Honestly is a sweep painful?

[42daystogo]

38 weeks and midwife booked me in for my 40 weeks appointment. She said at 40 weeks they offer a sweep, no pressure either way, said most women go into labour with 48 hours if they get it, others prefer nature to take its course. DS1 was nearly 3 weeks early so no issues last time, i told her her i'd been feeling crampy and she said i might go naturally over the nexg two weeks anyway.

What have been your experiences? I remember with DS1 they examined me when i arrived at the hospital in labour and i was 7cm dilated and if was painful but not sure if thats something to compare it to

Uncomfortable more than painful. I found having a coil fitted and removed worse.

My understanding is it will only work if you're close to labour anyway as the cervix needs to be in the right position. If it's too high/closed then a sweep won't be attempted.

Fwiw nipple stimulation did it for me with #1.

I had two sweeps with my first baby and completely fine! With my second I had a sweep and honestly I wanted to scream as it was very painful and I vowed never to have one again! Maybe just depends on how nice the midwife is hahaha

Hideously painful, I was in tears during mine. The worst part of labour imo.

My waters had broken though but contractions slowed and the midwife was trying to speed things up so she may have been more forceful I suppose.

It was bloody horrible and I have birthed two babies vaginally with no pain relief.

I'd do that another 10 times than have someone violate me in the way a sweep did.

It was completely ineffectual both times.

I swear the way medical professionals treat pregnant women is barbaric.

Invasive & tbh uncomfortable but over in seconds!
Just think to yourself at the end you will have a beautiful baby soon and that will get you through...and what I found helpful is counting when they do it!

Good luck

My understanding is it will only work if you're close to labour anyway as the cervix needs to be in the right position. If it's too high/closed then a sweep won't be attempted.

Yes the midwife said it works better when the cervix is soft and 'ripe'.
*
Fwiw nipple stimulation did it for me with #1.*

Honestly i think i might give this a go, also DH is really funny about doing the deed in the third trimester but i might have to try that too

Seems like a big range of uncomfortable to really painful. I do remember the most painful parts of child birth were the examination beforehand and them checking everything was out afterwards so im thinking i might find it painful.

Awful. Intrusive and I felt quite traumatised afterwards. I won't have one in my next pregnancy

Trying to be objective - overall it's not particularly pleasant, but wouldn't say it's the worst. I'd do it again if nothing was starting at the 40 week mark.

I had two:

The first was incredibly painful. The midwife was quite "aggressive" and I felt a little violated

The second was much better. The midwife was much "gentler" but still applied quite a bit of pressure (iyswim)

Go with your feeling on the day. If you're too tense then I feel it will be less pleasant.

In my experience (both having sweeps myself and giving them) it varies massively depending on individual pain tolerance, whether cervix is already changing (if posteri or/high and not dilated can be more sore); also experience level and skill of the person doing it! It’s not something you have to have - it just slightly increases the chance that you will labour spontaneously (the studies show for every 6-8 women having sweeps, one post dates induction is prevented). I definitely wouldn’t say that “most” women labour within 48 hrs of a sweep but it can sometimes just be the little thing that pushes your body into action.
A good midwife/doctor doing a sweep should talk you through what they’re doing, give you plenty of opportunity to say stop, and also as PP said I think counting really helps! And they should be watching your face and stopping if you’re looking too sore.

Also if you don’t want a sweep but would like to know whether your cervix is changing at all, you’re perfectly within your rights to ask for a check and no sweep - that shouldn’t be particularly uncomfortable really.

First pregnancy i had a pregnancy massage and reflexology on my feet and i lost my muscus plug that night and labour a couple of days after but ive had two massages now and nothing! Ive another on Saturday so hopefully it does something!

@TenThousandSpoons0

Can I check there's definitely no equipment/instruments used? Its just the midwifes hand? Im tempted to let nature take its course or try some other things before my 40 weeks appointment in the hope they bring labour on

I had many sweeps by the time my LO came at 40+9.. they weren't bad. I would of done anything to get things moving 😂

No mine wasn't painful, very much like a smear but then my body was already 1cm dilated and the baby was very low so maybe my cervix was more accepting of a sweep as it had already started to thin . Xx

I felt like I was in a scene from Countryfile as is felt like a whole gloved arm had been shoved up there!
Honestly it was quite painful but not enough to fret over when you are about to go through birth. It also worked and got things moving so It was worth it.

I had one when I was overdue in first pregnancy and found it very, very painful. I vowed never to do it again but ended up having caesareans from then onwards anyway!

Judging by this thread it seems to vary massively by the individual.

OP I have had several and no1 they are painful, no2 if they worked my kids wouldn't have been born at nearly 42 weeks!! I am refusing sweeps for this pregnancy.

That said, the midwife will put her hand in your vagina to check your cervix so if that is uncomfortable/painful for you than you can say no to sweep, because it will be worse! You can always try it once. Why not, I suppose.... it does carry risks, as does everything.

Congratulations on your eminent baby

Definitely no instruments - it’s confusing me that people are comparing it to a smear! Just gloved fingers with plenty of lube. No head torches either, not sure what happened to a PP that talked about that!

There’s zero evidence they actually work.

Uncomfortable but not painful for me. Went into labour a few hours afterwards!

I had one in June, I honestly didn't feel anything. Think it was about the same as a smear test. Probably not as bad to be honest.

Ive had 5 children. A sweep is uncomfortable if done properly and a bit sore. But nothing in comparison to the pain of childbirth!! Do not worry about this.

@PlanDeRaccordement not true - but would agree that there’s pretty motors evidence whether they work if started before 40 weeks

*limited evidence that should say!

@MyEnormousTurnip

Hideously painful, I was in tears during mine. The worst part of labour imo.

My waters had broken though but contractions slowed and the midwife was trying to speed things up so she may have been more forceful I suppose.

What a wimp! Worst part of labour.....LOL