Sweep tomorrow! What to expect?

[EllieRosesMammy]

Just as the title says, I'll be 38+2 tomorrow and I'm having a sweep done. Second baby, didn't have a sweep with my first because they said she was too high up to bother. This baby however seems to be really low down (been having lightning crotch pains for weeks now) so I'm hoping it goes well.

I'm really nervous though as I have no idea what to expect. I was induced with my first and they told me it wouldn't be painful but honestly it was excruciating, probably worse than most of my contractions :(

How similar is a sweep to being induced? And does it actually work?

Never been induced but a sweep is basically like being fingered by a 14 year old. Two fingers in, moved up towards the cervix, swept around and removed. For me it was very much a 'lie back and think of something nice' type experience, not horrendous but not pleasant.

On the does it work front... probably not but equally you've not a lot to lose!

It didn't work for me, and was pretty unpleasant tbh.

I was 18 at the time, though, so maybe it seemed worse than it was.

Hopefully it will help you, though

Was induced with my first and found it so painful and found the sweep sooo painful, had a sweep the other day in my second pregnancy and it wasn’t painful at all!! Like a pp has said like being fingered by someone inexperienced 😂😂

I had a sweep and it didn’t hurt, but friends found it less pleasant. It is over quite quickly either way though so take some deep breaths and chat about the weather or something! And my contractions started that night

I had a sweep i was really worried cos i’d heard horror stories but it was totally fine. Not even sore and over in a few seconds.
Agree with PP who said it’s like getting fingered by a 14 year old boy!

I had DS1 without pain relief as was doing hypnoborthing and the sweep was by far the most painful part. I was already 4cm dilated (but not feeling contractions)
Thankfully over in seconds and waters broke an hour later. Once I hit 6cms I started having active “uncomfortable” contractions.

DS2 same thing but he wasn’t engaged - he arrived about 7 hours after labor started instead of 4 hours with DS1.

Worth doing if you’re already dilating but take a breath.

I was 40+1 when my midwife tried to give me a sweep. She couldn't reach my cervix at all and told me I wouldn't be going into labour any time soon. My contractions started that night!
Not really what you asked but just don't be disheartened if the midwife doesn't manage to do it.

I had a sweep with my 2nd on my due date, I didn't really feel anything, thankfully as also got told it can be painful, around 7pm ish, but my waters broke about a hour before hand, my DS2 from born at 4.20am the following morning, weather it was waters or the sweep ill never know!

Thanks for all your responses ladies!

The 14 year old boy comment definitely made me giggle😂

Hopefully it works and gets things going. I'm wayyyy more uncomfortable with this pregnancy than I was with my first 😭

Unpleasantly fingered but it does work. Birth is far worse so best to suck it up xx

Ah the sooty and sweep!

I found it really uncomfortable, I wasn't expecting it but did the trick....

Contractions started within about 2 hours!

Wishing you luck 🍀

Haha, I was expecting obviously! Not expecting it to hurt like it did!

Hi all.

Little update, they didn't do a sweep today as midwife said babys head was still moving up and down too freely and if they did a sweep I'd be at risk of cord prolapse

They're also sending me for an emergency scan tomorrow morning as they think baby hasn't grown in the last week, so now I get to be anxious for the next 24ish hours, yay

Not painful just a weird feeling