Having a sweep

[Unbearable12]

Hi all, going for a sweep tomorrow at 39 weeks and I'm a bit nervous so just wondering if anyone can share how their experience was? Midwife didn't tell me much so do I need to prepare anything?
Was it painful and most importantly did it work?

My experience was saying no. I just wanted my body to do its thing without interference when I hadn’t reached my due date yet. It might not be helpful, but equally wanted to mention as a few people I’ve known have felt uncomfortable saying no when they didn’t want it.

Those I’ve known who had it have tended to go into labour not long after (which research seems to support). However, there have been a couple that haven’t. They all said it was uncomfortable and not enjoyable, but some were perfectly happy to do it if it meant labour sooner! 😊

Mine was a bit uncomfortable but not painful. I had mine at 40+6 and my waters went that night, with the baby finally coming 2 days later. I had to be induced in the end due to my waters breaking first, and there having been 24 hours with not much progress. I do wonder whether my waters went due to the sweep. I don’t think I would accept one at 39 weeks personally, especially if a first baby

I had my first sweep at 39+2 Op. Unfortunately it didn’t do much, but I did have two further at 39+4 and 6. I did lose my mucus plug and while they didn’t start contractions, they did get me from a non dilated cervix to 1.5-2cm which meant at my induction on 40+1 they could go straight to breaking my waters and I avoided any hormonal input. It was my first baby though so I think that maybe I just wasn’t ready! In terms of pain it was definitely quite uncomfortable, I have endometriosis and am quite used to vaginal examinations however it was definitely more uncomfortable than those. Baby came without further intervention 8 hours after having my waters broken.

Wishing you the best OP if you decide to go ahead with it!

Is there a reason why your midwife is suggesting this? It seems quite a drastic thing to do unless there are reasons your baby needs to be born earlier.

I had one at 39+4, uncomfortable but didn't do anything. Another at 39+6, different midwife who was much more vigorous and it was a bit painful. Baby at 40+1. I was trying to avoid both the induction and cesarean I had booked for the next week (vbac birth, but was nervous and undecided about it)!

Ooh I'm a bit concerned now because she didn't actually asked me if I wanted it, she just said at my 38 week appointment last week that we would do it at 39. The way she was talking about it just made it sounds routine.

Thank you @ChaosAndCrumbs I'm glad I posted as I now have today to think about it

They didn't offer them to me before 40 weeks but I had one with my second and never again some people say it is uncomfortable but I thought it was really painful so I have refused them with my third and now my fourth pregnancies and it didn't even work anyway!

I'm glad most are saying it was uncomfortable rather than painful. Completely complication free pregnancy so far and baby in position last several weeks so I'm sure I haven't been offered it for a medical reason.

They won't offer it for no reason, usually. So just ask her - if there's no issues, then you should be able to wait.

A sweep is only possible if the cervix is favourable ie already effaced. It's not painful, just a little uncomfortable. You may have some bleeding afterwards.

I had one with my 3rd DC, was close to term & did go into labour 48 hours later.

Just to say agree with other posters, I had a suspected very large baby and I am (well, was pre pregnancy 🤣) quite small which is why I was encouraged to have them. If there were no issues I would definitely have declined at this point!

To consent to something you need to know the specifics of what is being suggested, why it is being suggested, and what could happen if you decline what is being suggested.

'It's something we do at 39 weeks' doesn't really answer any of that.

I had one at 39 weeks at my midwife appointment, they also spoke about it as if it was routine. A little uncomfortable but not sore. i went into labour 36 hours later, was lucky enough to have a very quick and simple labour and birth. so a positive experience for me!

For me it would be a “no thank you” and I’d let your body decide when it’s ready to start preparing for labour. I found it very painful and upsetting and regret it. I’ve given birth 4 times but only had a sweep with my last. The last weeks are long because you want to get to the next bit, but unless there’s a medical reason why would you cut short gestation?

Jesus no it’s not routine. I declined with my first but had it with my second because I had a difficult pregnancy (I was actually offered an early induction). It made no difference and I wouldn’t do it again.

Wow I'm so surprised at the responses! The way she spoke about it just felt like it was what everyone did.

I do wonder if it's because she thinks baby is big? She said that she wouldn't be surprised if baby arrived on her own before we had to do the sweep but unless she comes tonight then that prediction wasn't accurate

I had a sweep at 39w and it didn't do much. Another at 40w and baby was born less than 12 hours later.

It's uncomfortable, not painful. You'll be fine.

Mine was hugely uncomfortable if not painful, my body went into shock a bit after it. It’s absolutely definitely not routine, why would it be? Our bodies don’t need interference from others to get all babies out, only if there’s a specific medical or other reason would I agree to it.

I had one at 40 weeks and 41 weeks. It didn’t hurt but as others said it’s just uncomfy but it didn’t work for me sadly.
Just to add I’m sure the midwife said to me they can only do it if your cervix is ready - so if your body’s not ready they won’t do it.

Mine was a different experience as I had one after a gel in during an induction so this may have contributed in a negative way to my experience. I found it super painful and wasn’t expecting it. Third baby so was well used to getting checked for dilation ect. I say though she said my cervix wasn’t quite ready and also she was trying to do a sweep/ check could my waters be broken so I think In her hopes they could be, she was over zealous. I bled quite a bit so I do feel she was far too rough to try move things along. But I had declined them in my previous weeks as I just didn’t like the idea 😂

@Unbearable12 You’re welcome. 😊 I’d ask why it was suggested. I was presented it as normal and when I asked was told it was routine to offer.

I have fast labours and there was no medical reason to suggest it in my case. In my first pregnancy they thought ds was a ‘big baby’, (he was born 7lb2oz so wasn’t) but they also offered in my second and my dd was predicted a normal weight in growth scans.

Sweeps are painful. They are not proven to precipitate labour unless the body was already favourable in which case you may have gone into labour naturally anyway. What there is an evidence base for is the fact that they are an infection vector. Steer clear. 39 weeks I perfectly normally pregnant and you don't need to march to the beat of anyone's drum but your own.

https://midwifethinking.com/2015/03/18/induction-a-step-by-step-guide/

Have a look at the BRAIN tool to help you make your decision. Everything is your choice.

www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/our-services/maternity/your-antenatal-care/brain/#:~:text=The%20BRAIN%20tool%20provides%20a,risks%20associated%20with%20this%20decision%3F

Had mine at 39+5. Wasn't painful, just slightly uncomfortable but nothing awful. Went into labour around 36 hours later (on my due date). I was keen to have it as I was aged over 40 so they would have wanted to induce if I'd got to 40wks and ideally I really didn't want an induction (especially as this was during COVID so partner wouldn't have been allowed with me at that stage).

This isn't correct. Many posters, including me, have confirmed sweeps were not painful for them.

The efficacy is not fully proven of course. But then it's still not known what precipitates labour, so it can be that sweeps will help.

They won't continue if it isn't favourable, obviously.

I was offered a sweep at 38 weeks and declined. Very bizarre I thought to be offered quite so early but midwife said a lot of women ask for them so she just offers as part of conversation now providing post 37 weeks. Mad!