39 weeks Sweep, blood, pain and feeling rubbish

[Sammie1990]

Hi
I had a sweep today I’m exactly 39 weeks. I’ve been under consultant care due to high fluid and at my scan last week growth had slowed. I found the sweep quite uncomfortable, the midwife was surprised I was 2-3cm dilated at 39 weeks and first pregnancy. She also said she had to be very careful as membrane was bulging and she didn’t want to break my waters. Afterwards there was quite a lot of blood so I was sent to be monitored and to see the consultant. He told me to monitor the pad and if it became full to come back. I am still having bleeding but it is like when you finish/start period more brown than red. However I feel pretty rubbish, on and off feeling sick and very crampy, struggling to walk but no abdominal pain it’s all down below like period pains

is this normal after a sweep and does it mean labour is close? Interested in others experiences

It might be your plug coming away after the sweep. Is the blood quite "snotty" in consistency? I had a sweep at 39 weeks with my 2nd and it was very uncomfortable, I don't think I was ready. Two days later I had another, again really uncomfortable. I lost some plug in the following days (more clear and blood-streaked) and then I had another sweep and it was a LOT more comfortable, no pain at all, and was 3-4cm. The following day I had a big "show" of very dark brown blood, but it was very snotty/mucussy in consistency - a lot darker than I thought the plug should be so I called the maternity unit, they asked me to go in and whilst I was there I went into labour. They confirmed it was just mucus plug and sent me home, I was back there 2 hours later and 4hrs later baby arrived. So it really may be the start of it all, but if you're unsure at all then do call in - they can check where the blood is coming from, and if it's fresh/old/mucus plug. I had a speculum in and she swabbed to check for infection before sending me home. Wishing you the best of luck!

This was like me with my 2nd- albeit I was 37 weeks - had a sweep in the AM, cramps , bloody uncomfortable , felt sick- labour that night she came the next day.
also it’s not uncommon to be sick / have a bad tummy- body’s way of clearing itself out before birth!

Having a sweep at 39 weeks (or even earlier) seems to be something of a fad. Both my daughters were offered it with a hint that it might "speed things up a bit" , both instantly experienced discomfort with bleeding and both ended up with emergency c sections. In my day (my youngest of 3 is 32) this definitely wasn't common and the most intervention I experienced was having waters broken when presenting in active labour. Does anyone else feel like me that sweeps aren't necessary and that when baby is ready natural labour (in the majority of cases) will ensue ?....and yes I know that intervention is sometimes completely necessary

Hi
thanks for reply. The midwife said it was less mucus than blood which is why I needed to be checked. It doesn’t appear to be streaky at all just pure blood. The consultant said only to go back if I fill the pad so will keep an eye on it x

Really, that’s reassuring! I will keep an eye, thanks for your reply.

This is what happened to me with a sweep at 40 weeks with my dd1 it was the start of my labour. The next day I was in labour, I was 1cm when my sweep was done so sounds like it might start for you

Hi
in my area they don’t offer before 41 weeks unless intervention is required. Having high fluid can cause cord prolapse and it’s obviously a worry if the baby has stopped growing, they offered it me to reduce my chances of having to be induced.