38+5 week Stretch and Sweep stories

[CoolCat44]

Hi, I’m currently 38+5 and had a stretch and sweep today. I’m hoping for some stories on peoples experiences with this and whether successful or not and how many you’ve had?
I’ve had the one today (Thursday) and attempting one more Monday but praying it kicks in before. She said I was around 3cm high?? And that I was open on part and closed on the other. Very confusing

Ok, so that sounds like the head is still quite high. The cervix is like a tube, sounds like the outside is open a bit and the inside is closed.
this doesn’t sound like a very ‘favourable’ cervix- ie not likely to work but never impossible. But very normal for 38 weeks as likely your body just isn’t ready yet.

Why did you have one at 38 weeks out of curiosity?
Anyway I've had a total of 4 and none of them have ever worked for me so hopefully you have more luck. The last one I had was so painful. She was so rough she put me off ever having one again.

Second one worked at over 39 in my case, started labour the morning after (or maybe, as people tell me, it would have happened then anyway). Seems worth trying to me, anything that might help's worth it.

I went to have one done at 39+1 as I was hoping to avoid an induction. Unfortunately my cervix wasn’t favourable and the midwife couldn’t even attempt it. I did have successful ones at 40+3 (when, unbeknownst to me, I was already 3cm and in early labour), and 39+5 (again, in early labour), but have no idea the chances of it setting things off if you haven’t already started…

I have to admit it was quite painful and uncomfortable feeling but I also struggle with smears. I have a C-section booked for the 10th but I’m praying to do VBAC but my first child I had no labouring whatsoever due to breech so it’s been deemed not to risk going over and being induced. I did have some fluid and blood specks when I got up which she wouldn’t even look at nor tell me anything so I have no idea if she was successful or just tried to do something just to do it. It’s a little frustrating

have to admit it was quite painful and uncomfortable feeling but I also struggle with smears. I have a C-section booked for the 10th but I’m praying to do VBAC but my first child I had no labouring whatsoever due to breech so it’s been deemed not to risk going over and being induced. I did have some fluid and blood specks when I got up which she wouldn’t even look at nor tell me anything so I have no idea if she was successful or just tried to do something just to do it. It’s a little frustrating

I had a one similarly which was so painful, it was the Sunday and I was 38+4 I was booked in for an induction 39+1 on the follow Thursday I was keen to avoid!! Anyway we also DTD on the Monday (sperm has prostaglandins which is what they use for first part of induction with the gel) so I was booked in for another sweep the Wednesday, day before my induction. I ended up losing my mucas plug Tuesday so I think it all helped it along and didn’t need the sweep Wednesday and then before my sister came to collect me for my induction I went into labour that morning naturally! So see what you can do…. I did also have a pregnancy massage on that Tuesday and reflexology the Friday before, every little helped I think for me! All the best xx

They work if the body is ready. If you’re not ready they won’t do anything. I had one with dd1 but inwas 40+3 and already 1cm dilated and I started to get mild cramps straight away and was in labour the next day good luck op

That’s an early CS if your plan A is a vaginal birth. Most would book the CS after 41 weeks.

That photo looks totally normal after a sweep so don’t worry about that x