Sweeps?!

[sammylouise56]

My midwife has said that if I’ve still not had my baby by my due date then she will book me in for a sweep. I’m a FTM (first time mum) and have no idea what to expect!! What’s the likelihood of it working? Let’s hear about everyone’s experiences of a sweep (be even better if it was your first child too!)

FTM. 4 unsuccessful sweeps!

I had a sweep at 38+4 because they were gonna induce at 39 weeks and they wanted to see if I would go into labour naturally. (it was my first) I had the sweep on the Thursday evening, contractions started Saturday morning at 4am, waters went at 7am and then was in labour for 32 hours ended up having the drip to induce contractions. So the sweep did get labour going and had nothing to do with it taking so long! Good luck and congratulations

You can find the Cochrane review on sweeps here: www.cochrane.org/CD000451/PREG_membrane-sweeping-for-induction-of-labour

Tldr; overall it does seem to bring on labour. Need to perform sweeps in 8 women to prevent 1 induction though, so manage your expectations.

i had a sweep at 40weeks, was a bit uncomfortable but nothing horrendous. During the sweep the midwife said i was already 1cm dilated so was in the very very very early stages. Nothing further happened until i was 40+6 when my waters broke at 4am with contractions starting about an hour later.

oh and that was my first pregnancy, currently 36wks pregnant with DC2 and if i go over will definitely follow any recommendation of a sweep.

You don't have to accept one, or any other intervention for that matter. Ask for the benefits, risks, alternatives, and whether you can wait a bit longer if you wish to do so.

There is a lot of debate about whether sweeps work to stimulate labour because they require your cervix to have started changing as it would for labour in order for the midwife to reach it, so arguably if it is already ripening you could be approaching labour anyway!

@WorldEndingFire agreed.

Op it sounds as though your midwife has made you feel like you're having one and that's that, but don't forget you do have a choice!

I decided to have one but had to cancel as I went into labour that day naturally so you really do never know what's going to happen! Good luck

I had 4 and was induced two weeks overdue

Had sweeps with DC 2&3 and both times went into labour within 12 hours!

I had 2 i think it was with my 2nd around 38/39 week.. went into labour naturally 1 day past due date. X

I have been booked in for a sweep when I am 40+3 (currently 38+6 and hoping baby will come before then).
My midwife told me that as a ftm, one sweep might not be enough and I may have to go back for another one if it doesn't work.

Feels a bit odd but nothing major. If you make a fist and put it under your lower back, that makes it easier and less uncomfortable x

I refused. No one was able to show me any evidence that they work and they are an invasive procedure that carries risk. Even the midwife website just gave figures of how likely you are to go into labour at time points after, but didn't give the same info on women who hadn't had a sweep. Of course you are likely to be starting to go into labour around your due date. I am interested that someone has posted a study result above though, so off to ready at now.

I had 2 at 38 weeks - first on the Monday, second on the weds and labour started on the Thursday. Definitely when combined with walking sped the process along for me. The first one was intensely uncomfortable but only for a second or two. Second not so bad. Take a sanitary pad with you as likely a little blood. Then plan to go for a nice long walk after to get the most out of it. Good luck.

Uch refuse! It's a midwife having a fanny rummage, wasn't worth while for me anyways. They try to find your cervix, can be uncomfortable and rough depending on your midwife.

They only work if you’re actually ready to go anyway.
I’m totally against intervention unless actually necessary.

I’m a FTM and had two sweeps, neither worked and I went into labour naturally at 41+5, the day before I was booked for induction! My first one was just a bit uncomfortable but the second one the midwife really ‘dug in’ and it was rather unpleasant so I think it just depends on who does them. You don’t have to have them but if you really want to avoid being induced with other methods than I would absolutely get them done. They are supposed to bring on labour naturally.

Make sure you fully read up on them and ask any questions you have before getting them done to make your final decision, you can stop at anytime.

I was never offered one. Went to 42 weeks and then got induced. In hindsight anything to avoid induction is probably worth trying

FTM here, my Obstetrician booked me in for induction at 37 weeks, I had 6 sweeps, all unsuccessful, inducement was also unsuccessful and they had to break my waters which also failed. The sweeps were mainly not painful, just uncomfortable.

@sammylouise56 I know that towards the end of pregnancy libido might be low, but try also having sex, as that is something that can help start labour.

Had a sweep while induced and I started to dilate. Don't know which was helping.

This time I will choose to have it as I'm not supposed to go over 40 weeks and don't want a c-section at all( unless in an emergency). Don't see any bad in trying natural methods to induce labour, especially this one is done by professionals. Inducing labour with medicine might be a long process, but obviously if necessary needs to be done.

Hope sweeps work for you and start labour on.

I had a sweep on my due date with my daughter (fourteen years ago) and went into labour the following day. It was quite painful (I'd recommend taking paracetamol before your appointment) but definitely worth it to avoid the pregnancy dragging on any longer. It feels similar to a smear test.