Do sweeps ever work?

[MayimBialik]

I'm having one tomorrow at 40+2 and hoping it'll work. Baby plotting biggish so don't want to go too overdue!

Also what is it like? Painful?

Would like to hear people's experiences of this. Thanks!

I didn't have an official sweep just an examination at 37 weeks and a few hours later I was holding my baby. The hospital said whenever that consultant examines people in the advanced stages it brings on labour....

With DS1 I had two sweeps, the first was gentle and nothing happened, the second one was the following day and the midwife shoved most of her hand up there and had a good rummage. I lost my mucus plug that evening and labour started a few hours after that. I think a sweep has to be vigorous to work.

Fingers crossed mine works xx

Yup! I had DD1 & DD2 the day after having a sweep each time. Goodluck!

Neither of mine worked. I wish I'd taken my own advice and not bothered second time round.

Generally, they only work if you're going to go into labour in the next couple of days anyway.

I had sweeps with both of mine - got labour started with DD, then had a sweep with DS that did nothing (MW did say that my cervix wasn't ripe yet) then another a week later that kicked things off bigstyle. It only works if you're ready for it.

I had a sweep by the consultant which was very painful and vigorous, however I had my first contraction 30 mins later and my daughter was born 5 hours later. So yes, I think it did work :-)