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Original poster

Stretch and Sweep - Terrified!

20 replies

Lw56992 · 09/04/2022 20:47

Hi all,

I’ve got gestational diabetes which means I’ve been booked in for an induction at 40+3 weeks, unless baby comes on his own before then or I’m unable to keep controlling the diabetes with my diet which I’m currently managing to do.

My midwives have suggested that I have a sweep at 39 weeks to see if we can get things started then but I’m so torn as to whether to accept it. Literally every person I’ve spoken to about it says that it was horrific, painful, violating etc. This is worrying me because many women have different stories about their labours (some good, some bad) but ALL sweep stories have been negative.

Any advice or stories which might help?

Thanks so much!

OP posts:
icebubbles · 09/04/2022 20:48

I didn't find it to be any of how you described it! Bit weird, like a smear test, but certainly not violating. But birth requires oxytocin and there'll be none of that if you're uncomfortable just just do what works for you x

Junibug · 09/04/2022 20:50

I had a sweep at 38 weeks (a couple of days before my induction) and I genuinely felt hardly anything. And it was done in like 15 seconds. I may be in the minority, but it wasn't painful at all in my experience. Good luck with your birth and hope all goes ok x

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 09/04/2022 20:50

I had one at 39 weeks it was uncomfortable. Like a smear but definitely not horrific or violating!

fassnk · 09/04/2022 20:51

I had a smear at 39 weeks, barely felt it. A bit like a smear i suppose but less pressure and much quicker.

Violetmo0n · 09/04/2022 20:52

I had one at 39w also, literally like a smear for me.

ChickinMarango · 09/04/2022 20:53

I had two sweeps two days apart, cervix was slightly dilated but my cervix was too far back (the second midwife had tiny hands and there was no chance 😂)

It wasn’t painful really, definitely wasn’t violating. They completely failed and I was induced the day after the second, third day after the first.

chelle0 · 09/04/2022 20:56

I had one at 39 weeks by a midwife, she then asked if a student could have a go. No pain and definitely not violating!

Okeydoky · 09/04/2022 20:58

A bit weird and unomfortable, but done very swiftly and not awful at all. Achieved nothing, but it was worth a go.

Pyri · 09/04/2022 21:00

Sweeps are awful if your cervix is high and closed, and that the midwife shoves a finger in anyway

If you’re in any way ready for labour then you’ll be absolutely fine, like a smear test really

Good luck!

AnnaSW1 · 09/04/2022 21:02

I personally don't know anyone that feels that way. It's pretty undramatic

Junobug · 09/04/2022 21:02

There is very little evidence that a s&s will do anything if your body isn't about to go in to labour imminently so if you don't want one, then don't have it. I'm also sure that there is very little evidence thay you need to be induced with gd if you have controlled it well in pregnancy. Even nice guidlines say 41 weeks. So it might be worth having a really good think about what you want and feel comfortable with.

ChloeHel · 09/04/2022 21:06

I had two sweeps. One at 39 weeks which I will be honest, was slightly painful but nothing I couldn’t breathe through! Then I had another at 40 weeks and could hardly feel a thing! Went into labour a few hours after. One word I wouldn’t use to describe a sweep…violating.

cigarettesNalcohol · 09/04/2022 21:07

Don't know where you've heard they are painful etc. OP but I had two and barely felt anything. Definitely nothing violating that's for sure. Labour will be much worse sadly... the stretch and sweep is the least of your worries. Best of luck, I'm sure if you accept it will be fine Smile

Hoolihan · 09/04/2022 21:11

Mine wasn't painful or violating. Didn't work though!

Tothepoint99 · 09/04/2022 21:12

Agree with the above comments. Nothing to be worried about although appreciate you may be. Currently pregnant (2nd) and I'd actually forgotten I had a sweep the first time around so it was entirely unmemorable for me!

littlemissalwaystired · 09/04/2022 21:15

They shouldn't be painful and violating and you should be completely in control. I'm a midwife and make sure to explicitly state before I start that if it's too uncomfortable let me know and I'll stop instantly. I also try to gauge reactions as much as possible and if I think someone looks too uncomfortable, I'll reiterate my point about stopping. Good luck with everything!Smile

Mynotsoperfectlittlefamily · 09/04/2022 21:16

I had one in my first pregnancy, barely felt it, she almost broke my waters she was vigorous that was at 2pm and I gave Birth at 11.14pm.
I had 4 or 5 in my 3rd pregnancy the last one stretched my cervix to 5cm still wasn't painful or violating.
Going into it clenched and expecting the worst can have the effect of making it more painful than it is as you are fighting against them.
If you want take a paracetamol before hand and stay as relaxed as possible.

Daisy4569 · 09/04/2022 21:16

To be honest I did feel really uncomfortable and upset about mine but that was because I was supposed to be in for a GD chat at 39 weeks and was really pressurised into doing it then and there. I did feel sick about it afterwards and it still makes me feel awful now as I wish I’d insisted on taking time to think about it and talk to my partner. The process itself wasn’t painful it was just the pressure I felt to do it probably made me feel ‘violated’.

Vampirethriller · 09/04/2022 21:26

Mine was uncomfortable but not painful. Didn't work though.

SouthwestSis · 09/04/2022 21:28

Like Mynotsoperfect says, if you are anxious and tense then this can make it more uncomfortable.
This is what happened to me when I tried to have a sweep for GD so I just asked my midwife to stop as I was finding it quite uncomfortable.
I went into labour naturally at 39+6, I think colostrum harvesting helped!

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