membrane/ stretch and sweep did it work for you? how did you feel after??

[Donna1989]

just wondering what everyones views/ opinions are on stretch and sweep how many did you have? did they work with you? how did you feel after one or the next day?? don't hold back on too much infomation....

Wow, you're taking your 6-8 min contractions in your stride Donna!
With my first I had a slow, relaxed and long start. Eventually things just took their natural course and got underway.
Sounds cool to me!
Just go with it ... and good luck from us all

Not at all and it hurt like hell!

DD: was overdue by 8 days and had a sweep at 4:30pm. Hurt a lot. Went to the loo half an hour later and lost a lot of mucus. Waters broke at 8pm precisely. Had DD the following day at 12:59. So that one worked well.
DS: was overdue by 8 days and had a sweep on Friday. Barely felt anything, but the mw was really enthusiastic about how favourable everything was. She said she'd put money on me giving birth that weekend of all the women she'd, erm, swept(?) that day. Nothing came of it and I was induced the following Wednesday.

So my view is that it will work if things are ready to go; DD was, but DS wasn't at the time of my sweeps. It can't hurt to try!

DS1 - nope, though labour was v v speedy once it got started with the prostaglandin
DS2 - like a rocket up the arse!

Painless and produced a baby 22 hours later.

Contractions started after about 4 hours and labour progressed very gently until the last two hours.

This thread is making me sweat. I had a sweep. I was held down by a MW as the consultant stuck his hand up and crushed my cervix. I did not give him consent to do that. He said he said he only wanted "a little look". This procedure started a cascade of interventions that was so brutal , I freebirthed my other three children.

And breathe.

Had one at 40 wks
One at 40+2 was going to be induced at 40+3 but went into labout few hours after sweep and baby came after a longgggg labour at 40+4

Did hurt but.not too much to bear :)

I had one, it didnt hurt that much but is wasn't a nice feeling, and within 48 hrs I had given birth :)

My midwife said that my body was getting ready and that it gone well at the time if that helps

I also had a sweep with DD - she was born 4 hours later

Good luck!

When I had my DC they they used to break your waters but I don't think a midwife could do that. A doctor came along when I was 41.5 weeks with dd (had been admitted and had had a gel pessary) and said he would have a look and I saw the crochet hook in the tray thing. I asked what it was for and he got a bit clipped so I asked him to leave and told the midwife I'd wait for my own obstetrician thanks and I didn't want that gentleman anywhere near me again.

My waters broke on their own about four hours later. Personally I think the sound of a sweep sounds horrific and no I wouldn't have it; if they thought I needed labour because my baby was at risk then I would want a second opinion from a doctor and an objective discussion about why it was being done, it's chances of success and if it was for the sake of a baby I'd want a discussion about a c section too - with a doctor.

worked for me, brought on twins naturally @ 35+5. Sweep on Friday pm, babies on Sunday pm.

I had 2 with DD1, at 1 day overdue and 7 days overdue. They both did nothing. Totally pointless.

Ended up with a c section after failed induction.

for me no - not to bad but ended up having waters broken better than the gel - say no to the gel

coconut & limburg thanks for sharing. I did wonder if it was just me and reading your similar experiences has helped. I had a consultant too actually. I wonder if this is relevant? I also had a "cascade of interventions" and looking back I think I was really affected by that birth experience. It was traumatic. My sweep also left me in tears. If something can bring you out in a cold sweat 16 years later, you know it was bad.

I didn't post to worry anyone - and I am really, really not a wimp when it comes to pain. This is about communication from the professionals and their skills and understanding. Some of us have been unlucky that's all. It's a bit unfair to say not to take any notice of those who had a bad time, it actually can happen. But reassuringly from the posts on here it sounds like mostly it is not as bad as that.

What it did do was make me take more control over the births of my other children. My second birth was quick and easy and my third was a home birth. Having an amazing home birth with my son finally put to rest the trauma of my first experience.

I had one when I was 40+6, she said it was very favourable and that I was already 2cm dilated, but that my cervix was tipped back. She brought it forwards very easily, and did the sweep. Contractions started almost exactly 12 hours later at 3.30am, DD was born at lunchtime! Even if the sweep did nothing and what happened was what would have happened anyway, it was a huge psychological boost for me to know that something was happening and that I was 2cm. Those six days after my due date were the longest of my life! Mine didn't hurt, just felt weird, and my MW said that was a really good sign that my body was ready for labour.

had with dd1. did not work. MW came to my house and did it on our bed.
Felt v shaken after, and massively hungry [confused}
still needed an induction.

Had one yesterday. Had some bloody show, but nothing else has happened. midwife said it wasn't very favourable though. Would describe as uncomfortable rather than painful.

Nope. My body and babies are utterly resistant to em.

Had one for DD2 at 41 weeks. Mild discomfort - similar to a smear. Went into labour 2 days later. Labour quick - 4 hours!! Who knows if it helped. I have heard it works better if you have had a baby before ie not for 1st pregnancies but this may be just hearsay. Good luck!

With my third,yes! Didn't feel a thing. Big baby and borderline bp. Sweep at 40 weeks. Hot curry, long walk, was in labour 6 hours later, 6pm. DS born at 4.11 next morn, 9lbs., 5oz, his heaviest sister 7lbs. 1oz.

I had one with my second. It hurt enough to bring tears to my eyes. I also felt horribly physically violated by it (a feeling I've never had before, even during birth of DD when I had plenty of internals)

It worked though and I went into labour later that day and delivered that night.

Good article on how a sweep should be done from Midwives magazine

Awful awful things - had 2 neither worked. Ds went into distress. Emcs. I've felt fucking angry about that sweep ever since

With twins I had two sweeps at 40 wks - nothing - had to be induced medically.

With number three I had 4 sweeps in the 15 days I went over (3 cm dilated apparently) - nada - ended up with c section.

I guess some people are receptive and some aren't. It obviously did nothing for me.