Membrane sweep experiences?

[xoguineas]

Booked in for a membrane sweep on Monday for when I'm 40+4, was just wondering if anyone has had a sweep and it's worked?

I've heard mixed things and I know it is different for everyone but just curious to see others' experiences of the sweep

Also is it painful? I'm planning on driving to and from the appt, I'll be able to drive afterwards won't I? (Sorry if these are silly Qs)!

I had one at 37 weeks and had a stroll around town afterwards to do some shopping then drove home, it's was a little sore when she did it, but no worse than a smear test for me. The second sweep I had at a later date, I was also fine to drive home, that one was less sore. They didn't work for me and I was 3-4cm on the second one. Labour started four days later.

Personally I wouldn't have one. 42 weeks is still a perfectly normal gestation. A sweep is still an intervention and carries risks.

I had one at 40+6, mildly uncomfortable and she told me I was 4cm dilated, which was nice. I had no idea what this meant, (it’s the cutoff for being in labour enough to be admitted to most hospitals!) pottered around for the rest of the day and went to a work collagues leaving do in the evening. Things kicked off the next morning and the baby was there by that evening. I suspect I was on the way without it but I’d do it again around that stage, I was in no rush to have one earlier but I was keen not to be induced and didn’t want to get to +10 or 12 and have to start arguing about it so I hoped a sweep would kick things off.

@PeaceLoveAndDixie what kind of risks?

@annlee3817 thanks for sharing! I've never had a smear test so I think that's why I'm feeling more nervous about the thought of it but glad you were still able to do things afterwards!

@DrWhy I'm a little worried about having to be induced as well which is why I'm thinking about having the sweep. I've been having lots of false alarms (contractions, cramps, show) so I'm hoping it might just be enough to set me off before I get to the induction stage as well.

Thanks for sharing!

I had one at 41 weeks about 10am, contractions started at midnight. My DS was born 30hrs after contractions started.

Odd sensation but didn't hurt. Was perfectly fine to drive afterwards. Make sure you wear a sanitary/maternity pad as it can make some of the plug come away.

Other than that, lie back, think of something pleasant and remember to breath!

Good luck 😁

I was induced with my twins, I had 3 Sweeps, made no difference at all, complete waste of time and dignity! Didn't hurt though.

I had two 48 hours apart while in a prolonged latent phase, the second one finally got it going. My hospital didn't count it as an intervention. It wasn't that pleasant but didn't hurt at all for me.

I had one at 40 weeks that was quite painful and gave me strong contractions that night and quite a bit of blood but no baby. I drove home afterwards and the pains started about 4 hours after the sweep.

Just had my second one at 41 weeks today and it wasn't nearly as sore, jury is still out on that one!

I had a sweep done on my due date. The midwife struggled to do it properly as cervix was quite far back but she did do it slightly. Over the 4 days after I started with slight irregular pains in my back and started to lose bits of my plug. I eventually gave birth to my little girl at 40+6. I honestly think that the sweep helped bring on labour for me. Good luck Hun, fingers crossed it works for you too xxx

I had three - the first one was only mildly uncomfortable, just kept breathing deeply to stay relaxed. The other two were very uncomfortable. None of them worked, ended up with emcs.

I had one at 41+4 they had tried to do one earlier but my cervix was too high.

Didn't hurt at all and my waters broke that night.

With first baby it hurt like hell, I had to ask the midwife to stop. Gave birth eventually at 41+3.
Next time I had 2, the last one (41+1) did work as contractions started a few hours later and had the baby that night. I asked the midwife to be really gentle and suprisingly it did not hurt.

Good luck x

Never worked for me (2 pregnancies). Male doctor told me he'd brought me on a few centimetres. Experienced midwife said codswallop from a cocky young doctor

Mainly that if baby isn't ready to be born there is usually a reason. I realise this is anecdotal but a friend had a sweep and her baby wasn't in the right position (Midwife will check baby is head down first but palpation isn't always accurate and can't assess how flexed the head is) Labour started but baby got increasingly distressed and resulted in a traumatic instrumental delivery. Sweeps can also break your waters and if labour doesn't start you are on course for induction and the associated risks. A sweep shouldn't, but could, introduce infection too. I think people just agree to them to readily because they're fed up of being pregnant without really thinking it through. I wouldn't risk it at this final stage.

Yep. Went for a long walk after and woke up in (early) labour the next morning.

True - nobody ever asked me whether I wanted a sweep they just told me. I never questioned it before and thought I had to do it.

I had a sweep with dc3 (I was 40 + 12). I wasn't looking forward to it, as I'd heard horror stories about sweeps, but was getting fed up with being pregnant. Midwife got gloves out, and went in. Then stood up. I assumed she needed to do something else before the sweep began, because I hadn't felt anything. Turned out it was all over . She told me that I was 3cm dilated. I did some heavy gardening, visited the library, and went into labour that night.

I then had a sweep with dc4 (at 40 + 10). I was very relaxed. The sweep was very painful. I went into labour two days later.

I don't think either sweep made any difference.

I had a sweep at 41 weeks with my second. It was painful (I cried) and I actually felt a bit violated by it.
DH was with me and drove me home. I went into labour a few hours later so it did work for me.

I had a sweep with ds1 at 41+4. Afterwards I had a show and lost mucus over a few days but I was still induced at 42 weeks. I declined with ds2 and ds3- they offered it at just 40 weeks with ds3 which was mad to me!

Thanks for the replies everyone! A little nervous for today - lost my plug during the night and having lots of back pain/cramps so hoping it's not another false alarm and it all might start today!

Good luck @xoguineas !

I had a sweep with my last child and it did nothing. She arrived 2 weeks later. Wouldn't bother getting it done again tbh