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

[Ghost88]

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?

As a PP pointed out, you don't have to have any intervention if you don't want them.

Of course, refusing may have implications, but it is your body and you are in control of what happens. Maybe thinking like that will help you feel more in control and relaxed?

I was due on the Sunday 30th august 2015, I was booked in for a sweep originally on the Wednesday, but I started having contractions on the Tuesday so I decided to see if things would progress naturally. They didn't so I ended up having a sweep at 3pm on the Friday (40+5).
I got to the hospital at 9 that evening, was in the birth centre by 10.30, had my waters broken around 2am, then gave birth at 6.58am the Saturday morning (40+6).
It didn't hurt or feel uncomfortable at all and it did help move things along (the head wasn't fully engaged so things wouldn't have progressed on their own).

Didn't hurt
Didn't work.

Poor you OP. My cervix was out of reach with dd2, so they couldn’t do a sweep, but I would have refused one anyway.
If they are offering induction then ask about an elective c-section, or at what point they would change tack and give you a c-section. Induction has a fairly high chance of ending with a Caesarean, so be prepared.
Hopefully you will go into labour naturally before then.