Attempted membrane sweep extremely painful, now terrified for induction and VEs tomorrow

[Mistborn]

Hi all,
So community midwife attempted a membrane sweep this morning. I wasn't expecting it to be pleasant but I was shocked at just how painful it was. She said she could feel my cervix was soft but opted to stop as she wasn't happy with the level of pain I was in so didn't attempt to see if I was dilated at all etc She also said she'd recommend in my notes I get gas and air for any further attempts as I'm booked for induction tomorrow.
I feel like a failure already. FTM and was already anxious for induction but I'm now terrified of inevitable further sweeps or vaginal exams. I guess I'm looking for others experience, has anyone else had painful failed membrane sweeps then VEs that weren't as bad in hospital. I honestly think I'm more nervous for internal checks more than the actual birth at this point :/

Agree with this.

Unsure on the statistics but everyone I know who was induced ended in an emergency C-section.

If I haven’t gone into labour naturally and it’s deemed necessary (get to 42 weeks or baby is distressed etc) I will just ask for an elective c-section. These stories of women being in horrendous pain scares me so much.

OP I’m so sorry this happened - you don’t have to consent to these things if it’s causing so much pain. How many weeks are you? X

My DH did some paid research on inductions, and about half end in a c-section. My feeling is that they are useless. They “work” when everything is ready and you would go into labour shortly anyway. If your body isn’t ready then they are pointless as well as painful.
Agree with Nttttt

That’s interesting to hear that it’s 50% - it really scares me the idea of being in way worse pain with induction contractions just to end up in a panicked, emergency C-section.

It makes me sad that women aren’t given these kinds of information so they can actually give informed consent and they end up having painful experiences :(

Obviously induction is a choice and a doctor should/would have counselled you about your personal situation and the options available to you. Some of the comments from posters who are so against induction are frankly dangerous, there are clinical
situations where without induction babies and/or women would be at significant risk and only the OP knows her obstetric history.

To be induced you do need to have a vaginal examination to determine which method of induction is most appropriate for you. It would be against most hospital
policies to commence the hormone drip without waters being broken and part of the induction process is to get you to that point if needed.

If you decide to proceed with the induction you could decline a sweep and just have a vaginal examination (not exactly comfortable particularly if your cervix is not very ‘favourable’ but it shouldn’t be as painful as a membrane sweep) to determine whether you need to have a pessary or not. As others have mentioned you may find gas and air helpful.

At any stage during the induction process (or any medical care) you have bodily autonomy and the right to decline tests/procedures/medications etc if you feel that is the best option for you and your baby.

Your body, your baby, your choice. Always.

I was induced at 37.5 weeks due to GD, had a sweep a few days earlier and the sweep was more painful than the induction.

Induction I was checked first to see if i was dilated at all but it wasn't a sweep, mildly uncomfortable but nothing major, then a pessary was inserted which was basically like a paracetamol on a string, barely felt that.

Then lots of waiting around, till the next day when I was checked again and they found I was dilated enough to break my waters. There was a sharp little pain when they did that but very quick and effective. Contractions started within 30 minutes and less than 5 hours later DD was born, no additional Vaginal checks were needed and I just had Gas n Air.

An induction does not have to be an awful process.

Nine months ago I was induced at 40 weeks as the baby's weight was not increasing. I had a sweep two weeks earlier which I found very painful and just about tolerated it. When I was induced, I found the two examinations and insertion of pessaries very painful and ended up crying, gas and air did not help. However, the third examination was painless! That may have been due to a different midwife doing the procedure. I was massively relieved my waters broke by itself and had contractions, then epidural. I safely delivered my baby vaginally.

Definitely request pain relief and good luck.

If you have gas and air make sure you take SEVERAL very deep breaths before they do it and carry on during. I find internal exams very painful but this helped me.