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'm so sorry there's still nothing happening for you lovely lady. I'm sure you're way passed the fed up point now you poor sod.
This is the thing with sweeps, for them to have any effect your cervix needs to be favourable, if it's high and closed then MW has no chance. I was 2cm dilated when I had my second sweep and similar to @loosingmymarbles, the MW literally got in there and swept around babies actual head! (It was a bit uncomfortable but at that point I really didn't care) she could have stuck her arm in tbh and I wouldn't have batted an eyelid 😆
Still got everything crossed for you lovely! Have you been getting any cramps? X

@Vie8126 yes it's crazy lol the sweeps seem to work amazingly for everyone else 🥴 those text messages are the worst lol, I feel like peopleare scared incase they miss anything! Like I'm pretty sure you'll know when the babies here, word will get around.

My neighbour has said to me "I hope your going to message me when your in labour" DH was quick of the mark in saying "im not sure shes going to have time to message anyone while she's in labour" and her response was "well just one word saying 'labour' so I know" im like I'm confused because why is it really any concern to her 🤷‍♀️ I feel people like that put extra pressure on you when it's really not needed.

I've now started getting the when are they going to start you off texts or the "they surley can't let you go any longer" ones 🙃🙃 my body, my choice nothing really to do with the MWs.

I've 100% gave up on the idea of going completely on my own so I've just been using the last few days as time to catch up on sleep as and when I can before Friday.

How did things work for you and DP when you went in to be induced? Was he sent home until things progressed etc? We live a good 40 mins from the hospital I have to go to so I'm worried about having to send DH home and things progressing too quick and he doesn't make it back lol.

Awk bless him 💙 glad you have some help today, definitely best to rest those feet as much as possible so have DP do as much as he can while you have him there lol.

That's the only thing keeping me going at the moment, the thought of having baby here which won't be long now 🥰💞.

@loosingmymarbles I was hoping to have 3 if needed as when I went for my second on Monday I was going to ask for another one on the Wednesday but because MW couldn't reach my cervix I thought it was pointless asking to be taken back in on the Wednesday.

It's such an annoying waiting game lol, I've been loosing but of my muccus plug for the last week. Some bits have been alot bigger than others like this morning a good amount came away. 1 I didn't actually realise there could be so much of it and 2 even with it coming away nothings happening 😫 I've tried pineapple, spicy food, DTD, tried walks and even looked for the red/purple line which apparently tells you how dilated you are (apparently I'm 10cm dilated going by the chart) but although trying all of that still nothing seems to work lol.

However over the last few days I've no longer had swelling in my feet and I've lost 3lb. Again signs leading in the right direction but just nothing happening xx

@MyGrassIsBrowner I'm a mixture of emotions, I do believe she will come when she's ready but at the same time the closer it gets to Friday the more I feel panicky and rushed. I think if there was no time frame on it I would be fine and happy to let her cook till she was ready but I know because the clock is ticking it's got me wanting her to hurry up.

I was apparently 1cm dilated at my first one and they were unable to do the second sweep so no idea if I had dilated any more or not. The first one was uncomfortable I felt like my top half of my body had been set alight and that caused some slight cramping for a few hours after it and thats when the muccus plug started coming away. The second attempt although she was unable to perform it, there was some irritation after it and the pressure was quite intense but to no avail.

I've woken up a few time during the night last night with cramping and tbh for the first time in god knows how long I didn't wake up every hour last night it was more I went to bed at half 10 woke up at 1 then again at 4 then that was me until about half past 7 when I managed to squeeze in another wee nap. Normally I'm literally every single hour at the exact same time it's always 58 mins past the hour. I'm not sure if that's a sign that labour's nearing or if my body's just that exhausted I needed those extra hours but the cramping has stopped again.

I've literally been spending so much time bouncing on the birthing ball that it's causing me to have a numb a$$.

@M24L well your cervix certainly wont close back up so it can only dilate from this point. If you do have to go for induction though, dont necessarily think the absolute worse (I know, easier said than done and if someone told me that I'd tell em to fuck off!) But it could be that you go in for induction and they try the pessary say and that kicks it off for you. They wont necessarily go down the drip route off the bat and you can request they try other methods first. Your body, your choice remember! I would be tempted to get back in touch with the MW tbh and see how far dilated you are now if you're up for it! X

@MyGrassIsBrowner this is what I'm thinking also, I know you can be dilated for days to weeks but if babys head is so low down surley I've dilated more since my last sweep 🤷‍♀️.

