Sweep at 39 weeks - anyone with experience?

[Jcmummy32]

Hey ladies.

I’ve been quite a worried first time pregnant woman and have been offered a sweep tomorrow at 39 weeks to speed things along.

Has anyone had any experiences with having one at this stage? Did it work or have any effect?

I had one at 39 weeks in fact I had a couple and unfortunately none of them worked for me and DS arrived at 42 weeks after being induced🙄 But obviously everyone’s different and I hope it works for you!

This may scare you, that's not my intention, I wish people had been honest with me when I was preg rather than 'oh its all worth it' and 'you'll forget when you have baby in your arms' please don't read if you don't want me to be brutally honest.

I absolutely would not have a sweep if I had my time again.

The sweep itself was incredibly painful. I felt like I was being assaulted. It was really really bad. (I'm not trying to scare you, I just want to be clear, it's not 'uncomfortable' or 'unpleasant' it really bloody hurt!)
I did go into labour within 24 hrs. However. The labour was back to back. DD was in distress. Ended up prepped for a emergency c section but they got her out with forceps at the last possible moment. I was warned she would not cry when she was born - I was so out of it by then that I didn't fully realise that meant she wasn't breathing until I got a copy of my notes in the post. Labour was so traumatic I've not been able to bring myself to have a much wanted second child.
This is relevant to the sweep because I wonder if I'd just let DD take her time to get ready rather than trying to hurry her along if she would have turned to the proper position and everything been much easier for both of us. I've also read since that any intervention, including a sweep, increases the chance of further interventions.

DD then developed further complications from the stress she had been under that landed us back in hospital a few days later.

Personal experience: sweeps don't work. I have 3 kids and every time I get convinced to do them......... stupid me if they worked my kids wouldn't have been born at almost 42 weeks.

Doctors and nurses are going to convince you too to have it. Sorry. Do not do it before 40/41 weeks! What's the point?!

Yes it freaking hurts. Especially when it's done "properly "

Mine didn’t work. They ended up doing several which led to my cervix becoming agitated (I think that was the word used!?). This apparently contributed to a long and painful and pretty ineffectual latent labour stage. I wish I’d just left things to take their course naturally.

Just for info, I had my baby at 40 weeks 6 days. I had my second baby at 41 weeks and 6 days (no intervention with my second). Both vaginal births and healthy babies.

Had four sweeps. The last one 'worked' because it broke my waters and I'd already been in slow labour for three days at that point.

Sweeps started at 39+1. Baby born 40+5.

They come when they're ready.

I had one at 39 weeks. It was an odd feeling but wouldn't say it was painful. I was already 2cm dilated anyway. It didn't work but did cause bleeding, lots of cramping and mucous plug to come away.

I don't regret having it. Good luck!

DC1 I had a sweep at 40 weeks and it did nothing

DC2 had one at 39 weeks, nothing.
Then at 41 weeks and she was born the next day.

I personally didn't find it that painful or unpleasant.

Good luck!!

I had a sweep and it was fine. TBH my DH could probably have done it! You can always go for a sweep and then if during it you change your mind ask them to stop. It really isn’t anything more than popping some fingers inside and wriggling them around a bit. You will get lots of stories for and against and lots of advice as a first time mum. Lots of scary birth stories and lots of “I just sneezed and it popped out”. Try not to worry and try to enjoy the journey

I had a sweep at 40 weeks. I hadn't even heard of one and wasn't told I was having one. They were booking me to be induced the next week. I just remember the doctor sticking his hand up up there and oh the pain! I dug my heels in and nearly launched myself up and over the back of the table. He gave a knowing wink to the midwife and said I don't think she'll be being induced. Then then left and pulled the curtain around and I just cried. It wasn't until about 20 years later I heard of a sweep and realised that was what he had done, without any discussion.

I went into a very very long and slow labour 2 days later. With the benefit of hindsight and experience, I think I would have just left nature to take it's course.

At 40 + 4 weeks my midwives had planned to give me a sweep but DS was not engaged at all and they said it was unlikely to work. So I chose not to have it and was induced at 41 + 6 weeks. As part of the induction process I had a sweep (by the "master of sweeps") and it definitely helped but was bloody painful.

I think 39 weeks is still early, so I would be inclined to wait.

They hurt, and mine didn't work anyway.

They come when they're ready, just wait.

I've had them with both previous pregnancies, two with my second. All after 40wks when babies are seen as being late. Didn't make any difference. First was 10 days late and second 11 days late both just before I was due to be induced. I'm due in Feb and won't be bothering this time. Babies come when they're ready. I didn't find any of them painful either. Good luck 👍

My midwife attempted one when I was having DD1 but because of the position of my cervix at that point, it wasn't possible so be prepared for that too.
Just because they've offered to do it, doesn't mean it will happen.

I agree with WeeDangerousSpike and my birth was very similar. I had 5 S&S as I was 40yrs they wouldn’t let me go a day over 40 weeks. The final one was so brutal and painful that I felt assaulted and cried as soon as the midwife left. My waters broke that night but I feel my body wasn’t ready. Although I dilated very fast She was b2b and my cervix would not thin completely. I had to have an epidural to stop me pushing, she got stuck in the birth canal and I had an EMCS after 31 hrs of labour. I’m sure if I’d waited the birth would have been different. Why are they suggesting one? I’d try and hold out as long as you and baby are safe. Best of luck.

I had one at 38+5. I was being induced a few days later due to complications so chose to have it to try and speed it up, it was really uncomfortable, my cervix was high and difficult to reach. I had another when induced, wasn't as bad. Had a third one at 1am the following morning, I was 2cm dilated and I was literally crying as she did the examination/sweep. I was having contractions as well which I think made it worse, but that last one was absolutely awful. I started losing brown mucus after it, but.was in the middle of an induction so.not sure how much of it was due to the sweep!

I had 2. One at 40 weeks and 1 at 41+3. Went into labour following the second (about 12 hours later).

In all honesty the first one was awful - I had my husband with me and he said after the birth I squeezed his hand tighter during the sweep than the birth haha. I’m not really sure why I agreed to the second as I hated the first!! The second however was mildly uncomfortable at worse. It was a different midwife so not sure if it was a different technique or just that DD was more ‘ready’ by the second one. In future I don’t think I’ll accept one until gone 41 weeks.

I had one at 38 weeks. It didn’t hurt. I was induced the next week. I was trying to avoid induction.

I hardly felt it. The obstetrician seemed uncomfortable doing it before hand. But while he was actually doing it, I think he could tell something about how ready I was. He wouldn’t tell me what he thought though!

Good luck.

I had them at this point in my last two pregnancies with very different experiences

The first time was fine, did not hurt at all, went into labour soon after and had a straight forward birth lasting just 5 hours

The next time was awful, the sweep was extremely painful, afterwards i was in constant pain down there. I went into labour fairly soon after but it was very slow and drawn out, 16 hours of established labour

I really don't know if i would have another or not, i think it depends if your body is more or less ready anyway