Sweep experience

[Markygirl1995]

I’m sure there’s been plenty of these post floating around somewhere. Was intrigued to know what your experience was like. Did it work or did it fail? Was it painful? Bearable or ok? I’m not scared I’m expecting the worst just wanted to know what stories there were out there :)

The midwife did a sweep on my due date with DD. She didn't tell me she was going to do one, she was examining me and then just started doing it and told me "I'm doing a sweep now" while it was in progress. She then told me she was touching my baby's head. I found it very painful but apparently most women don't so I wonder if it was just her technique. I had the sweep in the morning and went into slow labour that evening but didn't give birth for another three days.

Well, I've Just called them to book and they said they’ll examine me to see what they can do but usually don’t offer the sweep at 40+5 days 🤔🤔 they like to offer on 40+7 don’t see how 2 days would make such a difference personally. Hope they do actually do the sweep because otherwise I’m being induced next Monday xx

Honestly... I found it barbaric - it didn't work, it was painful, it felt unnatural and I think it started anxiety when I'd previously had none regarding giving birth. Never again!!

I found it barbaric too. I wasn't expecting anything worse than a smear but bloody hell! I was a bit shook up afterwards. That said, some people don't feel much at all

I had one with all three of my DC and they were born within 48 hours (max but the last two were within 24 hours). I didn’t find it overly painful at all. It’s very uncomfortable of course but I wouldn’t say painful.

I had several, one was done by a male consultant with student watching (I didn't know what to expect, and it wasn't pleasant). Then had a couple of others after that which did nothing but give me stomach cramps. TBH I found them degrading and would never consent to having another.

I had 2 with dc2 done by my midwife, and one in hospital while I was waiting for space on the labour ward to get my waters broken. I went 12 days overdue so it didn't work! I did have a bit of a show each time but it never came to anything. I didn't find it painful at all but it's a bit weird feeling. I have a really tilted cervix so ended up having to sort of prop myself up on my fists so the midwife could even reach my cervix.

As I said, I ended up being induced at 40+12 anyway so they didn't do anything!

I had two with my son. One at 40+2 the other at 41+1. Neither worked and I was induced at 41+6. Wasn't painful. Maybe a bit uncomfortable. It's worth a shot. Worked for a friend of mine

I had a stretch and sweep at 40+4 with my first. I was completely "closed and long" so midwife wasn't actually able to do the sweep - she just stretched! Yes it was uncomfortable but wasn't as bad as I was expecting (that may have been because she couldn't do the whole sweep). She booked in another sweep and my induction for the following week as I showed absolutely no signs of immediate labour.
My DS was born 23 hours after the stretch!!
My midwife was extremely shocked as I was I!