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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Sweep of the cervical membrane- did it work to get labour started or did it fail for you?

38 replies

Eva3 · 04/02/2005 20:30

Getting a bit desperate with sore hips and terrible sleep. Had my membranes swept by OB today at 11am but so far nothing. Last time, with DD2, it got things going within 4 hours. Am curious what the success rate is, and what others have experienced. Am not due until Monday but OB said he could feel baby's head and could break the waters if I wanted him to. Am hopeful this is all it will take....

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sweetbean · 17/02/2005 08:22

Toothach
so realeived to find out that you feel the same as me i am 1 week over due tommorow and will be having a sweep. i am worried that it will hurt but realy don't want to be pregnant anymore!! i have sufferd from swollen everything and thought i had got away with no streach marks untill they started to arrive a week ago.i am just so feed up and uncomfortable,i can't wait not to be pregnant the only thing i will miss is feeling it move.To me the end result is what were working for I just hope that the sweep works for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uwila · 17/02/2005 09:08

I think it's perfectly normal to want the baby to get out on time. I lease out my womb on fixed term contracts. 40 weeks and you are out...

Just remember your paracetemol and it shouldn't be too terribly bad. But, also remember that it might not work... AND consider that there may be a reason that you haven't gone into labour. Has the baby engaged?

Uwila · 17/02/2005 09:09

By the way, my first was born 16 days after the due date, so I can definately sympathise with you.

pupuce · 17/02/2005 09:25

Girls - sweep do NOT always hurt - where does that come from ???
Some women find them totally painless... it's down to WHERE your cervix is at... and how skillful the midwife is.

Uwila · 17/02/2005 09:35

Well, my story comes from personal experience. Perhaps others are more fortunate. Perhaps if it hurts is a sign that your body is not preparing for birth. In my case, I was induced after the sweep and things didn't really progress much, ended up in emergency c-section. So possibly I found mine painful because my body just wasn't preparing for birth (even 14 days overdue).

Toothache · 17/02/2005 10:44

Pupuce - Mine was painless. I was 2-3cm dilated and perhaps already in early labour though. I suppose that's why.

I would've done anything to get into labour!! I even resorted to having sex with DH!!!

amynnixmum · 17/02/2005 11:12

My doctor did mine. It was unconfrotable but not painful. He did it twice a few days apart but it didn't make any difference for me.

Tash22 · 31/07/2006 21:50

Hi All

I am 40+3 days and went into hospital this morning as I hadn't felt the baby move for ages (normally really active). Anyway as soon as they put me on the monitor bump started going mad so luckily no problems.

I was asked if I wanted a sweep and decided that anything is worth a go (especially carrying in this heat).

This is my second pregnancy and although the sweep did feel a little uncomfortable it wasn't as bad as I expected. I think the more you relax the easier it is (and anyhow it only lasts a few seconds).

Since arriving home I've had a show and my braxton hicks are much stronger, so I hope it won't be long now. My bags are all packed and I'm sat here waiting for things to move.

Good Luck to you all, and remember to relax and take deep breaths if you do go ahead with the sweep :0

MamaG · 31/07/2006 21:52

I had a sweep with second baby. It was a bit uncomfortable, can't honestly describe it as painful, and it got things moving very quickly.

Xena · 31/07/2006 21:53

Had sweeps in 3 of my pgs and the 2 times it work it hurt the times it didn't work (and it was done twice in that pg) it didn't hurt nearly as much

Xena · 31/07/2006 21:54

The second sweep that worked took 3days to make anything happen but I was 37wks

RobbiesGirl · 02/01/2008 15:37

help, i am 5 days overdue with my second baby, first baby was only 4 days over, and i have been experiencing uncomfortable contractions for the past 2 weeks on and off during the night and they start off quite painful, and close together then they fade away and become less painful and further apart,i haven't had a show, however i did with my first, and am generally starting to convince myself that this little pne just isn't going to happen, ever!!!
i am however booked in for a membrane sweep in 2 days time, but had one during labour with my first baby and have never felt so much pain in a place i didn't even know existed, so i am a bit nervous this time, and i know that it might not even work..... have tried sex,and squating but still the baby refuses to show himself......has anyone got any advice?

fariaisabella · 24/05/2012 07:16

Okay, I think im pretty much an expert on getting sweeped. My first daughter was 1 week over due and during the two weeks prior, I had been swept 5 times. The very first time, I did not know what to expect. It hurt, a lot. It hurt pretty much the same the next 4 times too. The very last time, my doctor did a pretty good job and I went home with blood and cramps. Went into labour at 7:30 am the next morning and delivered at 4:30. Let me tell you though... I thought it was the worst pain ever felt until I was on oxitocen and had my water broken and was not able to have any pain medication. That was the worst pain ever felt lol. That made the 2 minute sweep seem like a joke.

Now what makes me an expert is that Im now carrying twins. Im 36 +6 and my doctor has given me a sweep 5 days ago. I was 1 cm dilated and the baby engaged. It didn't hurt nearly as much as with my daughter. I was just stripped again today and I was 3 cm dilated... It didn't hurt at all.
So its all about how dilated you are. If you aren't dilated, the doctor has to force their finger in to strip. If you're dilated then there is room for the finger and it doesn't hurt.

It is nothing to be scared of. Its better than getting drug induced. getting a sweep can put you into labour naturally... youd rather avoid the other methods if you can... I mean, it only takes 2 minutes if that and you're done. Safe and sound and get to go home and relax.

Don't stress about the sweep... if it helps and you go into labour, it will be the best two minutes you spend in your doctors office. The pain comes when you push the baby out lol you're in for it if you're worried about a finger going in!

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