Membrane sweep

[Strawberry06]

I'm 40 weeks on Thursday and seeing my midwife tomorrow where they were talking about doing a membrane sweep? I'm in two minds about whether to have it or whether to wait if things happen naturally between weeks 40 and 41?

Hello!

I had two very different experiences with sweeps.

I think before 40 weeks is too soon but just ask her to examine you first, if your cervix is soft and you are dilating then I’d say go for it!

First baby had a few sweeps from 39-41 weeks and they never did a thing!

Second I had a sweep just before 39 weeks and waters broke not long after, however failed to progress and contractions did not start. However, I strongly believe that this is because the sweep she did was a pretty intense one (kinda hurt actually!) so even though I feel it worked on eventually leading my waters to break, it was probably done too soon and my body wasn’t labour ready if that makes sense? Hence no contractions.

So, I think at 40 weeks you are an ideal candidate for a sweep. You are nearly there so hopefully it will either not do anything or it will encourage your labour-ready body.

Good luck! X

@Strawberry06 thanks for creating this thread as this has been on my own mind all day & still feel 50/50 about it myself.. I can have one tomorrow depending on how my cervix is (last week my cervix was nowhere near ready) will be 39+2 tomorrow x

I’ve had two sweeps this pregnancy (my second pregnancy), one at 39 and one at 39+2. I’m still pregnant at 39+5 now but seem to be in the latent stage of labour (thankfully without pain).

My midwife spoke about sweeps being more effective in second/third pregnancies etc as the cervix is more ready - in first pregnancies the cervix can be completely unfavourable and not ready, aka clamped shut at 39 weeks still.

I didn’t have a sweep with my first as I had my DD at 38+2 so I can’t comment on that one.

Although I’ve not had baby yet this time, it was useful to know that things were progressing in terms of dilation from an exam which has put my mind at ease a bit so it hasn’t felt like I’m waiting and nothing is happening!

Have a chat with your midwife about pros/cons/risks so you can make an informed decision about what it right for you.

It can help things along, but only if you’re already ready to go into labour. I had one at 40+5 which did nothing and another at 41+2, I had her that day but I had been getting tightenings since 5am that morning anyway so I don’t think the sweep actually did anything.