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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

How successful are sweeps?

24 replies

Peasplease12 · 02/10/2022 15:30

I’m booked to have a sweep tomorrow (40+4, first baby).

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had sporadic braxton hicks, but nothing close to a pattern and nothing more than uncomfortable.

My midwife advised at my last appointment (39+5) that a sweep didn’t have a great chance of success if I wasn’t close to labour anyway so we didn’t do one then.

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience of a sweep when it didn’t really seem like labour was imminent and how things went.

OP posts:

Luna57 · 02/10/2022 16:07

@Peasplease12 they weren’t affective for me I had 4. I had my first at 40 weeks I was 3cm and nearly full effaced my midwife said I’d probably go soon and I’d never need my induction date. Ended up at maternity unit with reduced movements a few days later and I asked for another sweep there. Nothing! My third sweep was while I was in induction suite 2 days before giving birth again nothing and my forth was in delivery suite at 41+6 when they were breaking my waters and only the hormonal drip brought me into labour. My friend had a sweep at 38 weeks In the induction suite and gave birth that night from it so it does work for some just not me. I lost my mucus plug each time too but apparently if you don’t go into labour after 24 hours of losing your mucus plug it just grows back again to stop infections. I’m currently pregnant with my second child and to be honest I probably wouldn’t get a sweep if offered.

Steamedhams · 02/10/2022 17:25

Had one after a small amount of bleeding and baby was born 12h later. I started having cramps like they said I might which turned into contractions.

It wasn't too uncomfortable so I would have one again.

A sweep that is, labour was a little more than uncomfortable!

BuffaloCauliflower · 02/10/2022 17:28

There is almost zero actual peer reviewed evidence that they bring on labour. To be able to do them properly your cervix has to already be a bit open, indicating your body was preparing for labour anyway, so sometimes labour will come fairly soon afterwards which makes people think they’re the reason when it’s just coincidence. They can hurt and introduce infection though. I would never have one, but it’s your choice if course.

feistymumma · 02/10/2022 17:30

Unsuccessful for me so this time I am not having any. Unnecessary pain

custardbear · 02/10/2022 17:33

I think they're ok if you get the right window but you need to make sure that your baby is engaged so you don't risk prolapse cord.
I had a few sweeps with my first and she wasn't engaged at all so was cross when I found out about the possibility of cord prolapse as the baby can then squeeze the cord leaving supply issues to the baby potentially - so check first with the midwife

Floomobal · 02/10/2022 17:35

BuffaloCauliflower · 02/10/2022 17:28

Totally agree with this. I refused a sweep. I was induced at 10 days over though.

Blossom45 · 02/10/2022 17:39

What @BuffaloCauliflower said. They’re only possible if your body is ready or nearing labour so then it begs the question; ‘what’s the point?’. I was also told that they come with a risk of the midwife accidentally breaking your waters which then puts you on a ticking clock to give birth within 48 hours. Obviously it’s a personal choice and there’s no right or wrong route but I wouldn’t have one.

Teaandcrumpets95 · 02/10/2022 17:40

Had 2- didn't work. First one was fine, second one extremely painful.

Weatherwax13 · 02/10/2022 17:50

I had one at 41+3 and my contractions started 4 hours later.
But this was my third baby so my cervix was probably ready, especially being 10 days past due date so I think it just tipped me over the edge.

Original poster

Peasplease12 · 02/10/2022 18:30

Thanks everyone. Baby has been fully engaged for at least a week now but I’ll have a discussion with my midwife about about the lack of contractions/ signs I’m nearly ready for labour and whether it’s worth going ahead with

OP posts:

sarahc336 · 02/10/2022 18:41

They work really well if your body is already ready, so for example I had one with dd1 and it worked but inwas already 1 cm dilated, my friend on the other hand had two and neither worked for her x

PoopMaster · 02/10/2022 18:45

Hi OP, sending baby vibes - I'm 40+3, had a sweep at 40 weeks exactly and lost mucus plug yesterday 40+2 after an uncomfortable night - since then nothing really apart from a dull back ache...so not convinced it will have done very much. This is DC3 so was hoping things would move a bit quicker with a small nudge.

meow1989 · 02/10/2022 19:33

I refused to leave the hospital at a growth check at 39+2 until they gave me a sweep as ds was predicted 9lbs at that point (8lb 11 when born). It hurt a lot, but I did start cramping right away and was at 4cm within 16 hours... though I ended up with an emcs due to lack of progress after that... however I don't thibk it was linked to the sweep, I think my body is just brilliant at growing a baby, rubbish at delivering it!

Tatapie · 02/10/2022 22:46

Mine did the trick at 40 + 5 , uncomfortable but hey ho, did the job within hours I was back on the labour ward. Good luck

PaperPalace · 02/10/2022 22:49

Mine worked at a week late, of course I might have gone into labour anyway but it certainly seemed to get things going.

greystarblanchard · 02/10/2022 22:49

I was given a sweep and was in full blown labour a few hours later.

Secretroses · 02/10/2022 22:51

I went into labour 5 hours after my sweep!

bakewellbride · 02/10/2022 22:52

You might not have a sweep tomorrow if you're not ready and the midwife can't get her finger to where it needs to be. It's called a 'failed sweep'. Happened to me 2 or 3 times in my last pregnancy. I was induced in the end.

In my first pregnancy I naturally went into labour on very early the day the sweep was booked so had to ring to cancel it.

2 completely different experiences. There really is no saying which way it could go!

Good luck. What I wouldn't give to go back in time and be pregnant and give birth all over again. Best experience ever and magical.

LovingLifesHurdles · 02/10/2022 22:53

Didn't work for me, and the risk of introducing infection would definitely put me off having it again!

CatSophie · 02/10/2022 23:07

I had 2 failed sweeps, one at 39+6 and one at 40+5. I was booked to be induced at 41 weeks and went into labour the following day. Since having DS, I've found out how due dates are a very rough estimate and it's clear that baby wasn't ready and I ended up needing an EMCS. If I could go back, I'd have waited it out and not bothered with the sweeps or induction until absolutely necessary but as he's our first, I was impatient and excited to meet him. Although that's easy to say when your no longer 9 months pregnant in the middle of a heatwave! Good luck x

Original poster

Peasplease12 · 03/10/2022 16:55

Sweep failed due to a closed (but short) cervix. I’ll be seeing the midwife again on Thursday to see if anything has changed. I have an induction booked for Monday (41+4) if nothing happens before then.

OP posts:

PoopMaster · 04/10/2022 11:31

@Peasplease12 still waiting here...I was 1.5cm dilated when I had my sweep last week so this little one is just too stubborn to come out yet!

Original poster

Peasplease12 · 04/10/2022 13:11

PoopMaster · 04/10/2022 11:31

@Peasplease12 still waiting here...I was 1.5cm dilated when I had my sweep last week so this little one is just too stubborn to come out yet!

🤞 you’re not waiting too long

OP posts:

J1290 · 04/10/2022 18:44

Labour that night
had sweep at 4pm and by 8pm contractions lasted all night and all next day and then she came
im sure it helped but she was really low the day before like felt between my legs ahah

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