To sweep or not to sweep?

[TurquoiseWeekend]

Just had my 38 week midwife appointment and she said that at the next one (if I haven't already given birth obviously) she'll offer me a sweep. She said it's completely my choice whether to have it or not, so I'm interested to know how they were for other people?
Should I bother? I don't know whether people that have had them and then go into labour, would've just gone into labour anyway, and it's all a coincidence? Is it worth the discomfort?

I had one today! I'm a FTM and 40+1. My midwife offered but was a bit wary of doing it. She also said that it might not work but I was getting a bit agitated at that point as i've been suffering with pre-labour symptoms since 36.5 weeks.

Not going to deny it was unpleasant there was my midwife, student midwife and husband in the room so wasn't the most dignified experience. It hurt but not as much as I thought it would.

Turns out I was 1cm dilated and have been having intermittent pain since but who knows whether it will work or not. I'm just seeing how the next week unfolds as I'll be having another one at 41+1 if it doesn't work.

I had one - didn’t work but also didn’t hurt. A bit like a smear I suppose but took a bit longer.

I declined all sweeps. My understanding is that they only work if your body is ready and already in really early labour. I could just feel that the baby was no where near ready and also I wanted as little intervention as possible for my labour process in general so it felt like the right decision for me.

I had one yesterday at 40 weeks. I decided for it as if baby doesnt come in another 5 days I will need to be induced anyone due to other issues, so this was my only real 'natural' chance to get things going on their own.

Turns out cervix is soft, but only 1cm dilated and she couldn't feel baby's head, so it's unlikely that baby will come before being evicted (nice to know in a way rather than constant wondering). It didn't hurt, was just uncomfortable, although midwife did say that I had a very high pain threshold so don't necessarily go on that!

Go for it worked for all mine x

I had one at 40+5. It didn't hurt and I felt no discomfort at all.

I declined all until 41+6 and had one as a last ditch pre induction attempt. I was already 2/3cm and I did go into labour that night.

I’d still decline sweeps until the absolute last minute as they are unnecessary interference.

Baby will come when they are ready.

I was offered (and accepted) one at 39 weeks too. I had it on the Wednesday and went into labour on the Friday morning at about 1AM. No idea if it was a coincidence or if the sweep actually kick started things.

It is quite unpleasant, but once it’s completed the discomfort stopped straight away.

With DC1, they tried to give me a sweep on 2 separate occasions and both times they were unsuccessful. It did hurt quite a bit. I had reflexology and aromatherapy at the same time as the second attempt and I did go into labour the following day. DC2 is due next week and I will be declining a sweep, after my last experience (quite traumatic, episiotomy, forceps etc) i don't anyone interfering with me, baby will come when it's ready!

I had 2 with DD. Had tried everything else so thought why not try this too.

Had one with DD at 41 weeks. Really hurt and did bugger all. Took another 4 days to go into labour naturally. Am currently pregnant with DC2 and will be declining all offers of sweeps this time.

I had a sweep at 40+4. It was a little uncomfortable, and I had period cramp like pains all day but it definitely kick-started labour for me.

I had one at 40+1 which did nothing and a second at bang on 41 weeks, which resulted in a baby 24hrs later!

I was booked in for an induction at 41+6 which I really wanted to avoid, so opted for the sweeps as a low-intervention way of getting things going.

Really glad I did, as I ended up with a great pool birth, which I doubt would have been the case with induction - but I guess I'll never know whether DD would have turned up by herself without them!