Membrane sweeps just a few questions

[missyhols]

What exactly is it the midwife does and how far up is cervix? I had one with dd1 and remember it being uncomfy. Can you not do it yourself? Lol? Or get hubby to! Not that i'm desperate! Lol

cervix is the neck of your womb/uterus

sweep means they give it a good hard jabbing with their finger

you may be better off with a shag!

Lol. Does having a sweep work if cervix is closed? I've read a couple of people not having much luck?

i had 3 sweeps, none of them was uncomfortable
Last one was at 2pm on a sunday afternoon, DS born bank holiday monday, 8.24am !!!
Think i would have gone into labour anyway but the sweep may have hurried things along a little bit!

they work If you would have gone into labour yourself within 24 - 48 hours

you can do it yourself

sex also ripens the cervix

the MW sweeps around the neck of the womb with her fingertip, to irritate the cervix, and to get certain hormones to release, that can encourage contractions and for the cervix to ripen. it also strips the membranes away from the inside of the neck of the wombs.

Oh i see. Thanks lulumama. How can you tell if cervix is closed and not ready? I remember with my last being told that is was soft etc.

Bump

i also had 3 sweeps with my last son and was told they would work, if something was already on the horizon, so they do really just hurry things along rather than actually start things... beware though as 'fiddling' with that area even in water or with gloves can cause infections which you really would want baby to contract!

apparently your cervix usually feels as hard as the end of your nose when its not ready, but it goes as soft as your philtrum (the soft bit between nose and lip) when things are starting to get ready...

hope this helps and hope baby comes along on cue!

Thanks kerioke i managed to get hold of lulumama on another thread and she's said the same thing about nose etc.