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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Sweep today - petrified!!! Does it hurt?? And does it work??

29 replies

Ghost88 · 14/02/2020 08:52

Hi all, I’m 40+5 today and as fed up as I am of being pregnant, the thought of having a sweep is enough to make me cry!!
I know that sounds ridiculous in comparison to labour!

Does it hurt??? Does it work?? How long after did anybody get any signs of labour?

OP posts:

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ExtraFirmHold · 14/02/2020 08:58

So I had a sweep at around 39 weeks .. honestly yes, it hurt so much. The doctor was great and just kept telling me to get through as much as I can, but yeah, ouch.
In my case it didn't bring on labour, just made my legs swell ridiculously, although I did start to have some "contractions/Braxton Hicks" and if my legs hadn't of swollen so much and I could of kept walking around I have a feeling it might have kick started labour.
Honestly you'll be fine, it's worth the pain even for the hope of bringing on labour.
Good luck

turnthebiglightoff · 14/02/2020 09:02

I found it very uncomfortable but not painful. Labour's painful. Focus on saving your energy for that - also you don't have to have a sweep. Good luck with everything!

lauryloo · 14/02/2020 09:02

Mine didn't hurt, it was really uncomfortable though. It did work as baby was born a few days later

Selfsettling3 · 14/02/2020 09:04

Yes it’s uncomfortable. There is absolutely no research to suggest it works. In many European countries it isn’t offered because there is no evidence that it doesn’t work and it comes with small but potentially serious risks.

SirVixofVixHall · 14/02/2020 09:09

I don’t think they “work” . Eg if your body is pretty much ready then a sweep might start things slightly earlier, possibly. If it isn’t the right time then it won’t do anything.
I had one and found it pretty traumatic- I hadn’t been told that was what she was going to do, and she was really rough. It was an assault, basically. It hurt a lot.
If I had agreed to a sweep then I would feel differently , although I was nowhere near ready for labour so it was pointless. Don’t be bullied into one OP, only have one if it is your choice.
In your place I would go and have some acupuncture instead !

Pilot12 · 14/02/2020 09:10

Mine was agony but I was already 2cm dilated and gave birth 48 hours later as predicted by the midwife that did the sweep. Good Luck 🤞🏻

Listeningtowind · 14/02/2020 09:19

First was very painful because the midwife was quite rough. Second one I told the midwife I was nervous and she told me to stack my fists under my bum. It was so much better. Had 2 more since then, neither painful but both uncomfortable

Listeningtowind · 14/02/2020 09:21

Oh and after one I went from latent labour which had been agonisingly long to stage 1 and after another (different baby) I had been induced but nothing was working and contractions started with the sweep

Panda368 · 14/02/2020 09:21

Mine didn't hurt much - more a bit uncomfortable like having a smear.

It takes 2 mins - they also check your dilation/effacement at the same time.

I was 40+1, 1cm dilated and 50% effaced on the Thursday it was done. Had some minor cramping but not much happened - went in to labour properly on the Saturday morning - had another sweep Saturday night, he was born at 11 Sunday night.

I'm pretty sure neither of them did much to get things moving but I think I've got a stubborn insensitive cervix

Not sure if it moved things on or if that would have happened anyway.

Sux2buthen · 14/02/2020 09:26

I've had six in total.
No, they didn't work and yes they aren't comfortable but they aren't as bad as giving birth

sarahg216 · 14/02/2020 09:43

Mm- don’t know if it worked for me or not to be honest.
I had early induction and labour wasn’t starting. I didn’t want one as had read something that suggested they don’t really work and can cause pain that doesn’t lead to labour.
Doc tried to give me one without telling me when examining me. I asked her to stop as was painful. She said “I was giving you a sneaky sweep”
That really annoyed me, I think they should tell us what they are doing when they are up there!
Anyway I was in a lot of pain rest of the day, could have been contractions or my cervix could have just been irritated
But then by evening I had dilated enough to break my waters... so it might have worked, or it might have been something that was happening naturally anyway as a result of the pessary.
Some people find them helpful...I think people say they are more successful if you are at/over due date..but then labour might just start on its own anyway.

