Membrane Sweep

[M24L]

Currently 40 +2 and had my membrane sweep today. Looking at being induced this weekend if I haven't gone before then which I don't want I really want to be able to go myself 😓

Whats everyone's sweep stories? When did you get your sweep, was it successful and if so how soon after did you feel anything/when did labour start etc?

@M24L I was delighted. Just wanted to let you know that sometimes it really does just happen without warning. Good luck xx

@Vie8126 how far on are you? I found the sweep uncomfortable but not too sore. I tried everything lastnight from pineapple to spicy foods and even DTD but nothing yet 😓

I was induced with my DD1 and although the process wasn't too bad it was just so long drawn, I was taken in on the 21st and baby wasn't born until the 24th then I didn't get out until the 25th so it was a really long few days.

Now with having my DD1 im hoping to get in have baby2 and home ASAP to get settled. Also hoping for a water birth which can't happen if I need more than one pessary so I'm holding everything crossed.

Fingers crossed something starts happening for you soon 🤞

@SaveWaterDrinkGin I'm keeping everything crossed 🤞 looking at giving birth to a big baby so I was hoping that baby would be ready to come out and have more space 🤣🤣 I seem to be wrong so far lol

@M24L I'm 39 and 5 today. I've done loads today hoovered the house, steamed the floors, organised cupboards, washing, waiting for teen DC to shower so I can clean bathroom then off for a walk. I'm being induced sat go in at 4pm. Wondering if I can talk DP into DTD again tonight 😂

Fingers crossed for you that baby gets a move on sooner xx

@Vie8126 I was the same yesterday haha, hoovering stairs and all sorts but I kept having to take breaks as my back was sorer than it has been although I was putting that down to my body just being tired 🤣

I'm booked in for Saturday night at 8pm 😓 hopefully we both go soon, the waiting game is horrible haha especially when you feel like times running out xx

@Vie8126 @Mumoftwo2021 how are you ladies getting on?

There's still no sign of baby at my end and I'm fastly approaching 48 since the sweep. Been up all morning quite upset at the thought of getting closer to being induced in Saturday.
Really considering in asking if the induction can be postponed and if I could have another sweep not sure of this is allowed though 🤔

I was going to say OP that you don’t have to go ahead with the induction. Obviously we don’t know the circumstances but you’re only a few days after your due date which is only approximate anyway. Give the baby chance!

If you go into labour spontaneously if you’re low risk you should still be able to still use a birth pool in a birth centre until 40+14

Also I’m fairly sure my midwife said they could do 3 sweeps in a week I just had to let them know if I wanted another one.

I went into labour the night after I had a sweep but I was 40+7 and my body was pretty much ready to go anyway

@PinkPlantCase baby had been measuring 97th centile so they had to keep and eye on me and they made a decision that I wouldn't go over 42 weeks. Baby has been on the top line the last few scans etc I've had so hasn't gotten any bigger or lost weight.

I was put on to high risk but at my last consultation at 38 weeks I was moved back on to low risk. They did say that come 41 weeks baby could potentially be 9lb.

I just want to give it a proper chance I was told my induction would be after 41 weeks anyway but after my sweep the induction was booked for tomorrow which is only 3 days after my sweep so not really given me too much time! I'm hoping I could maybe request another sweep for Monday and then an induction on the Wednesday or Thursday if I don't go myself.

I just really want a few more days to allow my body to do it itself. I've been getting sharp shooting pains and some slight cramps also 100% sure I'm slowly loosing my muccus plug so I really don't think I'm far away.

How big was your first baby?

Give them a call, someone might be able to come out and give you another sweep today, great that it sounds like things are heading in the right direction though!

Don’t be pressured into the induction, if you want to wait a bit longer tell them you want to rearrange your induction date.

I have a first sweep which didn't do anything, then had another quite aggressive one 8 days later. I was immediately having cramping and agony for the next 3 days, when DD was born, hours before her induction was due.

@PinkPlantCase first baby was 8lb 5.5oz another big baby haha!

I'm going to call them today and see what they say, I think I'm too stressed out worry about the induction that I'm not actually allowing my body to relax.

@IAmWomxxnHearMeRoar this is what I'm hoping will happen if they allow me to rearrange my induction, In my head I'm like my body's ready but it just needs another helping hand in the right direction 😬

@PinkPlantCase where are you based if you dont mind me asking? My sweep was done at the hospital so not sure if I would need to go back there or if they would send someone out.

OP you don’t need to have an induction if it’s not what you want, with DC2 I waited and had a failed sweep around 40 weeks, they (consultants) wanted to induce but I said no I’ll wait it out.
I had daily monitoring after 41 weeks I think and a sweep at 41+5 with the intention to be induced 2 days later if nothing happened.
Baby came 24 hours after the sweep.

Don’t be coerced into an induction if you’re not ready to give up on the idea of a water birth etc. You can opt for daily monitoring, popping in and having baby’s movements and heart monitored etc.

The thing with sweeps is they really only work when baby is ready anyway.

OP just incase no one else has said it in the thread, you don't have to be induced. I read on one of your comments something about "they made the decision" it's your decision.

If you want more information regarding induction and your choices, I can recommend the NICE guidelines, AIMS guidelines, Dr Sara Wickham also has a website which is really helpful and a book called Inducing Labour which I read when I was considering induction it talks you through everything to do with induction so you are fully informed and can make an informed decision, if you do decide to go ahead with induction this book is amazing because it tells you exactly what happens during the induction so your not in the dark about the NHS processes and procedures. I think if you did decide to go ahead with induction it arms you with knowledge which makes it less scary because you know what to expect and what options you have throughout.

