Failed Membrane Sweep?

[Twinkl3]

Ladies,

I'm 40+2 and had a sweep done today by my midwife.

Unfortunately though it was a failed attempt as my cervix is too far back that she could just about reach it. She said externally my cervix is 1cm dilated but internally the cervix is closed. She managed to stimulate it slightly but couldn't do a proper sweep, apparently theres a small chance that it may get things rolling but it isnt as successful as a proper sweep.

I'm just wondering if this has happened to anyone before? If it has, was yours successful?

Is it common to feel a bit painful afterwards? I've got slight cramping and the odd pain here any there but I'm presuming that this is just because of the procedure?

 

[angela98661]

I had an attemped sweep at 38 weeks and i wasnt dilated so she couldnt do it. Then i had one at 39w6d and one post 40 weeks im not sure exact days but all of them didnt send me into labor

 

[seaweed eater]

I couldn't have a sweep done even after early labor had started, due to zero progress. My labor started naturally but was augmented with cervidil and actually went pretty fast once it got going.

 

[jenmcn1]

With my 2nd baby I had a sweep at 37,38 & 39 weeks. All of which I was 2cm dialated already. And nothing however we discovered my daughter was breech. So this is most likely why it wasn't successful, because her head wasn't down to push against my Cervix to send me into proper labour. After my sweeps I had lost my mucus plug, cramping bleeding.

 

[xdxxtx]

With my second baby, I had an attempted sweep that didn't work out, too. I was 75% effaced but not even a cm dilated so doc couldn't get a finger in there. She rubbed it a little and tried to dig in but nope. Nothing. I felt LOTS of pressure for the next day, and then it all passed. It turns out my baby was back-to-back and not putting the pressure needed to dilate on my cervix. I got another sweep 2 days later, when I was a full cm dilated, baby had turned into an optimal position, and my cervix was almost completely effaced, and I gave birth 24 hours later.

If you're opened up a bit (as you said 1 cm), sex can help you get prepped for labor (and might even jump start labor)! Sperm works wonders! I always use the "on all fours" position to help put the pressure of baby's head on the cervix. It's my "secret" for being effaced and getting my kids' heads down low. Along with walking up and down stairs, with a nice spring in my step (bouncing).

 

[teal]

I had an attempted sweep at 40+6. I was less than a cm dilated and cervix still very far back that midwife couldn't properly hook around it. My son made his appearance the following day

 

[Moolia]

I wouldn't get your hopes up. My first sweep with my first pregnancy sounds similar to yours but she managed to reach it a bit better than that. I was 1-2cm dilated and my cervix thinned and soft but still posterior. I had a lot of bleeding after but no labour! Another 2 sweeps and 2 weeks later, DS finally arrived!
You could still go into labour though - not everyone can be as unlucky as me!!