Sweep or no sweep? Stories please

[Mabe1991]

Hi Ladies,

Have any of you had a sweep on here or been offered one? My midwife has booked me in for one this week at 40+1 and hearing they can be unsuccessful. She said if not I can be put in for an induction but worried they will make me wait until 42 weeks for this.

Reason I am panicking is because my partner has just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and hes treatment is due to start 2 weeks after babys due date which they have already told him hes going to feel very very rubbish on the infusions and steroids. Really dont want him feeling so bad the first few weeks of having hes first child. AHHH!!!

Trying everything I can but she seems very tucked away in there! Xx

If you don’t find vaginal exams distressing I’d recommend you go for one.
I had 3 and found them all fine. They only work if your body is ready to go into labour, so for that reason you might find it pointless. But I found it did kickstart my labour. I hope all goes well with the birth and your partners treatment.

@BeMorePacific yes I think I will have it! Ah really how far gone was you when you had yours please? I am worried as she keeps engaging then going transverse again so depends what position she is in on the day I spose

That’s the slight downside.. I was 40+9, so I guess it was probably going to happen! I just liked the idea of trying anything.
Oh I hope baby gets into a good position. Waters breaking can encourage them head down 🤞🏼X

I had one in all 3 of my pregnancies - with #2 & #3 I was in active labour about 12 hrs later but I was also 41+2 so maybe just ready to pop anyway. They are not particularly fun - the midwife last time appeared to have her whole arm up there - but if you’re desperate it might be worth a try.

My labour was more long than anything else. 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).
If I’m honest I was more physically exhausted after 4 days and nights of contractions. I think if I hadn’t been so tired I would have dealt with it better.
For pain relief I had my tens machine as long as possible, it really helped me. I started using it at home after my sweep, then took it off to go to hospital. I put it back on when I was settled in the birth centre. I also used the birth ball to try to get my waters to break which helped with pain. The birth pool was amazing, I loved being in there and would have stayed in longer and even given birth in there. But the midwife could see I was struggling and needed to rest before I had to deliver. So I had a pethadine injection so I could rest. It really helped.
I tried a bit of gas and air but it gave me a bad headache and made me feel sick so I didn’t want it. And I knew I didn’t want an epidural. I wanted as natural a birth as possible, minimal drugs.
I did tear from involuntary pushing and had stitches after. It wasn’t that bad though.
As I say for me personally it was more how long it went on than the pain. Good luck.