Sweep booked for 38 weeks ( sometime during that week) Tips and advice please 🙏

[Orangeroses243]

1st Baby, happy healthy and chunky 💕 Booked for sweep at 38 weeks to hopefully get things moving. Are they generally Successful after first one?
Do they hurt?
Any experiences really welcome for this new mummy here sat wondering 🤔
TIA xx

If you'd body isn't ready, it won't make any difference. Yes they're uncomfortable but ask your MW to stop if it is too much. Good luck! 🤞🏻

If your body*

How successful a sweep will be depends on your cervix at the time of your appointment, at 38 weeks especially with your first baby your cervix may still be totally closed and far back so a sweep isn’t doable or if they can do anything it’s not particularly effective but worth a go! I had a sweep at I think it was just before 39 weeks and it didn’t do anything for me, it wasn’t painful though just a bit uncomfortable. I had another sweep as a last try before having to be induced which again wasn’t painful but didn’t do anything. Good luck!

Don’t bother would be my advice.

Baby will come where they’re ready. There is no need for anyone to be poking around your cervix at 38 weeks if baby is happy and cooking nicely.

I had 2 sweeps. One at 40+1 which did nothing but potentially give me an infection (I could - and probably will - go to PALS about the myriad issues my midwife caused me, both physically and mentally, during my pregnancy) and one at 40+3 when I was in hospital as they were hoping to avoid an induction. It nearly pushed me off the bed! 😂 but that and a good walk around the hospital grounds/up and down the stairs broke my waters, so I can't say they were useless, however I still ended up with an EMCS (because of aforementioned infection...).

What’s the reason for having a sweep so early?

@Garman induction booked for 39 weeks ad dont want me to go to 40 due to size of baby so booked sweep at 38 to maybe try get things working

I think it depends on your cervix. If it isn’t favourable they may not be able to do it. With both of my boys I had a sweep and was “1cm” when the midwife did it, and went into labour with both within 48 hours. Best of luck to you 😍

They've never worked for me, DD1 I had a sweep at 37 weeks was 1-2cm and she was convinced I'd be in labour within the next day or so, she was still in at 40 weeks, had another sweep was 2-3cm, could stretch to 4 and waters bulging, she stayed put until 40+5

DD2 induced at 39 weeks due to size and age and other issues, had sweeps from 38 weeks and they didn't help, she was born at 39+5 and 7lbs 10 rather than the 9lber plus they predicted