Membrane sweep... thought?

[newmummyjan19]

I'm exactly 40 weeks pregnant today 23/01/19 and yesterday my midwife spoke to me about having a sweep done.

I've read up about it online and was wondering what everyone's thoughts and experiences where and if it worked for you or not?

First one was done by a midwife just after my due date - didn’t work.
Second one done by a doctor on the maternity unit when I went in to be induced. Sent for a walk afterwards and told to come back in an hour or so. Things happened fairly quickly after that. Not the most comfortable procedure but it didn’t take long.

I had one at 41 weeks at 2pm. Contractions started at 7.30pm that evening. It wasn't painful or that uncomfortable.

They tried a sweep at 40 weeks but conditions weren't right as it were!

Sorry op for jumping your post but I was always curious about sweeps. My sister had one and she described it as very painful and even physical examination during Labour was excruciating for her.

It might be a silly/rude question but I was wondering how far do they have to insert their finger(midwife/doctor) into the vagina to reach the cervix and how many fingers? Also do they use lube and gloves.

My sister described it as "shoved their hand so far up" and they were rude and intrusive.
Ps she lives outside the UK l.

UK. Not UK I.

I'm due to have one at my next midwife appointment (41 weeks) if the baby has not arrived before then. The midwife says there is a low success rate on bringing on labour if you are not close to ready, so it works 30%-50% of the time (according to midwife).

I found that this website has been quite helpful:
evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-membrane-sweeping/

@farfromhome24

These are questions I was kind of wondering aswell

I had one and it worked! Had it at midday, contractions started at 10pm. It didn't hurt, just felt a bit uncomfortable. No worse than a smear test.

They definitely use gloves by the way! Not sure how many fingers!

I had one on Monday ladies at 40+4. It really was fine, a bit uncomfortable but found it easier than a smear as there was none of the "scraping" 🙈.

MW wore gloves & used KY jelly & just put her fingers in as far as they could go but tbh her fingers were about 3-4 inches so couldn't be that far!! 🙈 Probably last about 20 seconds at the most.

Unfortunately no signs of actual labour yet although I did lose my mucous plug today & have definitely been getting more BH contractions since. MW was also able to tell me I was 1cm dilated. I actually felt better after it as was feeling like my body was making zero progress but even just knowing I was 1cm felt reassuring.

She still booked me in for an induction on Tuesday so hopefully baby decides to make an appearance before then!

Good luck xx

Hello

Midwife here. Just wanted to answer your question about how a sweep is performed. It's a vaginal examination, so you'd adopt the same position as you would if you were having a smear test and sterile gloves should be used. 2 fingers are inserted into the vagina and the midwife will then find your cervix. Sometimes, the cervix can be too posterior (too far back and high up) to even be reached and in this case, a sweep wouldn't be possible. Sometimes the cervix can be reached but it might be tightly closed meaning the midwife cannot reach inside to perform the sweep.

If however, the cervix is forward enough, and open enough, the midwife will insert a finger inside and run her finger between your cervix and your baby's head to separate the two. This is thought to stimulate prostaglandin release which can trigger labour. It tends to work within 48 hours for roughly 50% of women. Though it could just be that those women were likely to labour anyway.

From a personal perspective, I had 2 (at 40+0 and 40+3) and they did bugger all! I went into labour spontaneously at 40+6.

IME and IMO they only work if you’re about to go into labour soon anyway.

I wouldnt bother in your shoes.

Oh, I should add that gel is used and it goes without saying that if at any point you want to stop, just say so and the midwife will stop the procedure. Every woman is different in terms of how uncomfortable it can be, some are totally fine while others find it quite painful.

Had 2 which did nothing... they're not unpleasant (you'll hear some horror stories from women on here!) but yeah, success rates are 50%

I hardly felt mine but I think my cervix is pretty low. Didn't work either.

@Babbaganoush

What would happen if I didn't get the sweep? And how soon would I be booked into the hospital to be induced?

