1st Sweep tomorrow

[justhereforthecraic]

Hello

My consultant has booked me in for a sweep tomorrow at 38+2. The reason is because I am an IVF pregnancy. Im a first time mother so im not sure what to expect.

Any tips or words of advice?

Im so excited to get my baby here but also incredibly nervous that things are ramping up :)

I had a sweep with my first at 40 weeks. It was a pretty odd experience tbh- uncomfortable and just weird. I was expecting it to be quicker. And didn't have any effect. Some women find them quite painful so be prepared for that. Also I think if you aren't already a little dilated they might not be able to do it at all.

I'm now 40+ with my second. Got a midwife appointment tomorrow but think I'll decline a sweep. There isn't much evidence for them working anyway. But possibly worth a shot.

It's not the most pleasant thing tbh but over pretty quick.

I had one with my IVF and it didn't work, I was booked in for induction anyway at 40 weeks. Are you booked in aswell?

Try to relax as much as you possibly can. I had my first one last week and it was much better than what I’d been expecting. Similar level to discomfort as having a smear test done, my midwife said that’s how it should feel if done correctly. I felt a lot of pressure but it wasn’t painful. I was 1/2cm dilated when getting mine done.

Wear a pad for your appointment as you’ll be asked to pop one on to monitor things after the sweep anyway.

I had a small amount of cramping afterwards then lost a lot of mucus plug the day after. Some painful contractions the day after that but now it’s all stopped again. If nothing has happened I’m getting another one on Thursday when I’ll be 39+4.

I found them VERY painful. I was not prepared for how much it would hurt

Put a pantyliner on as it can make you bleed a little afterwards

They're over fairly quickly - I took it as an opportunity to practice my deep breathing exercises

@Sunshineclouds11 yeah i have a 2nd sweep booked at 39 weeks and then booked in for induction on my due date. cant believe its got this far :) probably wont sleep tonight

thank you everyone! pads at the ready for tomorrow :) i think i lost some of my plug last night also so im hoping things start moving after tomorrow!

I'm planning to refuse sweeps. Painful, invasive and little evidence they work.