Sweep stories

[Lovelostnfoundx]

Tomorrow I will be due my first sweep (FTM) and was wondering about the experiences of others. I have some specific questions but would welcome any general experiences!

How long is the actual procedure?
Did it work for you and if so how long did it take for labour to begin?
If you had bleeding, how long before it started? Should I wear a pad straight away?
If it works, does it make initial contractions more painful? (A friend had a successful sweep and she said it was intense about an hour later!)
Is it really that uncomfortable/painful?

Many thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this. I’m a bit nervous!

I know this isn't the answer you were looking for but I went into spontaneous labour on the day my sweep was booked for! Had to cancel it right at the last minute! You never know, the same could happen for you

I had a sweep but it didn't work and I had to be induced. It's uncomfortable but there was no blood. However my dil had a sweep with each of her pregnancies and went into labour few hours later . Good luck , you will be fine 😀

I had a sweep with my fourth baby. The sweep itself took 5 minutes, and was only mildly uncomfortable, certainly not painful or anything. I didn't have any bleeding and I didn't have to wear a pad. I went into labour that night, baby was born less than 24 hours after the sweep!

@firstimemamma I would LOVE that to happen! I don’t know why it makes me so squeamish.

@pumpkinpie01 I better get prepared just in case! Very strange to think that if it does work this is it!

@HelmutShmacker That makes me feel much better. I was expecting it to take longer!

I had two sweeps, I personally found them painful but I don't have a full cervix so that might of made a difference? It's over quick though so it's almost like once you realise it's getting painful it's pretty much over so I wouldn't necessarily worry about it.

Neither of them worked for me, I was already 2cm but didn't stimulate me to go into actual labour but I do know people it has worked for so I think you'll never know unless you try it!

I wore a pad straight away, there was a bit of bleeding but it wasn't bad or anything

I had a sweep with my first around 10am, it wasn't painful but a bit uncomfortable, it took prob 1min, which seemed a very long minute, i didn't need to wear a pad. My waters broke that night, around midnight, got contractions from 2am, baby was born next day. Good luck.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. Fingers crossed that it will be successful!

Let us know how you get on!

I had one with my third as I was approaching 2 weeks overdue. Started having some contractions in the car on the way home. Slowly increased and I had her the morning after.
It was uncomfortable (not painful) but quick and well worth it to avoid being induced!
Good luck!

I had one yesterday (38 weeks, 2nd baby, prev c/s at 1cm dilated) and so far nothing to report! A tiny bit of brown discharge, occasional cramps but nothing exciting. I am 2cm dilated though so at least I'm already further on than I got last time! Let us know how yours goes!

I had a sweep and by the time I'd got home I had browny/red discharge and cramps and the brown/red discharge kinda remained on and off until the next day when I went into labour so personally I would pop a pad in after the sweep if your not going straight home, mins worked but apparently my cervix was already 1 cm dilated so I think they can defo work but probably only if your bodies already ready xx

I had a sweep when I was already in labour to try to speed things up a bit. It was mildly uncomfortable and took only a couple of minutes. I had no bleeding.

Hi sorry for a stupid question, but is it your midwife that does the sweep, i. e. the midwife that you've been seeing throughout the pregnancy? Just wanting to get prepared. Thank you