GagaBinks · 14/02/2020 09:44

I had one on Wednesday and it was absolutely fine. It felt like a more intense smear test and if you've had those and survived, you'll be fine. It's over in seconds. I had my hands under my bum too and that helped I think.

Mine has done bugger all so far but I'm only on my due date today so doubted that it would (was offered it because they think he's big)

Good luck!

chooseausername · 14/02/2020 09:44

I had three with my DD. None of them were uncomfortable or hurt in the slightest. It was over really quickly too.

NaomiSophia · 14/02/2020 10:00

I had one last Friday and it was uncomfortable but not painful just felt like a period pain coming on! Did not work and currently in the office waiting for my second I’m 39+6

Nowayorhighway · 14/02/2020 10:41

Mine didn’t hurt but it was uncomfortable and yes, it always worked for me. I went into labour the next day with all three of them.

puds11 · 14/02/2020 10:45

Uncomfortable more than painful. I had 2, nothing happened. I was gutted.

fairydustandpixies · 14/02/2020 11:08

I had one and didn't feel a thing. Labour became established shortly after.

PlanDeRaccordement · 14/02/2020 11:12

I refused the sweep.
It can bring on Labour a few hours earlier than it would happen anyway
But it also carries a small risk of transmitting bacteria up the vagina and to the cervix and uterus, causing uterine infections.
Plus as a survivor of sex assault, I refused all checks that involved someone sticking their hand in my vagina. So even the dilation checks during labour, I skipped. They are not necessary.

You don’t have to have one.

Zebramumma · 14/02/2020 11:36

DC1 has a sweep & went into labour 12 hours later, so not sure if it was that or just coincidence.

DC2 had a sweep & was already 2cm dilated. Gave birth 3 hours later!

Bookworm83 · 14/02/2020 12:26

I'm only 33+4 but having done some research I won't be agreeing to a sweep. There's no evidence that they work, and especially not if you're scared of it and/or it's painful. You want to be relaxed and feel safe in order to open up...

notasillysausage · 14/02/2020 13:41

Last time I had a sweep I was 40+12 with no signs of labour. My daughter arrived 4 hours later, contractions started 15 minutes after the sweep. I have had previous unsuccessful sweeps though.

In terms of pain, it’s uncomfortable but I wouldn’t describe it as really painful. Also, if it starts hurting you could ask the midwife to stop at any time if you changed your mind part way through.

SquigglyOne · 14/02/2020 13:58

I had 3 sweeps - none of them worked - was induced at 41+5. I just had to have waters broken (no pessary or drip) - don’t know if the sweeps had anything to do with that!

The sweeps were uncomfortable but not unbearable. Bit like I really rough smear test 🙈

BoomyBooms · 14/02/2020 13:59

I tried to have one yesterday and it hurt too much before she got anywhere near my cervix! I had to ask her to stop. It probably didn't help that just before she did it she reminded me how uncomfortable it was and told me the success rate was about 15%. I very quickly decided it wasn't going to be worth it. Felt a bit like I'd let myself down afterwards though, I'm just so ready for baby to be here and I really wanted it to help.

Original poster

Ghost88 · 14/02/2020 14:39

Just came out of midwife - she couldn’t actually reach my cervix so went through all of that for nothing 😟
I’m booked in to be induced next Friday.. has anyone had a sweep where they couldn’t reach cervix but still gone into labour naturally??

I’m dreading the thought of being induced x

OP posts:

NameChange30 · 14/02/2020 14:42

Does it hurt? Yes it did for me, at the time and afterwards - it was very sore and I regretted it
Did it work? No it didn't for me

I had acupuncture and sex (not at the same time ) the acupuncture was relaxing and I don't know if it did anything because nothing happened immediately, but after I had sex I went into labour within hours.

So I always advise sex when you're past your due date. Much more fun than a sweep!

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