cervical sweeps

[rebeccabits]

Im 37 weeks gone with my first child and have been told to expect a xxxL baby, doctor not allowing me to go full term but is starting me with a sweep next week and i would like to hear from other people who have had this procedure and if it was succesful or painful.

wasnt painful, but not exactly pleasant (in same way smears are not pleasant iykwim). i had three done, had a bit of a show and a few contractions after each. it didnt actually start me off but i think it got me closer and i went into labour naturally a few days after third (1st time i did it without being induced - 3rd baby). even if it doesnt make labour start im sure it will help and my midwife said they had a fairly high success rate so it does work for many women. good luck with birth, dont worry about size of baby, they usually cant be very sure anyway and fwiw i couldnt tell any difference between ds1 (9lb13) and ds2 (8lb7)

Thank for that debs, its the not knowing that scares me, i have read so much on the negative that it is nice to have some positive feedback as the doctor`s really want natural labour to start, before they begin on the induction route. Im helping them all i can with the raspberry leaf tea and pineapples!!!

Not painful but 'uncomfortable' - I'd say more so than a smear test but it's over quickly.

Didn't work for me at all but neither did 4 doses of induction gel the 1st time. Think my babies just get too damn comfy & don't want to come out (had 2 sections).

Good luck.

PS - do you know that sex is supposed to help induce labour too ? Semen has the same hormone in it that's used in induction.

i would talk to your midwife, they are usually more clued up (and nicer) than doctors. its over in a few seconds. 1st babies are terrifying whatever your circumstances, but if it was that bad none of us would have had 2nd, 3rd etc..

I've been trying the sex route but my hubby is so damn horney he keeps wasting it, if you know what i mean will keep trying every natural remedy and wives tale till then. Thanks for reasurring me that its not painful.

See my midwife has not been particularly helpful she is like one of those old school matrons, so im a bit scared of her which is why i have turned to you guys.

Are you ok about the idea of a section if it comes to it?

There's loads on here about sections if you need to know. I was terrified - not at all what I'd wanted but both turned out great.

Sounds like it's not what you want though so fingers crossed the sex/tea/curry/walking methods work for you.

thats a shame rebecca, never mind i for one am happy to give as many gory details as required if it makes you feel better.

The consultant has been fantastic, there is the possiblity of a section if everything else fails, but at least they are prepared to try everything first.I did get teary when the consultant told me that i would have to go to the labour ward at the large horrible hospital rather than at the beautiful cottage hospital i was booked into, so no pool, whale music, birthing chair, just a cold sterile hospital bed overlooking a premiership football ground, but as long as me and junior are fine i couldn't care less.

I had a succesful sweep with my first, but had 3 sweeps with my 2nd and he still didn't get moving! I did have a show and some niggling minor contractions after each and I did also dilate a bit after each so that in the end I could have my waters broken to induce me rather than syntocin. For me they were definitely less uncomfortable than a smear.

Did you know that reflexology can help? Re. pineapples, think you have to eat at least one whole pineapple in a day. I got to be a bit of an expert on this one having had 2 late babies now! My MW always said that the one really successful method is sex (& try to stay lying down for as long as poss afterwards, to keep the semen, which contains prostaglandins, on the cervix).

Good luck