Is cervical stimulation the same as a membrane sweep?

deanna1313 · May 2014

Went to my 39 week appt today and the dr said I'm still only 1cm and that she wanted to stimulate my cervix to see if we can get things moving. Otherwise, if I don't have this baby(due date is the 21st) she will induce me on the 28th.
That got me thinking after I left. Was that a membrane sweep she did or was it something different?

spacepotatoes · May 2014

A membrane sweep is where they sever the membranes that connect the uterus to the cervix. It doesn't like the same thing but I've actually never heard of cervical stimulation so I'm not sure. She didn't explain?

pistolpackinmomma · May 2014

Could the stimulation be like some kind of something or other to help ripen the cervix? I've never heard if this either.

gutsysneakers · May 2014

Did it hurt? The cervical sweeps are usually extremely uncomfortable.

hatrats · May 2014

I had a membrane sweep last time and it was basically like a vigorous cervical check. I didn't find it to be painful, just uncomfortable. I'm not really sure what cervical stimulation is.

mirdamae03 · May 2014

It sounds like it might have been. Like PP said it's like a more aggressive cervical check. The finger(s) make a circular motion all the way around the inside of the opening.

spacepotatoes · May 2014

deanna1313 said:

@mirdamae03‌ okay. She did mention something about getting her finger in the opening so that would make sense.

Maybe she did a stretch and sweep?

jenb_99 · May 2014

@spacepotatoes said:

@deanna1313 said:

@mirdamae03‌ okay. She did mention something about getting her finger in the opening so that would make sense.

Maybe she did a stretch and sweep?

That's what I'm thinking. I had a triage nurse try to do this to me in my last days with DS. I was at what they were calling "a fingertip," and she tried to stretch the opening enough that my OB could do a true sweep the next day. It didn't work for me, but she said she had a decent success rate with it.

jenb_99 · May 2014

I'm sure that's what she meant, then, if she didn't schedule a follow-up for a cervical ripener placement, which usually involves a few hours' monitoring in triage.

Irritating the cervix in such a manner as poking and stretching a bit can stimulate it to start the ripening process, so she was probably just trying to see if things could happen on their own before she suggests other options (like prostaglandins, cytotec) before scheduling the induction.

I hope it works for you. Good luck!

deanna1313 · May 2014

I should have asked, but I find that I think of these things after I leave the office. I was too busy asking if it hurts.

She just said "let's see if we can start moving this baby along". She did mention something about trying to stick her finger in the 1cm opening.

It's not like me to not ask questions so now I'm annoyed that I didn't think to ask! :-<

deanna1313 · May 2014

Btw, This is the 4th week I've been at 1cm and she said that he is low and in position and everything else is good to go.

deanna1313 · May 2014

@Jcrewgirl85‌ and @hatrats‌ it felt like a vigorous cervical exam. Not painful, but uncomfortable.
What else could she have been doing up there?! It figures they have another name for it. Well, maybe she got something moving and little guy will be here before I know it.

deanna1313 · May 2014

@mirdamae03‌ okay. She did mention something about getting her finger in the opening so that would make sense.

deanna1313 · May 2014

@jenb_99‌ she did say she could barely fit her fingertip in there. So maybe she was prepping for my next visit and plans to do the membrane sweep at the next appt. She had me confused, but it was really my own fault for not asking.

deanna1313 · May 2014

@jenb_99‌ that makes sense then. Thanks for helping to clear things up.

Want a personalized experience?

Is cervical stimulation the same as a membrane sweep?

Best Answers

Re: Is cervical stimulation the same as a membrane sweep?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards