Membrane sweep - how successful are they?

[kirstybumx3]

I'm booked in for a membrane sweep next Thursday with my midwife if my cervix allows. Yesterday at my appointment I was 2cms dilated so pretty sure she will be able to go ahead and do it.
She is away on holiday the week of my due date so if I do go over I won't see her until I'm 8 days overdue which I really don't want!
My only concern is, how successful are membrane sweeps? And how soon does labour usually come on if it's going to?
OH is away for the weekend Friday-Sunday after my sweep the day before so I'm wondering if I'll go into labour while he's away. It won't be a problem as such, he's only a little over 2 hours away, but I'd prefer not to have him rushing back.
Anyone have previous experience with membrane sweeps?

 

[loeylo]

I had lots of sweeps when I was pregnant, they were trying to tempt her out from 37w so as to avoid induction because they really didn't want me going overdue (history of reduced movements)

I had one at 37w, 38w, two in the 39th week, then one on my due date before being induced the following morning.

Each time I had quite a bit of cramping and I found them very uncomfortable. I personally would avoid them in future

 

[WackyMumof2]

I've never had one but I do remember my sister saying she had several with my niece as they needed baby out due to GD. None of them worked and in the end it was in hospital on a drip for 3 days before labour actually started. But double check with your midwife when she does your sweep as a couple of evening primrose oil caps placed up by the cervix is rumored to get labour going within hours.

 

[Mummafrog]

I had one at 39+4 and had a lot of cramping and started losing my plug but here I am at 40+1 still waiting. I might not have another one to be honest because it made my cervix feel very sore for a few days and bleed a bit and it feels unnatural. My first came without sweeps, I just need to wait.

But those are my personal feelings
There aren't particularly helpful statistics or research about sweeps, it's usually stated as around 50% effective and gets more effective the more you have, but then maybe that's just because you're closer to labour anyway.
They also say if the sweep has helped trigger labour it's within 24-48 hours, after that it's probably just labour starting when it would have anyway.

Hope that's helpful in some way all the best x

 

[kirstybumx3]

I'm thinking of declining it on the day now. I'll still go see my midwife anyway, but if there's a high chance it's going to just make me sore uncomfortable and do nothing I don't feel like there's much point! Thanks ladies. X

 

[second.time]

I had one done on the morning of 39w4d (Thursday morning). I went into labor at midnight on Sunday (40w). So that was about 2.5 days later, and I can't say whether or not labor would have started on its own. Mine hurt a lot as I was only one centimeter, but I don't regret it because my body did feel different afterwards. I had a lot more cramping, a lot more bloody show, and I do wonder if it kicked something off. I'd probably get one again if I was planning on a third baby. Good luck with yours if you choose to have one!

 

[superfrizbee]

I've had two successful sweeps, both at 41 weeks which is when the midwives where I am do them. One was at 10am on Saturday and I had my dd at 5.37am the following morning (first noticed pains at 1am, but went back to sleep at woke around 3ish with the real deal). My second sweep was a morning one too and pains started nearly straight away. My son was born at 7.12pm that evening.

 

[SonnyH]

My sweep broke my waters, so I had to go into labour within 24 hours or be induced! I'd been having some contractions but it took until nearly 24 hours post sweep before they really kicked in & I was def in labour! So it did work for me!

 

[MrsButterfly]

I had one at 40 weeks with my second baby. I didn't find it painful but it didn't work for me.

 

[kirstybumx3]

I'm so undecided. I'll probably make my decision on the day depending how wimpy I'm feeling

 

[Eleanor ace]

I hate getting sweeps but I'd always get one if offered (unless my consultant went mad and randomly offered one at 36 weeks or something) because of the chance that my body will be ready and it will get things going.
With my 1st I had several and none of them worked as I wasn't ready for labour. My cervix was high, tipped back etc and it was very sore but I really wanted to avoid induction. With my 2nd I had a sweep and it was much less sore than the others because my body was ready, I was 3cm dilated and my cervix was much more accessible. I went into labour 48 hours later IIRC. With my 3rd I had a sweep on my due date and I wasn't dilated or anything, it was sore (but she gave it a really good attempt as we needed LO out and I was booked for induction) and didn't do anything.
If you're feeling uncertain you could perhaps get a cervical check, see whether your cervix is accessible/dilated and then if the MW thinks she'll be able to give you a good sweep you could decide then?

 

[Lemonade]

I had one at 40w4d and one at 41 weeks with my first baby. At the first one I was 2-3 cm and the second one 3-4cm and both did absolutely nothing! I was induced at 42 weeks in the end.

 

[sarah1980]

Does anyone know if midwives in the U.K. will check your cervix if you ask? I have an appointment at 38 weeks and although I doubt she'd do a sweep that early I'm considering asking her to check if there's anything going on in there as I've had a few episodes of quite bad cramping that's never come to anything.

Sarah

 

[kirstybumx3]

Does anyone know if midwives in the U.K. will check your cervix if you ask? I have an appointment at 38 weeks and although I doubt she'd do a sweep that early I'm considering asking her to check if there's anything going on in there as I've had a few episodes of quite bad cramping that's never come to anything.

Sarah

I'm in the UK and had mine checked on Thursday. She asked me if I wanted her to just see what was going on down there as I'd had some infrequent braxton hicks. She said she was 'allowed' to as it isn't my first baby and he's already quite big. Can't hurt to ask. X

 

[sarah1980]

Does anyone know if midwives in the U.K. will check your cervix if you ask? I have an appointment at 38 weeks and although I doubt she'd do a sweep that early I'm considering asking her to check if there's anything going on in there as I've had a few episodes of quite bad cramping that's never come to anything.

Sarah

I'm in the UK and had mine checked on Thursday. She asked me if I wanted her to just see what was going on down there as I'd had some infrequent braxton hicks. She said she was 'allowed' to as it isn't my first baby and he's already quite big. Can't hurt to ask. X

Thanks! I'll certainly ask then.xx

 

[Stellae]

I had two done with my first, which gave me awful contractions for 10+ hours, and did nothing. Honestly those contractions were worse than my labor contractions @ 4-5 cm. I also had a sweep done with my second, which worked, but labor lasted a really long time. The ones with my firstborn were done 37-38 weeks, the one with my second was only 4 days before my due date.

I'd just wait it out. I know you're probably at your wits end with pregnancy, but in my opinion the day-long contractions (and getting your hopes up for what may not be true labor) aren't worth it.

 

[Sarahcake]

I had two done with my first.

The first one was at a midwife appointment at 38 weeks and it did absolutely nothing. I felt no different.

The second, happened as I was being induced. They were trying to progress me gently with pesseries so I got a sweep and a pesserie.
About 20 minutes later I was in absolute agony, turns out my son had turned himself back to back and the debrief after the labour attributed this to the sweep. He didn't like it at all.

In the end though, the only thing that started my labour was a drip and having my waters broken.

I'm not entirely sure I would accept one this time around to be honest.

 

[sarah1980]

Well I asked today but no such luck! I'll not see my midwife again until 2 weeks today which will be my 39 week appointment although I'll actually be 39+6 as the clinic day falls on a Monday and I'm due in the Tuesday. She said we can discuss it then 😩😩😩

Sarah xxx