Sweep at 38 weeks?

[Strawberriesandcreammm]

Hi all
so I’m being induced at 39 weeks exactly, my midwife has offered me a sweep at 38 weeks I’m on the fence about this what’s everyone’s experience/opinions?

also did anyone at 37 weeks experience frequent braxton hicks all day?

I had a sweep - don’t think it did anything to speed things up, but was useful in that it gave me an indication of how close I was to going into labour (not very).

I didn’t find it painful, and it just took a few seconds - it’s literally just the midwife shoving her fingers into your cervix.

I do know that others find it uncomfortable though. So it really depends on your tolerance for these things.

Also I had a lot of braxton hicks. Didn’t go into labour till 41 + 2 though (spontaneous).

I had a sweep at 38+3 as I was being induced a few days later due to low volume of waters and I was told it would make me more favourable for induction.
Sweep was on a Thursday evening, waters went Sunday afternoon. Labour hadnt started after 24 hours so I was induced and baby was born 5 1/2 hours after the first pessary.

I was thinking to possibly go for the sweep in hope it may get it started… I’ll be 38+2 then.

Did you have any complications regarding the sweep or induction? And is the induction more painful than average?

I had a sweep at just over 40 weeks with my first and went into labour less than 48 hours later. Not sure if it was the sweep or if he was ready

I'll be offered them this time from 37 weeks I think due to previous section baby
Personally just found them slightly uncomfortable but not painful

I went for a sweep at 38+1 and my son was born the following day. Sweeps only work if your body is ready to give birth. You've got nothing to lose, give it a go?

Also for perspective, I was induced with my first son at 38+1 and although it worked (I went into labour a few hours after the first pessary) I would never have an induction again. That's why I asked for a sweep with my second. I had a "good" induction experience in that I didn't have any interventions etc but it was horrifically painful, even with an epidural. With my second son I didn't even have gas & air because I simply didn't need it. I know every birth is different but the induction experience isn't something I ever wish to relive.

Thank you I’ll definitely give the sweep a go… ouch! Your induction experience sounds painful. I wasn’t given much option either a C-section or Induction and I chose induction in hope baby may make their own way into the world… slightly nervous now😂

I had an attempted sweep and was told they couldn't do it because my cervix was wrong. I went home and prepared myself for a long wait and went into labour the next day so who knows! I felt very tearful immediately afterwards and cried for 2 hours straight over absolutely nothing! Obviously some hormones involved there...