How much does a membrane sweep really hurt?

[dreamerkr]

Hey guys, I’m currently 36+1 and I have agreed to membrane sweeps at weeks 38, 39 and 40 as I want a VBAC. My 38 week midwife appointment is at 38+4 which is when I will have the sweep, if I don’t naturally go into labour before that (I’m guessing I won’t). Tbh I’m really scared because I’m not good at all with internal examinations. I’ve only had speculum exams before including one last week (which they tried but were unsuccessful as I was too scared) because of reduced movements. Anyway, are they as bad as speculum exams or worse? How much do they hurt? I feel like maybe I’ve made a mistake in choosing VBAC instead of another ELCS.. the only reason I chose VBAC is because maybe the recovery will be easier with a toddler but now I don’t know anymore. I’m more scared of the internal exams than the labour pain.

I’ve had loads. The honest answer on pain is “it depends”, as if your cervix is high it can be more painful. If you’ve already started dilating less painful etc. It also depends on the midwife. For mine I was always trying to avoid induction so basically told them to properly go for it… So yes, it hurt! Don’t regret it at all though, convinced it helped me go into labour (3 times).

Btw they might say they’re only “allowed” to do three. This is true, but with agreement from a consultant they can do more. (With my second baby I had 5 lol but they were very keen to try to get things moving - supposedly giant baby).

@TheIceBear urgh sorry you had that experience! It’s more common than we’re led to believe.

I can’t really say which type of labour I’d prefer because I’ve only known it to go quickly but the midwife that delivered my DS (who I’d only met moments before and didn’t even know my name) said to me “don’t let other women tell you you were lucky if you don’t feel it, birth is like a marathon that most women run - you just ran the whole thing at the pace of Mo Salah”. It felt really validating to hear that!

Not painful at all, but I wonder if there is evidence that they work? It’s never worked for anyone I know.

I had two, one with the midwife at clinic at 39 weeks which I barely felt, and which didn’t do anything. Then one on the induction bay by a male midwife after the two days of nothing happening with the pessary/gel. He was generally stressed and grumpy and complaining about being short-staffed. I heard him saying to the woman in the next bay after her exam, which sounded extremely painful, that he was trying to help break her waters. When he came to do mine it was the most painful thing I’d ever experienced, before I realised it was me I was screaming profanities at the top of my voice. Shortly after my waters broke (which I hadn’t consented to them trying to do) and then I was told I had to have the drip (which I’d wanted to avoid) or I’d get an infection. That was the beginning of a painful and unsuccessful induction that led to an EMCS. The sweep was as painful as the induction contractions but more concentrated and intense. I complained about it in my birth debrief and I was told there had been other complaints and the midwife had since left the hospital. It’s a difficult part of the birth to look back on and in some ways it felt similar to an assault. This time I am set on an ELCS, I don’t think they will need to do any exams or sweeps but I would refuse them.

Its entirely your choice, but do remember that 39 weeks is still not late for a baby to come. There is this obsession in the NHS with getting babies out before 40 weeks, whereas in other European countries like France it's deemed normal to be at term by 41 weeks.

You are not putting your baby at risk if you decline sweeps, unless there is some indicator something is wrong (i.e heart monitoring shows slowing down etc).

But please don't think I'm trying trying persuade you one way or the other. It really is your choice, don't forget that!

Some I found fine and one I found quite painful but it’s over super fast of that helps ! Just breathe and focus on that !

My painful sweep was a male doctor as well! I think smaller hands help make things a lot less painful