Second pregnancy - does sweep work quicker?

[CurryandSnuggle]

I had a sweep in first pregnancy and went into labour around 14 hours later.

Just wondering if it’s potentially quicker for second pregnancies or makes no difference?

Hello! Not the answer you want to hear, I fear, but here is my experience (by no means universal!!)

I had 2 sweeps with first child, the second one set Labour off. It took ages to ramp up though the first bit lasted ages. From being sure I was in Labour to baby born was 36 hours.

second baby I had had start and stop contractions for over 2 weeks. Did everything to try and get him moving. Miles of uphill walking, sex, bouncing on my ball, and again 2 sweeps. 2nd one she said she could feel his head through the membrane and said he was definitely ready. Well he wasn’t that ready because he stayed in until at 42 weeks I finally relented and consented to an induction…. But only needed the pessary bit to start me off and then it was all on its way so no other drugs needed. Much shorter Labour - about 15 hours all in all I think… and the birth was fab! I would do that one again 100 times over rather than the first. I think that is both because it’s second baby and body knows what to do, because I didn’t panic and had prepped with some hypnobirthing techniques that really helped me, and also because he was really ready to be born by that point so didn’t take much persuading.

good luck op I’m sure your lovely baby will be along soon!

@Bigoldmachine thsnk you got your reply. Sadly it doesn’t seem that it will be work this time. My cervix is soft but it was really high so she was only able to get a bit of her finger in and was unable to actually sweep the membrane. 😫