What happened after your membrane sweep?

[MrsCraig87]

I had a sweep earlier today and since then had a few cramps, snot stuff has appeared on my pants, i canr now bend over (guess baby has dropped) and my bowels empty after everytime i eat.

What happened after your sweep? Did you have your baby soon after?

Thanks x

Hi I had a sweep at 12pm when 5 days late. Had cramps & bit of bloody dischage all afternoon - went into hospital at 8pm and DS was born at 4.37am next morning! When was/is your due date? Sounds like its starting to me!!

I'm due saturday.....i really don't want to get excited incase it turns to nothing....lol

oh exciting!! i had my sweep on wed am and had bad cramps on and off until the saturday night when i went into 'proper' labour and ds was born sunday afternoon.

good luck

Nowt and it hurt like hell!!

My midwife said it was only effective in 50% of cases, so you might be offered another one in few days. But if the baby isnt ready it wont come!

DD - 6 nights of strong cx that stopped in the day, then had a sweep at midday, in full labour by teatime.

DS - 2 sweeps that started strong but ineffective cx every 5 mins. Was knackering and not dilating. Spent 3 days like that then had waters broken and he was out within 2 hours.

As others have said, if you're overdue and ready, a sweep can help, but if you're not, be wary. I plan on avoiding a sweep this time if I possibly can. But I get so impatient...

I've never heard of a membrane sweep! What do they entail? Are they common? Am I a total dufus for not knowing this??

I'm not medical, but from what I know, the midwife puts 2 fingers into your cervix and sort of twists them. Also just called a sweep. Can only be done if cervix is 'favourable', ie she can get 2 fingers in. I stand by to be corrected...

Had a sweep at 11am on the Fri, had the baby at 10.30pm the next day. Good luck x

i was the same, i had a sweep when i was due..baby wasn't ready i then had another sweep when i was 9 days over and baby was born the very next day..good luck xx

Nothing! had a sweep at 40 + 1 and another 10 days later. Was induced at 42+5.

I had a sweep yesterday morning (41 weeks exactly) and when I stood up afterwards some mucus plug came out. Since then, a few cramps but no different to the period type cramps I’ve already had for the last 10 days. I hoped something would happen overnight....but nothing.

But I wanted to explain something to those who haven’t been through a sweep, because I would have liked to have known.

1. I didn’t find it painful, just not particularly fun, like a smear test
2. Often they are not successful because they can’t reach etc

For me, if you picture the cervix like a bagel with an opening at either end, she could only get one finger in the lower end but the upper end was still closed. She also said that my cervix was still high and posterior but had started softening.

She also said that she did a similar partial sweep on another lady whose waters broke later that day - but for me - 24 hours later nothing has happened.

Anyway I didn’t know that “partial” sweeps were a thing so hopefully that helps someone out there - interestingly the baby’s heart rate went up after the sweep so even though she couldn’t reach to do it properly it obviously had some form of an effect. Perhaps I just need a second one to get things moving.

I have another sweep booked for tomorrow morning and an induction for 4 days time....hopefully it doesn’t come to that.

Me again!

So I had my second sweep yesterday (2 days after my first), at 41+2. The midwife said there had only been a little progress since my last partial one. It was still high and posterior, and only the lower opening was dilated about 1cm with the top end of the cervix still firmly closed.

She tried to pull my cervix down and forward - needless to say this partial sweep was a bit more painful than the first - but it faded quite quickly.

Again the baby’s heart rate increased afterwards so it indicated that at least some little nudge was given to him!

Today (the day after) more mucus plug has come out and feeeling a bit lightheaded actually, so taking the afternoon easy, and hoping for a miracle tonight, as I am booked for the first stage of an induction tomorrow morning (41+4).

@GriShe this thread is 10 yrs old!