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

Original poster

Membrane sweep. Terrified!

48 replies

everythinghippie29 · 12/12/2013 09:53

Ok, so I am now 40 + 6 and have my midwife appointment today where she said she would offer a sweep.

I wasn't going to accept and was going to wait until next week's appointment before having any sweep/ intervention.

Just looked at the dates though and there wouldn't be opportunity to have a sweep next week (due to midwife only being available on Thurs) before they would actually have me booked in for an induction. Sad

I have my heart set on a water birth and although I know I do have to be flexible, I've been told if I have an induction there is no way. Sad. I know if I don't have the sweep and it goes to induction I will always end up wondering what if...

Sorry for the long ramble. I'm literally terrified to have it done and I guess realistically for the impending childbirth. I can just feel it all snowballing and am feeling more and more worried when I thought I was looking forward to it/prepared. I'm scared that if it is really painful its going to make me even more anxious about coping with the birth itself.

I'm going to take some paracetamol before I walk down and then make a gut descision when I'm offered.

DP has booked the afternoon off work so he can come with me but I just feel so out of control, pathetic and want to cry. Blush

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PorkPieandPickle · 16/12/2013 02:19

Hey everything, i agree with you, sweep was nowhere near as bad as i'd built myself up to believe!!

hasn't worked for me either tho. induction for me also booked for Wednesday, and I see my dreams of a water birth slipping away from me :(

Ah well. Baby to cuddle soon...

MrsCakesPremonition · 16/12/2013 02:23

Good luck. Keep walking. If you are watching TV, try putting a cushion on a chair and kneeling/leaning forwards on to the chair. My HV told me to stand with my feet hips width apart, hands on hips and then write all the letters of the alphabet in the air with my hips.

MrsCakesPremonition · 16/12/2013 02:24

Lowercase BTW Grin.

Original poster
everythinghippie29 · 16/12/2013 07:41

Glad it went OK for you porkpie Smile! Hope you go naturally before Wed!

I will def try the alphabet with my hips today! My midwife told me going up and down the stair sideways was good too. I spent the weekend cleaning the floors and watching Christmas films bouncing away on or draped over my exercise ball, eating pineapple and doing cervix stretching lunges. I am also spicy curried out!

I think my lovely dream, minimal intervention, unmonitered, water birth has gone, well and truly down the plug hole...doh! Grin

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Original poster
everythinghippie29 · 16/12/2013 07:44

Also nanny your post made me laugh, I was going to say buying a tramp is perhaps the one suggestion I've not heard to get this baby out!

Thank you for all of your lovely best wishes by the way! Thanks

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Cuntzilla · 16/12/2013 08:02

I was overdue with dc2. Mid wife tried to do sweep on two separate occasions but couldn't get near cervix without me yelping in pain.
I did absolutely everything on the list - long walks, stairs, pineapple, sex, cleaning floors/windows!!
Really didn't want to be induced!!
Was booked in for induction on a Friday and in desperation went for accupuncture on Wednesday contractions started really mildly that evening so had another session on Thursday which really ramped things up and I went into labour properly in the early hours of Friday morning so got to go in the pool at the birth centre.
I really don't like needles but it was actually quite relaxing.

fluffyraggies · 16/12/2013 08:21

Been lurking everyting. I have a thread on the go about induction due to age. It's been so helpful, as has reading folks experiences here on yours.

I must say, apart from all the usual induction worries we are covering on my thread i also have a huge dread of the sweep! It looks like it's something i'll have to have in a couple of weeks and (considering i'm on baby no. 4, and no stranger to dilation checks and smear tests etc) i'm literally embarrassed by how scared i am of the dreaded sweep.

Best of luck and thanks for this thread :)

Original poster
everythinghippie29 · 16/12/2013 10:16

Cuntzilla (great name) Thanks for the positive story! I've tried all the recommended things but nothing so far! Tried reflexology the other day but still nothing. Would love to try acupuncture but I can't find anything locally!

Fluffie I know how you feel! I was embarrassed too, I kept thinking, god if I'm so wimpy about this how will I cope with bloody labour, glad this thread has helped! I'm going to have a gander at your induction thread now!

I think you will be absolutely fine, It wasn't anywhere near as terrible as I thought, I took some paracetamol about half hour before I went, not sure if it helped but I suppose it made me feel better! I was really worried about being sore/uncomfortable afterwards and honestly felt absolutely fine!

Good luck with both your sweep and induction, let your midwife know you are nervous before your sweep (mine was lovely and reassuring and made me feel better about being a wimp, she insisted I wasn't!), take your DP or someone you trust, I squeezed DPs hands which helped!

I'm starting to come round to the induction, because it's becoming more of a reality, only today and tomorrow to go!

All I want for Xmas is baby! Grin

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Original poster
everythinghippie29 · 16/12/2013 10:17

Aahh just re-read properly, you are on number 4! Didn't mean to sound condescending or anything with advice! Grin

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fluffyraggies · 16/12/2013 14:45

No no your advice is very sound! lol. I had no idea what to expect from a sweep. And as for being on baby no.4, well, every birth is different ...

