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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Sweep -put my mind at ease

24 replies

chala86 · 07/09/2017 08:48

I'm 41 weeks today and have a sweep booked for this afternoon. I'm dreading it! Can those with experience tell me what to expect? Is it painful? Is it worth it? I know I could turn it down but I'm utterly fed up with being pregnant now and just want it over with. DD was early so I only have a limited idea of what's involved...

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Sunshinesaz86 · 07/09/2017 08:53

It's uncomfortable (ish) but not painful. And it's over pretty quickly.

I had about 4 sweeps in total with my last pg one of which was when labour had started and my first examination she she said was going to 'stretch' cervix. That wasn't pleasant she wasn't messing around, however my waters went 5 mins after that and labour ramped up.

You'll be fine, just think it may kick start your labour when your so fed up at the end, surely it's worth a try right? Good luck x

Original poster

chala86 · 07/09/2017 09:50

Thank you sunshine. I'd heard it was painful and unlikely to do anything. Definitely worth it if it gives things a kick start.

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SleepFreeZone · 07/09/2017 09:51

It's uncomfortable but absolutely fine. I had one with DS2 and he arrived about 12 hours later 👍

Thecomfortador · 07/09/2017 09:54

My sweep wasn't painful, or particularly uncomfortable given a doctor had her hand up there. I gave birth about 7 hours later but I had been having early labour contractions since the day before and was I think 1-2 cm dilated when she did the sweep. Contractions definitely racked up after the sweep. Doctor said straight away it was successful.

Fingers crossed it gets things going for you.

Callamia · 07/09/2017 09:56

I had two at 41 weeks. The second one definitely got things going. It didn't hurt, it was just like a more fiddly smear. I'd totally do it again.

Day3Blues · 07/09/2017 10:04

I've had about 4 sweeps over the years and 2 where absolutely fine just a bit like a smear and 2 were very uncomfortable/takes your breathe away. Depends who's doing it!
That said it doesn't last long and there will be a lot more where that comes from! It's worth trying anything to just get it going tbh. Good luck!

HandbagFan · 07/09/2017 10:08

I had two attempted sweeps and neither of them did anything. They only work if you're ready and if you're not then nothing happens. Wouldn't say it was painful but I did feel undignified in much the same way as a smear test!

hiimmumma · 07/09/2017 10:24

Just feels like a smear but with the added discomfort of being heavily pregnant.
Loads of people I know went into labor within 24 hours or having it (me included).

SnowiestMountain · 07/09/2017 10:26

It's ok, not the most fun you'll ever have but no worse than a smear, it could well be worth it and it's over very quickly!

Creatureofthenight · 07/09/2017 11:10

I had 4
First 2 really uncomfortable, next 2 much better.
First 2 done by the same MW, maybe she just had big hands .

Daffydil · 07/09/2017 11:15

I had 2-3 a week from 37 weeks to try and avoid induction.

The ones at 37-38 weeks were painful in a gaspy, toecurly way. The ones at 39 weeks were uncomfortable. The one on my due date I barely noticed. DD was born about 13 hours later.

Induction successfully avoided. No idea if the sweep helped or not, or if she would have come then anyway.

Original poster

chala86 · 07/09/2017 11:33

Thank you. I'm feeling much less apprehensive about it now and really hoping to avoid induction next week. Keep you fingers crossed for me.

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Spudlet · 07/09/2017 11:37

You'll be fine. It's a bit uncomfortable, but not agonising IME. The midwife may need to get her knee up on the bed to 'get around the corner' - this is also normal IME!

If it comes to an induction (which hopefully it won't, but if it does) I personally don't recall the pessary going in as being any worse than a sweep so don't be alarmed. It was worse coming out once I'd started labour, but they gave me gas and air for that!

DandySeaLioness · 07/09/2017 13:38

4 sweeps here done by 3 different midwives, only 1 of the midwives did it in a way that hurt. Didn't do fuck all but at least you get the feeling that you've done what you can.

Expectingbsbunumber2 · 07/09/2017 14:05

It's a little uncomfortable but not painful. Unfortunately for me it didn't work, my little girl was very stubborn

Original poster

chala86 · 07/09/2017 18:01

Well the sweep didn't quite go as planned. Baby has his hand on top of his head so the midwife sent me to the labor ward. Monitoring is showing regular Braxton's/ contractions so now I'm walking around to see if labor starts. Here's hoping.

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Sunshinesaz86 · 07/09/2017 18:53

Ooh fingers crossed OP and good luck hope labour starts and all goes well x x

YouCantArgueWithStupid · 07/09/2017 19:14

I had 3 and they weren't comfortable but they were ok

DandySeaLioness · 07/09/2017 22:33

good luck @chala86!

2furbabies · 08/09/2017 00:33

Oooo let us know what happens !! I'm curious as to why his hand being there meant you had to go to the labour ward xx

sthitch · 08/09/2017 07:18

Arghhh how unlucky having the babies hand up there! Hope all goes well! I had one yesterday (had an unsuccessful one the week before that didn't hurt) yesterday's hurt a little as my cervix is still posteria and only just starting to soften but fingers crossed it starts something, I could literally feel the stretching! Good luck op!

Calmanglass · 08/09/2017 07:21

I've had 4. The first time I was all braced as I'd heard it was excruciating from a friend. I kept waiting and couldn't believe when she said she'd done it. Uncomfortable but totally ok. Did nothing tough. Second child I had 3... the 3rd was the charm. I lost my plug only a few hours after and my baby arrived 12hrs later.

PoppyH56 · 08/09/2017 07:30

I had one on Tuesday and wouldn't have it again. Maybe my pain tolerance is really low and/or my MW was particularly harsh but it really, really hurt me and did absolutely nothing so I won't bother again. I'm 40 weeks

Original poster

chala86 · 15/09/2017 08:31

Sorry it's taken so long to update. Thankfully baby moved his hand and I went into labor on Saturday morning. My little boy arrived at 9:55pm Saturday night. He was well worth the wait too.

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