Sweeps

Booked in for a sweep next week and keep hearing mixed reviews about it being painful / uncomfortable / it working / it not working so please share your honest stories on sweeps to help make my mind up on whether to have one??🫶🏼

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Silly question from a first time mom to be... what is this sweep about?

mine was uncomfortable and didn’t work but it is literally just one of those things where it’s different for every single person

I had a sweep at 38+6 with my first the midwife really didn't want to do it because she said they hardly ever worked my hind waters went so when I went in 24 hours later because th contractions were coming thick and fast they sent me back home for a further 24 hours even though the midwife didn't want me to (the policy has changed now in our area as there is a test they can actually do to check it's amniotic fluid as once they've gone jt increases risk of infection) my labour ended in an emergency c section but don't think this was related to the sweep tbh. I think it's different for every single person tbh

Sorry 38+2 born at 38÷6

@Lindelani Midwife going round your cervix with finger/fingers to help it stretch. It can start labour, but does not necessarily work for everyone

So the first thing is that they need to have discussed all the risks and benefits with you, have they told you about the chance of breaking waters, bleeding, infection etc? Also sweeps are not very effective, I think it's 9 women would need a sweep in order for it to work on 1 person. There is some research that says they only work if your body is ready to go into labour already, if it is it MAY bring on labour a day earlier. But if your body isn't ready it wont. Also worth asking why they're suggesting a sweep? Is it just because your due date is coming up? Sweeps are a method of induction and should be treated as such, so if there's a reason they want to induce your labour early you should be told other alternatives as well. You might like these pages for more info https://www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/membrane-sweeping-for-induction-of-labour/ https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/what-is-a-stretch-and-sweep/

Got my second sweep today, I had one last week and it didn’t work. In my opinion it does hurt but not that bad worth it if it does end up working for you! You will cramp and contract afterwards though. Still worth it which is why I got it again after it not working last week😅 Fingers crossed this one works!