So, i'm going for a sweep tomorrow <Gulp> What........

[BlueSapphire77]

....Does it involve, and what can i expect to happen?

I'm 40+6
The midwife said she will do a membrane sweep tomorrow, i have had twinges and painful braxton hicks, obviously they have come to nothing cos i'm still here

Thanks!!

Its a bit like being an extra in Vets In Practice.

Its really Ok, just two fingers in and around the cervix to try and loosen things up a bit. If you are a little bit along the way then its really fine.

At least that's how I remember it!

It can hurt or at least for me it did - she couldn't find my cervix saying it was too far back and long and closed to feel. 2 hours later I was in hospital (totally unrelated problem) and was checked my cervix was fully effaced and 3cm. But the theory is she inserts 2 fingers and if the cervix is favourable she 'irritates' the cervix by fiddling in and around it. If it is not favourable she will just wiggle it abont or leave it a few days.

I've had three and they are uncomfortable but over just before they start to get painful if you know what a mean. I think they hurt less the closer you are to going naturally as well so you should be fine.

i had one at 38+6 as i begged mw to do it, and i was already 3cm dilated. it was uncomfortable, bit sore but over quickly...

waters broke next morning, ds born 8 hours later!

don't think anything would happen if things weren't ready to, but as you're overdue you may well find it speeds it all up.

good luck

It's just a bit uncomfortable, not unlike a smear but it's over very quickly and does help if you relax.

I had one done at 40+2 and it did naff all - hope yours has a quicker outcome!

Thanks for all your replies, sorry didn't post sooner but started this thread and was worried there would be horror stories all over it so scared to look hehe

Thank you!!

I have this done .....like the others say they have a wriggle about...i didn't find it painful...just a bit weird...i was 2 cms dilated when they examined me.

..i went home, had a bit of backache..bit of blood stained mucus...did some hoovering..squatting.....and it all faded away and was induced 1 week later.

Go AWAY you I don't want horror stories lol

i had it done on the saturday (its not that bad - not painful, maybe a bit uncomfortable, but over very quickly) on the sunday i had pains all day and went into labour at 4:20am monday morning - ds2 was here at 12:01midday

so....
saturday...sweep
sunday.....pains
monday.....beautiful baby boy!

athough for some it does nothing...

good luck

I had it done with dd1- as far as I was aware, the mw just had a bit of a guddle up there, nothing horrendous!

I went to see a film afterwards (to DHs horror!)- had crampy pains throughout, which came to nothing BUT went into spontaneous (4hr) labour overnight! Good luck!

I thought it didn't hurt at all, though mw did say everything was looking good. Waters broke that night, went into labour 2 hours after waters broke, dd born 2 hours later!

I had it done with my third 40+3 in the am went into labour 9pm same day.
Had it done with my 4th 40+2 40+7 40+10 went into labour 40+11.
I think if baby is ready to come then it just encourages it to start but if baby is not ready it will come when it is. I found them uncomfortable but not painful.
Good luck

I had it done with my third 40+3 in the am went into labour 9pm same day.
Had it done with my 4th 40+2 40+7 40+10 went into labour 40+11.
I think if baby is ready to come then it just encourages it to start but if baby is not ready it will come when it is. I found them uncomfortable but not painful.
Good luck

Whoops double cliked and posted twice(blush)