They said after the first sweep it could just be one pessary and everything could go on its own and after the second attempt I was told I could be at least 2 cm dilated meaning they would just break my waters instead of the pessary so there is options there tbh and Im thinking of request another sweep when I go in tomorrow if they allow it before they do anything else.

See the thing is because it's a different hospital I'm not sure if they will examine me again to check dilation or if they will tell me I need to go to the hospital where I will be delivering, im not sure how that one would work xx

@M24L they certainly can't refuse to try giving you another sweep so dont have them fob you off if they try it on.
If it gets to the point were you have to go in for induction, they usually triage you first and will ask to examine you, they'll need to know the situation with your cervix anyway to be able to chose best route of induction. Hopefully you're 2cm or more because my guess is it wont take much after that to kick things off. I was 2cm when I was admitted to the MLU and I was so dissapointed, but my contractions at that point were horrific and 4.5 hours later she was in my arms. It could go from 0-10 for you real quick!

@M24L ime the effectiveness of the sweep always depends on the midwife as well. I had my DD just as lockdown started and my last sweep was given by a retired midwife who had come back as a relief worker as they were so busy. But my god she knew what she was doing and she had MASSIVE hands 😆

@MyGrassIsBrowner my only worry about requesting another sweep while admitted for induction is that it may mean staying in hospital longer than I really want to be. I honestly feel like I'm not winning at all here.

I just wish there was a way to know how long away labour is lol, I could be around 2cms by now and ready to go but just needing an extra few days but at the same time I don't want to put it off any longer incase any complications happen. It's a tricky one 😓.

I'm 100% with you on that one as well, my first sweep was done by the consultant and my second attempt was done by MW. I do feel that the consultant was probably more experienced than the MW and hence why the first one was able to be performed.

It brings back memories of being induced with DD1 I remember having 2 pessarys and a MW doing the examination and a sweep (I wasn't aware it was a sweep until my first one this time around as the MW never advised what she was doing) I just remember her saying "your 2cms dialated" and me and DH were moved down to the Labour ward then I was checked again by another MW who said I wasn't dilated at all so they moved me back up to the maternity ward and gave me another pessary. I felt so violated because I wasn't aware she had done a sweep let alone what a sweep was I thought she was just trying to rush me out the door 🤣🙈.

@M24L Ahhhhh so have you being having your midwife appointments at the hospital not by the community midwives? See my community midwives are based in their own building (conveniently on my street) so I just pop there for the usual routine MW appointments.

Ideally you need examining today dont you? Can you push it for today do you think? Then it gives you almost a day to give your body a chance to do its own thing before your induction!
I feel your frustrating I really do, I went overdue with my DD and that final week was just hell. Constantly anxious, lack of sleep and majorly uncomfortable. I went my full pregnancy without a single stretch mark, and that last week I had a TONNE appear on my belly, she must have had the final growth spurt in that last week and I ended up huge. She was 8lb 6oz in the end so it was all baby and not much water.

It pisses me off that they can be so dismissive so quickly, not like we know our own bodies or anything 🥴
In all honesty in your position right now I'd be asking if they could do another sweep on me today or at least examine me so I knew where I was at before going in for induction. It could be that you're actually further than 2cm.
Have you tried having a feel yourself? I know it's a bit horrifying but I'd be tempted to just have a little feel 🙈

@MyGrassIsBrowner yeah all our appointments are held at the hospital now, im sure it's to do with covid as this wasn't the case when I had DD but that was 8 years ago lol.

I could probably query it but I have a feeling they will tell me that because the induction is Tomorrow that I should just wait until then to be examined as if they wanted to check me over again I would have been booked in prior to the induction. Its the same team who do the examination that book you in.

Oh no, I had a few stretch marks with DD so can't say I've got any new ones this time around tbh but for the last week my belly has been so numb so it us stretched to its full capacity haha!

I'm hoping I am further than 2cms but don't really feel much difference. I haven't tried I googled how to check and then freaked myself out by reading that you should leave it up to the professionals. I'd be worried I caused the baby distress or something.

That's really bizarre but I guess for them it makes sense than to have the midwives travelling about from place to place.

Argh it's so annoying. I reckon if you'd had community midwives they'd have just said pop in and we'll attempt another sweep. Seems quite a rigmarole to have to go into the hospital everytime. Are you far from the hospital?
Let's just hope that when you go in tomorrow, things have progressed more than you expect and they dont need to do much to get things kicked off. I think your best bet now is just rest, nap as much as you can. There is absolutely a chance you could have baba in your arms tomorrow!! 🤯🤞

@MyGrassIsBrowner the hospital where I attend my appointments is about 15 mins drive from my house but the delivery hospital is 40 mins. The appointment hospital doesn't offer any drop in services either so it's got to be an appointment and the chances of them giving me an appointment for today is pretty slim as I'm sure they stop appointments at 5 and they are normally booked right up.

