Having a sweep....what to expect?

[Nicky1306]

Hi,

Im having a sweep tomorrow (hopefully ) never had one before, can anyone tell me what I can expect? During and after? X x

If I recall, they were uncomfortacble, but not painful. Had at least 2 sweeps that didn't work with DS1 (ended up being induced at 41 weeks). With DS2, I started having contractions about 9-12 hours after my first sweep and he was born 3 days early. HTH!

Agree with pp - uncomfortable but not painful. Does feel weird to have a midwife digging around in your foof, but she should be able to tell you what condition your cervix is in - if it isn't ripe anyway then a sweep won't do anything. If it's ready to go, though, the sweep could well precipitate things so you might find you start having contractions within a few hours.

Well I'm hoping ripe! Been having period pains on and off since yesterday x

Contrary to above posters, mine was excruciatingly painful although short-lived. And I bled. I went in to one evening to be induced the next morning as DS was long overdue, they hooked me up to the monitors and told me I was having contractions already - I hadn't felt a thing! MW did a sweep and within an hour full-on contractions started.
So, maybe it was painful and bleeding because things had kicked off already? I don't know. I certainly wouldn't want another one.
I hope yours is fine. Good luck with the birth

I had 3 (2 in first pregnancy and 1 in second pregnancy).

Mine were fine. No pain at all. Slightly uncomfortable. I wore a pad after as bits of show came away.

Good luck!

First one I hardly felt and it did nothing second one... Same baby... Hurt, was really uncomfortable... Wasn't stupidly painful but did hurt iyswim but I did go into labour that evening so maybe more painful the better

Baby's head hurts a lot more anyway so just think of it as a prep for labour

Mine didn't hurt at all and a student MW did it. It worked too. Intermittent labour pains started a few hours later. I was 'ripe' at 41+2 though :) Good luck.