Tell me about your sweeps

[Jordmam]

41 weeks today and had a sweep this afternoon. I feel no different! Midwife said to expect some bleeding but even that hasn't happened. I can feel baby's head quite low down and am 2cm dilated according to the MW. Just wondering what the "success rate" is for sweeps actually bringing on labour and what others' experiences have been.

I had a sweep at 41 weeks. No bleeding afterwards. It worked in the sense that I went into labour less than 24 hours later (but obviously that might have happened anyway). Good luck OP!

I had a sweep with DS1 & DS2. It worked first time for me and i was in agony as soon as she done it and could hardly stand up but the 2nd time I didn't feel any different at all and went another week.

I regretted having a sweep when I was ten days overdue. I had a low Bishop score but the midwife went ahead.

My waters broke the following morning (Saturday) but contractions didn't start until Sunday evening. I had irregular contractions all Sunday night then nothing all day. Monday night I had more contractions which stopped in the morning. The midwife sent me to hospital on Tuesday evening as my BP was raised and DD was finally born by EMCS on Wednesday morning. She was back to back and I feel that if I hadn't had the sweep she may have turned. I was also exhausted after three nights of contractions!

It didn't do anything....

Both my dc arrived within 24hiurs of my sweeps

I had one at around 41 weeks I think, but no impact. I was offered a second one around 3 days later and it was incredibly painful. It felt as though the midwife was putting her entire arm inside me and she was pushing down on the top of my bump too. No affect from that one either apart from discomfort for the rest of the day. I’m pregnant again now and it’s put me off agreeing to one if offered this time

Risk of infection with Membrane sweep sweep that can cause brain injury or death to the baby. An extract taken for a study published last year by NHS Consultants in relation to risks of the membrane sweep.

“there are potential risks of introducing bacteria from the maternal vagina into the chorio-decidual space, increasing the risks of inflammation and infection. We have analyzed the current systematic evidence on the “Membrane Sweep” to determine its efficacy. Midwives and obstetricians owe their patients a duty of care to weigh the reported benefits of the ASOM against the potential risks of fetal infection, whilst recommending this historical practice which was introduced prior to the advent of chemical means”

“The Early Notification Report” from the NHS Resolution has highlighted in 2019 that perinatal infection was responsible for 15.6% of all admissions to the neonatal unit in the UK [19]. We conducted an observational study in 57 cases of confirmed acute chorioamnionitis, by placental histopathology results over a period of 6 years (Unpublished Data). Out of the 57 women, 50
(87.7%) did have a membrane sweep between 24-48 hours of birth and 54 women (94.7%) had a caesarean section with their babies being admitted to the neonatal unit for suspected or confirmed sepsis receiving antibiotics. 47 women (87%) were readmitted with wound infection. Because the “Membrane Sweep” is widely practiced in the UK, the data from the NHS Resolution, and our retrospective observational study (Unpublished Data) suggest the need to re-visit this historical practice.

Article is published on Juniper Publishers: Suganya S, Edwin C. The Historical Practice of “Membrane Sweep” to Initiate Labour: Does it Have a Role in Contemporary Obstetric Practice?.Glob J Reprod Med. 2021; 8(2): 5556733. DOI:10.19080/GJORM.2021.08.555733.Link to full Study

I had two sweeps at 41 weeks. The first did nothing so I went back the next day for the second and gave birth within 12 hours.

Evidence base as far as I can see:

Pros:
If done in healthy low risk pregnancies at term (40wk+) it: increases spontaneous labour rates, reduces need for induction
Women generally would recommend it, despite finding it painful

Cons:
Women feel it's significantly uncomfortable/painful
Raises infection risk for mum and baby

Mine

Had one at 40+1. Uncomfortable but not painful, slight bleed afterwards with cramping, baby born 48 hours later. A good experience all round.

Sweep at 3pm Thursday, in labour with regular contractions by 6.30pm. Baby born 1.15pm Friday. I think was about 38 weeks, but head was engaged and GP said I was ready.

Had two and they didn't bring on labour

Bookmarking/bumping as I have one on Thurs and wanted to see peoples's views (I'll be 37+4 but am high risk and want to avoid full induction if poss)