Sweep at 40+1....what to expect?

[oldermama2021]

Hi all,
I am seeing my midwife today and she is going to do a sweep in the hope of maybe kick starting labour. I'm an older ftm and have no idea what to expect..Will it be sore? How soon do you know if it has worked? I have to have it done at the hospital and I think that the midwife said I would have to wait a little while after just to make sure my waters have not broken. I'm anxious about labour but I know baby has to come out...think with my age you just always worry something will go wrong. They will also give me induction date if this doesn't work. Any advice...thank you.

They are reaching for your cervix to try and get their fingers in to encourage it to open. It is uncomfortable but over quickly. I think they say a ‘successful’ sweep would set labour off in 24 hours. I had my second one at 11am and contractions started next morning at 4am. Normally they would give you another sweep in a few days if this one doesn’t do anything then book induction for when you are around 12 days late. But it varies with each area I think. Good luck, so close now xx

It's a few years ago now but I had my sweep at 40+1 on Thursday pm & had DD2 at 7 next morning.
It felt a bit like a very quick smear test, uncomfortable but not painful & over quickly. I started early labour a few hours later which progressed overnight. Good luck!

I had a sweep at 41 weeks in my first pregnancy. It was unsuccessful and because nothing had started to happen naturally, it was very uncomfortable (my cervix was still tightly closed... ouch!)

Looking back I wish I'd had the confidence to tell the midwife to stop so that would be my advice. If your cervix has started to soften and open a bit then let her go ahead but if her initial investigations suggest no pre-labour changes at all I would seriously consider asking her not to proceed with the sweep

I've had 2 vaginal births with just gas and air and I would rather give birth any day then have a gloved finger shoved inside a closed cervix

Thank you all for your responses...I think it's the not knowing what to expect that worries me. Hopefully things have started to soften and it's not painful...though I can imagine it's uncomfortable like a smear...hopefully won't last too long though. I honestly can't believe I have made it to due date....but I'm uncomfortable and having tightenings so hopefully won't have much longer to wait.

I had several in my second pregnancy. My midwife was very careful not to break my waters in doing so as she said they were bulging outwards. From 38 weeks, she said conditions were favourable to be successful but nothing worked, baby came when he wanted to come of his own accord after 41 weeks.

From my experience, it was no more uncomfortable than a smear. Midwife will be able to give you better idea of if baby is ready to come out but still doesn't mean they will come!

I have the same due date as you. I had one on Tuesday at 39+6. This is my first pregnancy and I’m 36. It was uncomfortable but I wouldn’t say it was painful. It was hard to reflex just because the pressure was so intense. I was 1cm dilated and it didn’t hurt when she went through my cervix. The head was a lot more engaged than she thought by palpating my abdomen and she sac was protruding through. It didn’t set anything off but I was glad I had it done because it gave a me more accurate idea of how things are progressing. Good luck! X x x

Thanks @Muriel84....wow the same due date!! Does the sweep last long? Have they suggested induction to you?