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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Painful sweep - tips?

7 replies

Scraggyspanner · 28/10/2013 06:42

Hello all,

I was 41 weeks yesterday with my first with no signs at all that baby wants to make an appearance so I went in for a sweep.

The midwife said she managed a good sweep but it was very painful. My cervix wasn't fully thinned but had shortened to 2cm, and she said she managed to get a finger in and do a good sweep.

Since then, I've had some stomach and back ache and some bleeding but nothing else.

It's left me feeling quite emotional, I was quite calm about labour but am feeling myself becoming more worried. Have another sweep booked in for Friday then induction for Sunday and am feeling very worried about both.

Is it normal for the sweep to have hurt so much? Would it have been better if my cervix had been thinned and open already? Any tips on how to survive the next one?

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AngryBeaver · 28/10/2013 06:49

Hi there :)
I'd say you were on the way to meeting your baby!
Well, that's what happened with my first anyway.
A rather painful sweep, followed by bleeding and tummy ache.

I rang my mum (a bit weepy) from the couch and she said "oooh I think things have started lovie!"
And they had.
It was a slow labour, but 2 days later I had my little girl in my arms.

The sweeps are horrible, but hey, I'm pregnant with number 4, so it can't be SO bad!

It's just a bit of a shock to be "handled" in such a way I think?
Unpleasant, but a means to an end.

Try and forget that part now, take some paracetamol.

If you feel like it, go for a walk.

If you don't, just rest.

You're going to be a mummy soon! Congratulations!

Donna1989 · 28/10/2013 06:50

hi hun when I had my first sweep it really hurt to the point were I wss having irregular tightnings that made me keel over and cry but these were still BH I found a hot bath helped after and when I had my second I relaxed as much as I could still hurt but the second one sent me in to labour just think of the end result xxxx

Sparkeleigh · 28/10/2013 09:51

Hi, I'm kind of in the same position as you. I'm 41+3 and being induced this week.
I had a failed sweep last week due to my cervix still too high. It was incredibly painful and I came out kind of shellshocked and cried my eyes out. I had a bath afterwards which seemed to help a bit to soothe things but it left me shaken for the rest of the day and really nervous about the induction.

I haven't had any of the symptoms you've had though, no stomachache, backache or bleeding so I think that sounds really promising.

I've since been told that the hospital can provide gas and air if you tell them how painful it was for the next sweep and induction - that might help but I hope your baby comes soon without any more help!

Sorry I don't have any better advice, I just wanted to let you know that I feel the same way. I'm trying to readjust my birth plan in my head now to get used to the idea of the induction because this really wasn't what I wanted at all.

princesscupcakemummyb · 28/10/2013 09:57

good luck Scraggyspanner hope baby shows soon for you ive got a sweep booked tomorrow know how painful they are il be 39+3 tommorrow when mines done hope im favourable now

Hannahwillo88 · 28/10/2013 09:57

I know its not nice having a sweep but if it helps start things off its a positive. Clarey sage oil baths r amazing to help ease pain n completely relax u I have never had baths like it a few drop into a small cap of milk ( so the oil doesn't rest on the top of the water) n just soak! Also it's ment to bring labour on. Didn't for me but did help me relax I had 2-3 baths a day from about 37 weeks I became addicted.

Original poster

Scraggyspanner · 28/10/2013 20:49

Thank you so, so much everyone for your reassurances and sharing your experiences with me.

Sparkeleigh, I know what you mean about getting your head around things that weren't what you planned; not nice at this late, hormonal stage of labour!

I've been quite achey all day, I would say it's more of a muscular ache at the bottom of my tummy, but could be likened to period pains.

I hope it means something is happening in there so that if I make it as at as the second sweep on Friday it won't be as bad if the cervix is at least thinned. Does anyone know if that is the case, is it less painful if the cervix is thinned so they don't have to force their finger into it? That's what I'm hoping as I'm going to find it difficult not to go in really tense for the second time!!

Thanks again everyone for all of your replies.

OP posts:

Strokethefurrywall · 28/10/2013 21:48

Oooh best of luck OP - when my obgyn did a sweep at 37+6, I was already 3cm dilated (didn't know), and cervix was very soft and very thin and yet it still hurt like a muthafucka yet I have a friend who had it done when her cervix was hard and unfavourable and she barely felt it!

Having said all that, I wonder if perhaps it won't hurt as bad the second time around as the first one will have already separated some of the membranes and also if the cervix is thinning, you may go into labour before you need another one! The period pains certainly sound promising.

My waters broke 2 hours after the sweep and I had my first contraction, 5 hours later DS arrived.

It'll be you soon!

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