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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Anyone had a sweep before, does it hurt....does it work?

26 replies

CarlyKins · 03/04/2014 11:32

Hi girls I'm due on Tuesday but no signs just yet, will be having a sweep next Thursday at 40+2. I know it says they are only 50% success rate so just wondering if I should not get my hopes up too much? Also does it hurt? Sorry for the tmi but I am so so sore down there it's unreal and getting worse so am worried it's going to really hurt, did anyone els have this issue? Thankyou xxx

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KiwiBanana · 03/04/2014 11:57

It doesn't hurt, it's just very uncomfortable. Your vagina shouldn't be hurting though, could you have thrush?

Sweeps only seem to work if your cervix is already getting itself ready for labour. If it's not ready then no amount of sweeps, currys or sex will help!

Original poster

CarlyKins · 03/04/2014 12:04

Dam, was going to try a curry aswell lol. Well I'm not sure really as I did have it a while back and it feels a bit the same tender so mayb it could be, but it's also really sore around the bone area mostly on the left side? Thankyou for your reply x

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Zara8 · 03/04/2014 12:38

My sweep didn't hurt - I didn't feel anything really. My mucus plug came away in the next day or two, but it didn't start anything off.

KLou1105 · 03/04/2014 15:52

I had my sweep yesterday but cervix was to far back for mw to reach! But could feel babys head not sure how that is?! It wasn't painful just really uncomfortable,
I have been the same last few days - feel very bruised and aching so much in vaginal/pelvic region but my mw did say baby is so low now x

Littlebean13 · 03/04/2014 18:12

I had my sweep & went into labour an hour later so it was very successful for me but my cervix was favourable. It didn't hurt it just felt really uncomfortable but it's over quickly. Will keep my fingers crossed that it works for you!

onlyfortonight · 03/04/2014 18:16

It does work…but it does hurt too. However, I'm a wimp!

rachyconks · 03/04/2014 18:18

I've had two this week. First was uncomfortable as cervix was very posterior and unfavourable. Today's was much better as cervix was mid & 50% effaced, so I guess it depends on your cervix (and to an extent the person doing it). You can decline it, though I'm desperate to get things moving, so would have the midwife round every day if I could!!

TwittyMcTwitterson · 03/04/2014 18:19

I didn't think it hurt. It's just a bit awkward. Possibly the most awkward silence of my life.

Don't try curries, pineapple etc. you can't rush these things

OneMoreThenNoMore · 03/04/2014 18:19

Mine was very uncomfortable (cervix was not favourable), and it didn't work. Worth a try though- it works for a lot of people.

MrsMcEnroe · 03/04/2014 18:21

I had a very sore vagina just before I went into labour with my first DC - it's quite common according to the midwife I spoke to - so hopefully you won't need that sweep after all!

Jbck · 03/04/2014 18:26

Bit uncomfortable and went on my EDD, sweep couple of days before as I was there and consultant said she'd check effacement if I wanted and offered. DD1 was 40+10 induced and EMCS so I said yes please.

mowmylawn · 03/04/2014 18:26

I have a super high pain threshold and I found it at the top level of uncomfortable/just below being actually painful. I told the MW I was using it as my practice for the breathing techniques we learned in my Daisy birthing class. I had the sweep on a Tuesday afternoon and went into labour on Wednesday night but you never really know if it's because of the sweep or if it would have happened anyway...

PicandMinx · 03/04/2014 18:57

I found my sweep very painful and violating - probably because I wasn't expecting it as I hadn't given my consent for the procedure. A MW held onto my shoulders as a SHO stuck his hand into my vagina. And it didn't work.

McBaby · 03/04/2014 20:16

Mine was as uncomfortable as a smear. So not to bad.

MoonHare · 03/04/2014 20:22

My advice is don't have a sweep at 40+2, that's barely over your due date. Why do it if you're concerned? You can decline the offer of a sweep. You can't be forced.

Sweeps work only if your cervix is ready. If it's not ready it's more likely to be uncomfortable and is a pointless intervention.