I've been using the last 2 days to get as much sleep as I can although it gets uncomfortable lying on my side and the tossing to the other side is virtually impossible it should be an Olympic sport on its own 🤣🤣 so any time I'm uncomfortable on one side I literally have to waken up do a 4 point turn maneuver to the other side and then try get comfy again 🐳 they are taking me in at half 8 at night so I'm hoping things progress quickly and babys born possibly early hours of Saturday haha.

@M24L I'm not sure if it's probably a good thing then that you haven't gone into spontaneous labour with the hospital been that far away! Imagine giving birth en route 🙈

God why do they have to admit you so late on? So annoying isn't it. Though it does tend to be that womens labours start at night. My labour initially kicked off at 6:30, then my DD was born at 12:14am. The only good thing was that we were discharged at 5pm the next day so overall we had a short stay.

Oh god the 4 point turn in bed 🙈 I am at that stage now and I'm only nearly 31 weeks.. god help me 😅
I'm going to be on tenterhooks for you tomorrow evening! I need updates! 🙉 x

@MyGrassIsBrowner I did say this to DH lol we were in the car the other day and I had BH and there was a few bumps in the road I said god help me if I do go and we have to travel to hospital haha it was sore enough with only BH.

I have no idea, the last induction date was for the same time so it defos must be something to do with the process of it. I'm praying the get out the next day or a few hours after baby is born. I really just want to have baby and get home to DD1. Everyone has been warned they won't be seeing baby until DD has seen her sister 🙈.

The bed turning is possibly one of the most annoying parts of being pregnant lol! I will post updates dont worry lol sounds like I'm going to be stuck in hospital on my own until labour kicks off so I will need to keep myself busy some how haha.

I remember the hospital drive being absolutely agonising. I couldn't even wear my seatbelt cause I would doubled over! Never seen DP drive so fast but carefully 😅 then to make matters worse the carpark was miles away from the MLU so I had to try and keep my composure walking to the damn place with our bags/carseat etc. It was a nightmare!

I dont want anyone round this time until I'm ready, especially if I've had a section. My mum is coming to stay over the second week to help around the house and get me in some sort of routine ready for when DP has goes back to work the week after. (Which I'm dreading) I'm actually really scared having a toddler and newborn lol.

Aww nooooo is your DH not allowed in the hospital with you??

@M24L when I went in last Saturday DP was allowed onto the ward and was allowed to stay until visiting had finished (8pm) so he was allowed with me when they inserted the rods. The ward visiting was 6pm to 8pm so then he wasn't allowed back until established labour, going on the drip or visiting. They broke my water when I wa 2cm at 6am and took the rods out. Didn't even get a private room just on the ward for that on my own no DP allowed and left sitting in amniotic fluid and to waddle to the bathroom by myself! Would have rather had DP there to help not quite sure what difference it makes regarding covid as he had already been on the ward, there was 2 women then admitted at 8am with partners yet mine still wasn't allowed in. DP got up come down the hospital and waited in the Costa we spent a small fortune at the hospital but we knew when rods went in they'd take them out 12 hrs later and break waters and then when they broke waters that I had 4hrs before the drip. So it kinda made our timing a little easier. When you go in you could ask for them to just give you a sweep I'm sure

@MyGrassIsBrowner omg that sounds like hell 😢 I would have gotten DP to drop me at the door and I'd have waited for him to park and come back 🤣🤣.

This is the way I'm feeling also, I want to just enjoy our family of 4 on our own until I'm ready to let people see the baby also secretly worried that the baby getting all the attention may make DD1 feel left out so I'm like if no ones allowed to visit then we won't have that worry 🤷‍♀️. But DH has said because we aren't letting anyone see baby until DD has met her face to face then we have to at least let grand parents visit haha.

Oh no Mrs I feel for you although you will probably surprise yourself with how well you settle right into a routine and I dare say your toddler will surprise you also by how well they take to the new addition. Good luck though 💞.

We haven't actually been told what's happening regarding the hospital yet, hes only recently been allowed to attend MW appointments other than scans because of covid so I have a feeling they are going to refuse him being allowed into the hospital for the same reasons 😢 its outwith visiting times as well so seems its probably going to be a case of dropping me off and him having to leave.

