Cervical sweep at 37 weeks - experiences please!

[LC2020]

Hi all

I am booked in for a cervical sweep on Monday which by then I will be 37 +1. If I haven't gone into labour by 29th December I will be admitted for induction. Reason being is I have severe PGP and low PAPP-A.

I'm just wondering if anyone can share their experiences? Was the sweep successful and how long did it take to go into labour? How far along were you?

Obviously I have read online however would just like to hear some personal experiences... I don't want to be getting my hopes up!

Thanks
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It was bloody painful.

But it worked.

Do you mind me asking how far along you where?

It was uncomfortable but bearable. Had 2 of them but Didn’t work for me

I had two including one the day before induction. My induction was really quick so it's hard to know if the sweep helped that along or not.
I personally didn't find it painful at all, just a bit uncomfortable... everyone's different though. There was a woman on my ward who couldn't bear having the pessary inserted whereas again, not an issue for me. Not sure what that says about my cervix lol
Good luck!

Unless your cervix is ready for a sweep there is little point, it will just be incredible uncomfortable. 37 weeks is far to early for one.

@afinethingindeed thanks for your reply! I think the consultant is thinking it will make the induction quicker but who knows!
I can deal with the pain.. I have been in agony for months with PGP so I'm glad to be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

@Bringonsummer19 possibly, I'm consultant led so it has been recommended by her so I'm just going with it if that's what they feel is best!

Is it your first baby? My first ever sweep with firstborn was the most painful thing I've ever had, to the point the second I gave birth, I looked straight at my mum and said the sweep was still more painful than that
I doubt it will do much at 37 weeks, but fingers crossed for you! I had 2 sweeps with 5th baby at 38 weeks, absolutely nothing but period pains for a few hours then they stopped

I doubt it will do anything unless your ready but it’s worth a go!

I ended up having 4 with DC2, I didn’t find any painful but none of them worked either

I think the earlier in your pregnancy, the less likely your cervix will be responsive to a sweep so the less likely it is to work,
But clearly your consultant is the expert in this field and the most qualified to advise you on this so clearly they think it is worth doing.

I've had seven. More than one for each of my pregnancies. It will do sod all unless you are ready to go into labour. Only one of mine did anything. Had a sweep on the Monday at 12 was having contractions an hour later BUT did actually have the baby until Wednesday afternoon so I don't know if maybe it just made my labour longer. They range from extremely painful to very uncomfortable ime. Particularly if you have pgp.

Get yourself to Pilates whenever you can after your birth. Pgp can be in subsequent pregnancies and pilates is the best thing for it. Also check www.pelvicpartnership.org for advice and support for pgp.

I'm 39+2 and have had 3 attempts at sweeps so far. First at 38+0, then 38+4 and last one at 39+0. My cervix has been closed everytime, so it's not been possible. I hope you have better luck than me 🍀

I had one at 37+4 - it hurt a lot, but my cervix was favourable and moving round. It didn’t do much.

I’ve had four more between then and 40 weeks. They’ve got less painful, my cervix is forward and soft, babies head is low and easy to touch, I’m 3cm and every midwife has said baby will make an appearance in the next few hours… but nothing yet, except a few days of contractions that aren’t quite close enough together and eventually tail off.

I’ve done endless googling now, and it seems success for first time mums before term is low.

Best of luck to you; though!

It’s about time we viewed a sweep for what it is ‘an old wives tale’ along with all the other items. I hated the expression when I was 42 weeks and 41 weeks with my babies but ‘baby comes when babies ready’ is totally true

I believe that statistically a MW has to do sweeps on 7/8 women in order to induce 1 pregnancy to come earlier - and that’s only 24hrs earlier at that.
Personally I’d ask them to assess my cervix for its favourability and see if they can do the Bishops Score, then make my decision. If it’s high, closed and “unripe” then I really don’t think you want someone’s sticking their finger in it, if it’s even possible.
The other potential side effect that no one’s mentioned is that they might accidentally break your waters. Which would then put you at greater risk of infection and so likely straight on the induction pathway anyway.

Thank you everyone for your replies!
Certainly gave me a little more insight into this. I will be discussing it further with the midwife tomorrow before the sweep takes place, with the points made in mind!
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