(i think that's probably the only sure fire thing you can say having had more than one baby :))

.... and i think most mothers start feeling very much 'in the hands of the professionals' and vulnerable suddenly at some point in the run up to the big day. I am less afraid of the labor than i am of the sweep, the dilation checks and the needles (for pain killers etc)! I'm a woos when it comes to being fiddled with. Hate the dentist as well, ha ha Grin

nannynome · 17/12/2013 17:46

Hurrah I am finally on holiday from work!! 37 + 1 but have a sweep tomorrow at 9am :( DH is driving me there and back and then I have visitors in the afternoon... Should I take paracetamol before hand? Am I going to be able to handle visitors?? I will let you know tomorrow ;) any last minute advice?

Sod's law says this baby is going to have my ludicrous ability to be everywhere horribly early and I will be back in the hospital tomorrow night ;)

Original poster
everythinghippie29 · 17/12/2013 18:07

Hiya nanny I'm going for my induction tomorrow, so if there's no action tonight the heavies are going in to get him unfortunately!

I took a paracetamol about half hour before going, and like I said to fluffy just let my midwife know I was nervous and took DP for (hand holding/crushing) support!

It was a bit unpleasant, (I did giggle as my tummy threw some mad shapes as she was stroking the top of baby's head!), it made me feel really like I needed a wee so would recommend going just before you go in, I think it could have been more uncomfortable with anything actually in my bladder! My midwife was lovely, it didn't last long and as soon as it was over it didn't hurt/feel sore afterwards (and I awarded myself chocolate for being brave at all). Had some really mild crampy pains a little bit after. I didn't bleed at all after but apparently you can so take a pad/panty liner with you to pop in.

Good luck with your sweep! I hope it works for you! Grin

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nannynome · 18/12/2013 08:09

Thanks. Will make sure I go to the loo! Woke up stupidly early this morning worrying about all sorts of things. Decided to have a bath, then decided to tidy myself up, even though I couldn't see what I was doing! Midwife is going to rofl, look like I attacked my nether regions with a blunt lawnmower Shock have brought chocolates for the midwives and reception in antenatal since it is last visit to them :) think they will go easy on me? ;)

nannynome · 18/12/2013 08:11

When's yours? Hope everything goes well for you and your bump :) I am being swept early so it maybe that nothing will happen, don't think he has even dropped yet considering the kicking I was getting this morning.

nannynome · 18/12/2013 09:51

Failure, I am not ready enough and have to go and redo next Tuesday morning. Wasn't bad at all, feeling a touch bruised but I wasn't dilated enough to do sweep. Anyone got suggestions for getting my cervix to behave before next Tuesday?

Wuxiapian · 18/12/2013 10:04

All the best for today, everything! You'll be fine :)

Original poster
everythinghippie29 · 18/12/2013 11:58

Aww bad luck nanny never mind. They say if you aren't ready it doesn't work anyway, at least you have an idea where you are at now. Smile

Thank you Wux although I've just had a call from the hospital saying they are too busy and have no surgeons so today has been cancelled. Ah well another chance for him to come on his own I guess.

taps foot impatiently Grin

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Felix90 · 18/12/2013 12:08

Had my sweep this morning! I am only 37 weeks today but she said my cervix was soft and I am 1cm dilated. It was extremely uncomfortable but over quickly! I have been taking evening primrose oil tablets over the last few days to soften my cervix so not sure if this has contributed at all. I was expecting her not to be able to do it as it's so early!

nannynome · 18/12/2013 17:07

I bought some evening primrose on the way home and am going to bounce on my birthing ball all week til next Tuesday when they try again. Fingers crossed!

nannynome · 18/12/2013 21:50

How's it going Felix? Everything, did they give you another date?

Felix90 · 18/12/2013 21:57

Nothing happened yet, but not really expecting anything to happen really. I'm very achey round my hips and thighs though but not sure if this is anything to do with the sweep! I'm being induced on Friday anyway eeeek! Blush

Original poster
everythinghippie29 · 18/12/2013 22:40

They are going to give me a call tomorrow between 7-12, as I will be term + 13 days and so their guidelines say I go up the priority list so should get seen even if they are busy.

Urrgg, still no sign of him today though. Sad

Was quite fed up but my lovely MIL just had me over to hers so her beautician could treat me to a pedicure,. I now have pretty sparkly Christmas toes and smoothy, smooth feet rather than my previously neglected and unreachable taloned trotters! Feeling a lot better for it and at least I have something pretty to look at when they are doing their thing tomorrow! Grin

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nannynome · 18/12/2013 23:41

Good luck tomorrow! Keep us updated. And you on Friday too Felix! I am lagging behind now :D next Tuesday for next sweep, just taken raspberry leaf and an evening primrose capsule, will keep trying everything, induction next thurs if not. Hope you both get your babies by Christmas x

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