@newyork2017

Aw that's great. Please update us if the sweep worked?

Also I also find it funny how some of us women fear a midwifes finger when really something Bigger than that's been there hence why we are here & pregnant 😂😂

My midwife mentioned booking me for one at my 38 wk appointment for my 40 wk appointment , I refused it's on my due date and I don't see the need if baby is fine.

She's put it in my notes as information given will decide next appointment...... The answer will still be the same!
IMO babies come when they are ready unless there is a risk to mother or baby just leave them to it!

@twiglet

my midwife didn't mention a sweep until 40 week appointment & offered me one for my 41 week appointment,
She didn't give me much information infact basically no information. She's not really been that helpful through the pregnancy but after reading what I have read I would be happy without it. As long as my baby is healthy & will be fine to stay a little longer. As much as I'm dying to meet baby I don't want to do anything unnecessary to evict baby

Midwife tried to insist I had one on my due date for no good reason she could give.
Neither baby nor I were big. Not overdue, no problems. Seemed like unnecessary interference.
I felt bullied so I refused. Had four days bumbling around at home before natural labour, baby arrived 40+6. All very calm.

Unless your midwife can give a valid medical reason, go with your instincts.

Congratulations

@newmummyjan19 I was given a leaflet on induction which included info on a sweep.

My trust seems a bit obsessed with booking them as a matter of fact or course regardless at 40 wks. No idea why!

There are other things you can try, if you Google natural induction then it comes up with a few alternatives which are less invasive and can still stimulate labour.

With recently born DD3, I had one on due date at 3pm. Baby was born at 11:26pm.

With DD2, had a sweep at 12pm-ish, 40+5 and she was born at 11:30pm.

Some people, like me, think they are great and work but others don’t have success with them. Same as the level of pain and uncomfortable-ness, some women hated the experience and others didn’t.

It can only be your decision. Go with your gut, if she offers again and good luck for your impending labour!

Hi again @newmummyjan19

So firstly, to reassure you, the ‘normal’ length of a pregnancy is considered to be anywhere between 37-42 weeks. So actually, women aren’t considered to be post-term until the pregnancy reaches 42 weeks.

If you declined a sweep then you would just continue with your pregnancy. How many weeks are you now… 40+4? You would usually have another appointment with your midwife at 41 weeks for a routine antenatal check. A sweep would be offered at the appointment too.

Depending on your hospital, a discussion about induction in the event of post-term pregnancy may happen at your 40 week appointment or at 41 weeks. The midwife should talk you through the options available to you should your pregnancy continue beyond 42 weeks. If you decided you wanted to be induced, an appointment should be made for you by your community midwife to attend the hospital anywhere between 40+10 and 42+1 (depending on the hospital policy) for your labour to be induced. If you decided you didn’t want to be induced, then the NICE guidelines state that you should be offered increased monitoring with at least twice weekly CTG (monitoring of baby’s heartrate) and an ultrasound scan to check placenta function and amniotic fluid levels. You’d also usually be offered an appointment with a doctor to discuss the plan if you declined induction.

However, the emphasis here is on the word ‘offered’. You can decline sweeps, you can decline induction, and you can decline extra monitoring. You can also decline and then change your mind at any point.

It sounds like you are in a really positive frame of mind, so hang onto that. Trust your body and your instincts. When I got to your stage I honestly thought I would be pregnant forever…but I promise you won’t be! Good luck with everything.

I personally did not want one at my 40 week appointment the midwife was rather disgusted 😂 But by time I seen my community midwife 5 days later I was well ready for it but her hands were so small she didn't do much. Labour began 24hrs later so I must've been near ready any way.

I listened to my body and did not get the sweep as I feel like my baby deserves just a little more time to book but I am now booked into the hospital to be induced 🤭

Good you went with how you felt @newmummyjan19 I was booked for induction but luckily went 2 days before it. Hope the same for you. Good luck