Strech and sweep experiences please!

[BlueeSpottyTiger]

I'm 40+4 with my second baby. I declined a sweep at 40+1... I wanted to try and hold out for natural labour but this Friday at 40+6 is the last time I'll see my midwife before i get given an induction date, so it's my last chance at a sweep.
I'll still have about 6 more days to go naturally after the sweep and thought it can't do any harm?
But.... I'm such a wuss! I'm so scared to have it, Loads of my friends have mixed experiences on it. I'm just looking for some more.
When i was induced with dd the mw pulled my cervix down before inserting the pessary. Although i found it uncomfortable it wasn't painful, Could it be similar??

I had 2sweeps and they were little uncomfortable but okay. Didn’t do anything for me. I went for an induction at 42 weeks and they still gave me a stretch and sweep whilst checking me over. I found the inserting of the pessary more worse, hated it. You don’t have to have it done. But honestly it’s fine :) all women are different.

Uncomfortable but no worse than a smear test in my experience (had one during both my pregnancies).

Relaxation breathing is key. In through the nose out through the mouth.. sounds corny but honest to god it got me through my sweep this morning. The more dramatic the breaths are the more they will relax you.

If you're tense it will hurt..but if you allow yourself to go with it, it should only be uncomfortable..don't forget you can ask them to stop if its too much and they will stop straight away then it's all over.

You do know you don't have to accept the induction date?

I had 5! 5th was brutal but did the trick. Not painful tho just a weird discomfort! Smear is much more painful IME

It was fine (and it worked!). Definitely no worse than a smear. Nothing to worry about!

Had mine at 40+5. Slightly uncomfortable but DS was born 4 hours later so it was worth it!

Thanks Everyone! I feel much more at ease hearing some more positive stories.
I don't expect it to be nice but aslong as it isn't painful I'll be happy.
I actually have no experience of the smear as I'm in England I only got the letter to book in when I was already pregnant and literally just turned 25... I think i got the letter a few days after my positive!
But like I said i had a mw pull my cervix down for the pessary last time and I didn't find that bad so hopefully I won't find this.

Thanks again 💖 xx