I've only had one sweep at 41+2 (with baby no.3) and was 2-3cm dilated already. It did not hurt. Baby arrived the next day more or less.

Jolleigh · 03/04/2014 22:11

I had a sweep 2 days (+8 hours) ago.

It wasn't pleasant, I'll be honest. My cervix was really far back but MW just about got 1 finger in.

I got my hopes up when I saw the 50% statistic too. I'm really disappointed that it hasn't worked. I've not even had any spotting or plug loss.

In 2 hours I'll be 41+2.

If your cervix isn't already prepping itself, a sweep will do nothing. I'd recommend having one a touch later if you're only just over your due date. Just to avoid the disappointment.

stripeymonster · 03/04/2014 22:32

Personally I would avoid at all cost. Last time I had 5 sweeps and I still had to be induced at 42 + 2 weeks. Similar with my first child. It is much better to let it happen naturally when your body is ready. Mine were painful although level of pain varied depending on which midwife did it. Good luck!

Smerlin · 03/04/2014 22:36

I had three sweeps. The day after the last one my waters broke but I didn't go into labour and had to be induced anyway. The last one was excruciatingly painful- I was pretty much in tears afterwards as the m/w was so very violent and I am not a wimp when it comes to pain. I wouldn't bother, just let your body progress naturally.

pancakesfortea · 03/04/2014 22:38

In my case, it did hurt and it didn't work.

curiousgeorgie · 03/04/2014 22:43

I've had 3.

They all hurt like hell and did nothing. I ended up with C Sections.

I think when they 'work'... It's because you were going to go into labour anyway!

chelly77 · 04/04/2014 00:41

I had three sweeps - uncomfortable but dident hurt - and you need to remember to take a pad as there may be a bit of bleeding - but this is normal.

Dident work for me im afraid, took 3 doses of castor oil, had acupuncture, tried bouncing on a fit ball, homeopathic medicines, hot curry, walking on uneven surfaces - nothing!

Ended up being induced - which went really well and dident need any pain meds - but did use a birthing pool

Original poster

CarlyKins · 04/04/2014 10:27

Thanks very much for all your replies. And you are right in what you say that if I'm not ready I guess it won't work. The reason I really want one doing at 40 weeks is because I've had growth scans all through pregnancy and have been told on every one that he is fairly big, I understand they can be inaccurate and am hoping they are lol but it's made me worried that if I go 2 weeks over due he will be even bigger and the last thing want is complications and end up with a c section. I might sound really silly but it's taken me 8 years to conceive I'm still so overwhelmed that it's happening so am a nervous reck lol. Well, what will be will be. Thanks again for everyone's advice I will take it all into consideration and be prepared for sweep if have xx

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PinkParsnips · 04/04/2014 10:33

I had 2 sweeps and they weren't painful. I was dreading the first one but it was just mildly uncomfortable.

They didn't work though despite my midwife saying i was already fully effaced and 1-2cm dilated when she did the first one!

Still had to be induced in the end but I had a very quick labour so there's a possibility they did help in some way.

QueenAnneofAustria · 04/04/2014 10:39

I have had two inductions so fair to say I have had a number of sweeps. Never occurred to me to decline because I just thought, well it might work.

However, the only one that worked was when I was admitted for induction and the induction didn't work and when a new midwife came on she did the most invasive, uncomfortable sweep ever and sent me to walk up and down 5 flights if stairs. Active labour by the time I got back up.

Agree though it only hps things along if your cervix is favourable.

And, why bit try all the curry/pineapple stuff. This will be the last time you eat a curry with a lovely DC demanding your attention for a while so enjoy. I also had had sex the day before I had each if my DC. DS1 arrived the next day.

yummystepford · 04/04/2014 11:36

I had a sweep at 40+6, I found it very uncomfortable. It did put me into labour straight away, but I was only at the hospital to have it done as I had gone in with a bit of a false labour so was probably quite ready to give birth anyway!

Get the thrush seen to ASAP! Good luck x

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