What is the difference between..

shaina925

I am due on Tuesday and went for an appointment today.  I got checked and I was 1cm, but close to 2 and 70 percent effaced.  The week before I was not even 1cm.  My question is, what is the difference between a membrane sweep and them checking for dilation?  I ask because I looked up what a membrane sweep was and it sounded very similar to what happened to me today, and I had bleeding afterwards.  The first time no blood.  Was he trying to provoke something?

kanga915

Some doctors will sweep you without telling you, which is gross and unethical in my opinion. A sweep is different from a cervical exam. An exam is just where they take two fingers and see how big the opening in your cervix is (from zero to ten centimeters). A sweep involves using their fingers in a sweeping motion between the amniotic sac and your cervix. It can sometimes jumpstart labor (but not always).

shaina925

I believe it felt like a sweeping motion, but I am not positive.  The one last week was definitely just a check.  This one I was much more uncomfortable after and had the bleeding unlike the first time around. 

jen83mn

I had a cervical check at 36 and at 38 weeks. The one at 36 weeks hurt and I had brown spotting afterward and a bit of cramping. The one at 38 weeks hurt worse and I had red spotting afterward and cramping. I know she didn't sweep my membranes since I had just asked her about it and she said they would do that at 39 weeks if I wanted it done, but it did hurt worse than the earlier one. I'm guessing it was because my cervix was even more effaced and more sensitive.

chelseajeanene

I had a little bit of bleeding when I was dilated to just 1 cm but never bled when they checked when I was further along. I never got sweeped