with midwife so no idea what happens next .... fingers crossed they both turn up sooner rather than later.

Good luck to you - it will all be worth it at the end.

Everyone finds them different. Some women find them no problem, others find them a bit uncomfortable, and others find them fucking agonising.

It might be to do with how favourable your cervix was too - if it was pretty closed and not dilated more than a few mm then it would have taken more effort to get a finger in to sweep round which will be considerably more painful than if you were already 2cm.

Don't worry about it, 40+4 is fairly early for a sweep (lots of areas don't do them until 41w) and your cervix can go from being completely closed to fully dilated in hours anyway - a sweep will only work if you're ready to go into labour anyway. You've got another 10 days yet before you're actually 'overdue'

Mine hurt so much I cried! And they didn't work which made it even worse :(

hi, i had one yesterday and after some of my friends saying it was agony, i actually found it fine, but i agree it prob has alot to do with how far along you are. i was already about 1cm, i can imagine if your not quite there yet it could be alot more painful.