Anyone had a sweep before ?

[Nicky1306]

Hi, So my consultant has offered me a sweep for next week. I will be 39+5......has anyone else ever had a sweep before? Did it hurt ? Was it successful in bringing on labour? I didn't have one with DD but I've heard they can be pretty hit and miss x

I had one when my labour had started as the midwife said it would get things moving. It was uncomfortable and definitely got things going - I had my baby 4 hours later! Good luck!

I had one at 41 weeks, it wasn't very nice but my waters broke 24 hours later.

I had one at 40 weeks. Bloody hated it and it didn't work for me.

I had one at 39 weeks with DS1 (I was in the US where they routinely do them - I wasn't even asked if I wanted it!). It was very successful. Sweep at 8am, labour started at lunchtime. Baby born at 5.30am the next day.

Hi, have had two in two pregnancies. Got labour going naturally in about 48 hrs both times. Think the stats are that that happens in about 50% of cases. The actual sweep is pretty uncomfortable but much better I found than being induced. Good luck! Hope it all goes well for you

Hi -

I think that like all these things (induction included) it will only really be effective if your body is ready (or at least heading in that direction). With DS my MW attempted a sweep but my cervix was completely unfavourable so we gave up and I was induced and ended up having an EMCS.

With DD I had two sweeps but as I was aiming for VBAC, I had been advised to
only allow a sweep if my Bishop's score was favourable. Otherwise it was just likely to cause a long latent phase &/or uncomfy niggles but not much more. I had my 1st sweep on the Monday (40 + 3) and my Bishop's score was 5. By Thursday my score was 7 and I had a 2nd sweep and DD arrived on Saturday night. This link sort of explains the scoring system.

As for the experience itself - the 1st one was pretty sore if am honest but the 2nd was no more uncomfortable than a smear test and they both pale into insignificance once you're in labour.

Good luck!

I am 41 weeks and have had two sweeps. Both sweeps within two days apart helped me lose my mucus plug (sorry tmi)! And I also had strong menstrual cramps for a good few hours and thought I was going into labour! But then it stopped. So it definitely did something.

Not sure if its going to work for me in the end as I am waiting for my waters to break or for the labour to start - I have been offerered another sweep if nothing happens in the next 24 hrs.. I have until the end if the week to go into labour otherwise I am going to be induced eeek! I think I am unlucky :(

Both sweeps were uncomfortable - I would recommend it to anyone who wants to speed things up! As I don't think I would have progressed the way I did if I didn't have both sweeps done.

Good luck! X

I had one at 40wks and it set off latent labour within a few hours.

I don't remember it being that bad either. I'd say go for it, the worse that can happen is nothing.

I had one at 40 weeks, didn't work so was induced in the end, it was all fine. Membrane sweep for me was quite uncomfortable, but found using some deep breathing techniques helped a lot and it's quite quick...

Is there clinical reason for you being offered a sweep before 40wks? They are much more effective when you only need a wee nudge to get you rolling: dd1 had umpteen sweeps at 40wks + but nothing worked, ended up fully induced; DD2 sweep at 40+3, cervix already favourable, dd2 born 10 hours later.
not all sweepers are equal ime, and I'd your cervix isn't favourable they won't be able to have a proper furtle. Good luck!

I'll only be two days off 40 weeks.....does it really make that much of a difference? X

I had 3 - 2 failed

41+2 they couldn't do it. Hurt like hell them trying

41+6 they couldn't do it. Cervix wasn't reachable or something. Hurt like hell

42+1 they could just about do it & it hurt

42+3 went into labour

And when I did go into labour there was no warning. No losing of plug or anything. Just started