@Vie8126 was it afternoon you were taken in? I'm glad he was allowed with you until the rods were inserted and with that being done sort of gave you a time frame of when things were going to progress.

That sounds horrible, I thought the waters were supposed to be broken on the labour ward in a private room 🤔 and then for you to be left that's ridiculous.

How is it fair that other peoples DPs are allowed but yours wasn't especially given the fact you could have went at any moment.

I'm thinking of asking for another sweep although the only thing I don't want is to get the sweep then have to wait the 48 incase anything happens. Its the whole not knowing that's bothering me now.

Going for a spicy dinner tonight, one last chance at trying everything 🤣🙈

@M24L The hospital I was at is real awkward with trying to actually getting to the front of the building. I've moved towns since having my DD and our new hospital is small and so easy to navigate.

I'm gutted for you that your DH cant be there, that's fricking awful. They've told me DP can come into hospital with me, he waits whilst I get my spinal then he's invited into theatre, he's allowed with me in recovery for a while then he has to go when I'm settled on the ward. He can then book a 2 hour slot later on to come back and see me, but surely it's safer for them to just stay? Than to keep coming and going 🙄 with our hospital being so small I'm just hoping it's not busy and they'll just let him stay for a bit extra, he's hardly going to be wandering round the ward he'll be sat in the chair like a good boy 😂

Argh something better bloody happen for you tonight I cant take this anticipation anymore!!!! I feel for you x

@M24L yes 4pm I went in on the Saturday. The breaking the waters was all a bit quick the midwife said the Dr will come and take the rods out soon I was like oh okay well I would like to have a shower etc can my DP be with me and she said no then the Dr was there ready and waiting and basically like well get your bottoms off! It prob didn't help that it was a shift change so midwife waited with me then went off like well your new midwife be around soon do you want your bag so you can get a pad. I should haven't taken more pads with me and definately more clothes. I took 3 changes of pj's and a going home outfit and it was just enough if I had been left longer than 4hrs with my water broken then I would have needed more clothes for sure.

I hope the spicy food helps!!!

@MyGrassIsBrowner maybe since the hospital is small they might let him stay, just have him sit nice and quiet and hope they don't notice him 🤣.

It's horrible knowing DH can't be there and I'm sure it's the case until I either go to the labour ward or I'm in fully established labour. The fact they have just booked me in and not shared any of this info with us is annoying, I should have asked also but because its a different hospital I've been attending for check ups etc they would have just said that I'd need to speak to the other hospital once I arrive. I might actually give them a call tonight just to see what they say so we have an idea of what's going to happen.

Me too mrs, me too although I've gave up any hope that it's going to 😢 xx

@Vie8126 so they didn't even allow you to shower 😓 how horrible. The shift change is the worst. I remember with DD1 I was in full blown labour and the MWs were due to shift change and they started rushing things along, DH was mortified he said they said our shift ends in half an hour let's get this baby moving and then they proceeded to cut me 🙈 8 years later still to this day he always brings it up. He's always saying if they weren't due to shift change you wouldn't have been cut, I think its something he can't unsee 🤣🤣 poor sod.

I need to repack my bag again tonight because I 100% dont think I have enough packed. I literally have 2 pairs of pjays and coming home outfit for me lol.

Spicy dinner is done and dusted so here's hoping something happens 🤣 highly doubt it though.

@M24L surely they'll let him in once you're in established labour? They're fucking neanderthals if they dont 😆 you cant go through labour on your own ffs. I'll be so angry for you if that's the case. Honestly, give the ruddy hospital a call and get some clarity on their policies!

Cant believe they bloody cut you just to hurry things along, arseholes. My tear was bad enough and I had a graze on my labia as well as getting one MASSIVE pile that was thrombosed and honestly the pain used to make me feel physically sick. It's still there the bastard and occassionally gets thrombosed if I have a really big bowel movement.

Oh I'm so sorry for my foul language I'm such a mucky mouth 🤐 can you tell I'm just not handling life very well atm 🤣

@MyGrassIsBrowner I think that's what will happen, once in established Labour I think he will be called to come to hospital. Let's just hope o don't go from 1cm-10cm really fast 🤣.

I was in so much pain I didn't even realise they had done it lol just hear about it from DH anytime anyone mentions labour haha it really has scared the poor man for life 🤣🤣.

Oh god that sounds soo sore 😢.

Haha tbh you sound the way I feel atm so it's allowed 🤣.