Also I would look into the accuracy of the scans, I was told when I had one (by the lady that did the scan) that they weren't particularly accurate but they are the most accurate way they have to estimate babies size... but this far along it's so inaccurate!

It really seems like you don't want to have an induction and I think for that reason it's important to make sure you know everything you can about it so that you can feel confident having one is the right decision or not having one of the right decision.

I went to 40+12 and I chose not to have an induction personally, this was the right decision for me but it was a hard decision because I do feel a lot of pressure was put on me to have one, even though I made sure that I did a lot of research to demonstrate an informed decision, they were still pressuring me aggressively for no other reason that she didn't come on the date that they estimated. This really upset me and didn't change my mind because I knew in my heart that for me it was the right thing to do. But they basically ruined the end of my pregnancy because I was so stressed.

Really thinking of you OP because I remember what this was like, please remember you always have a choice. Also, if you make the decision to wait, I found the Facebook page Ten Month Mamas gave me so much emotional support, so just to recommend that too if you go in that direction.

@M24L I was quite restless last night and through the night uncomfortable with dull back ache and cramps. Woke up to period pains and lost a fair bit more of my plug but they've subsided now. I had my covid test ahead of going in tomorrow.

I would call your hospital and discuss as I am actually double booked so when they called me to tell me my appointment was Monday they said as long as I go in Saturday and have monitoring if I don't want to be induced I don't have to and they can just check in on baby and give me an internal and a sweep and then go back Monday which will make me 40+2.

My baby jumped from average to 98th percentile at 36 week scan so also expecting a large one with my first being 9lb 7 10 days late and emcs I'm not keen to leave it too long as I have history of big baby's and am not actually very big! My second ds was 7lb 14 and a successful vbac and consultant said then although he isn't particularly big he was big enough for me (over an hour of pushing, threatened forceps delivery and then lots of stitches after) my dd was a tiny 7lb 4 in comparison!

I really thought I would wait to Monday as keep thinking what will 2 days do to his weight anyway but instead going to play tomorrow by ear and see where I am when I go in. I'm having dialapan induction rather than hormones.

The midwife I spoke to said it's all about mothers choice so do not feel pushed into anything as long as baby and you are safe and well there's no reason you cannot wait a couple of days.

On the other hand your already showing signs of being in early labour and 8pm tomorrow night is a long way away really so every chance you could be in having had baby by then anyway 😊

@M24L I’m in the Midlands but I was under a home birth team so they did all my antenatal appointments at home. I thought they’d still send community midwives out for sweeps though, might not be standard everywhere!

Hope your phone call with them goes well!

If your first was 8lbs 5 then I guess you just make bigger babies! Nothing wrong with that.

Hope you can find a way to relax x

@Ohpulltheotherone I'm really hoping that if I'm given the chance for a second sweep that it'll work, part of me feels like baby and my body are ready but just need that wee extra helping hand.

@PlanetTeaTime thank you for the information. I had an induction with DC1 and it wasn't too bad it was just the whole process was so dragged out and with having my DC1 at home I'm really hoping to have baby as natural as possible and get home to DC1 asap.

@Vie8126 fingers crossed that baby is on the way for you 🤞

Oh really? I think this is one thing that's playing on my mind also. With baby measuring big I don't want too leave it too long but at the same time I'm thinking a few more days surley won't make too much of a difference. The weights are also just an estimate so could potentially be worrying about nothing.

I keep telling myself 8pm Tomorrow is a good bit away as well but I dont want to leave it to late to potentially postpone the induction in the event that I don't go on my own before then. Its the whole being taken in at 8pm situation as well meaning that we will have to get someone to watch DC1 for god knows how long and DH will have to possibly sleep in the car at the hospital car park as we live 40 mins from the hospital, I would be worried he would head home after dropping me off and not get back to the hospital on time.

@PinkPlantCase I think it will more than likely be at the hospital but I dont mind tbh as long as I get 1 more chance 🤞

This is exactly what I'm thinking I was 40+3 with first DC and that was me being induced at 40 weeks.

I'm hoping they can do one more sweep then if that fails I'll go in for the induction, just really wanting that one last chance.

Oh girl I hope baby makes an appearance for you soon! My DD was 8lb 6oz, I had sweep at 40 weeks then one at 40+6 and she arrived that night. Not gonna lie I told the midwife to really go to town on me. It was painful but then I went home and DTD with DP and I lost my mucous plus a couple of hours later!
I'm 30 weeks today with DD2 and hoping thinks kick off a bit earlier for me this time as I'm planning a homebirth. Good luck 🤞 x

@M24L were worried about the separation part also and DP getting back to the hospital in time he is wondering about sleeping in the car too. I think that's the hardest.

Exactly weights are just an estimate and you might find baby is a teeny tiny one is it 1lb either side they could be out.

Call midwife or whoever arranges your induction and see about changing to Monday if that is what you want to do. I have to keep my induction appointment tomorrow for monitoring at least. My DC are teens but off to my mums later today until Monday and tbh with the constant I'm bored/hungry and mess they leave behind I can't wait for the break!!

@MyGrassIsBrowner thank you Mrs. I love hearing stories like this as it gives me some sort of hope that another sweep will do the trick 💞 I hope you get your homebirth and all goes to plan love x