does a stretch and sweep help bring on labour?

[Ladypug]

Mixed reviews on these - does it help or not mumsnetters in your experience?

Didn't for me first time. Won't be having one second time.

Yep for both pregnancies was in labour within 48 hours

Yep worked for me within a couple of hours. Was 4 days overdue

Was discussing this with my obstetrician just yesterday - she said sweeps work in 50% of cases. Haven't got any personal experience (yet!)

50% is good enough for me!!!

I had one in early labour. After an hour or so I went from 2-10cm in 2 hours. No idea if the two were related.

Omg wow!

I think it helped me lose my plug and therefore got things going! It's over in seconds and gives you a progress report so I'd do it again if it came to it!

I had two with DS did nothing and have had two so far this time so not in my experience. I've done all the usual too long walks, curries sex etc and nothing. 6 days over now I don't think anything will work unless baby is ready and if there ready they will come anyway.

Ohh just realised this is you lady I must be stalking you today.

Hehe I think it's cos we're in the same predicament - just living on mumsnet waiting for baby, clutching at straws!

With my first my midwife said a sweep would help you on your way if you're ready. The first one made me get niggly and uncomfortable and I had another the next morning and it starting things off properly. Hope you're not waiting too much longer! I don't see any harm in having a sweep, if it doesn't work at least you know you've tried!

I found trying to relax and really let the midwife go for it with the sweep made a difference the second time.

Thanks Chester, that's great advice. My first failed (and was verrry uncomfortable) so hopefully this one is better!

I had sweeps that were useless at the end of 39 weeks and beginning of 40. But, with dc1 once my waters broke I was induced with the drip. With dc2, waters broke, 22 hours later fantastic and scary midwife gave me the mother of all sweeps, I was in full blown labour in 10 minutes, baby arrived in 2 and a half hours.

I think they only work if your cervix is favourable and who knows if you would have gone into labour naturally anyway.

I'm not keen on intervention unless absolutely required so I'm going to decline on the basis that it's not clear that they work or not and there is a slightly increased risk of infection

Very true goblin, been told I have an unfavourable cervix and stretch and sweep can't happen :-( has anyone been told this then gone on to actually give birth anyway without induction?

I think if you're almost ready to go anyway, it can possibly get things going. I had 2 and my waters broke 36 hours after the second.

I had four so no

I had 2 with my first pregnancy and still had to be induced and then she still took 48 hours to arrive! My second one started on his own so didn't need one. So I'd say they can't be proven either way more like coincidence if you go into labour shortly afterwards.

I had 3 with my first pregnancy, all within the last week, I had my first contraction half an hour after the 3rd, I think its like all other methods, nothing will work unless baby is ready anyway. I would like to think sweep got things going but could have just been coincidence! first 2 just made me feel uncomfortable but would do it again this time, worth a try I say.