Membrane Sweep!

kitandcat · May 2016

Hey Ladies! Happy Monday!!

OK I searched and didn't think there was anything on the board for this...

I am having my membranes swept on Friday - I will be 38+6. I have gestational hypertension and they're trying to get my body to go into labor to avoid having to officially induce me at 40 weeks. Questions for those who have had the process done...

When did you go into labor after the sweep and were you a FTM when having it done? -OR- Did your body not respond, and what were your next induction steps?

How far along were you and what was your dilation/effacement/station when you had it?

Tell me the gruesome details - did it hurt?

Anything else I should know?!

hellogoodbye2 · May 2016

My doc told me today she didn't like doing them until at least 2cm dilated.

I was 1cm today and asked for one (which I wasn't able to get), but she said maybe next week if I've progressed more.

Bellodomani · May 2016

With my first I had my membranes swept at 40 and 41 weeks with no result. Both times I was not even 1 cm dilated, maybe 50% effaced. My induction was booked for 41 + 5, and I went into labor on my own that morning, so there were no next steps for induction.

DanandVan · May 2016

I think there was a thread...somewhere...but your questions are pretty specific! I had it done exactly a week ago when I was 38w 6d. It hurt like a mother, to be honest. Of course my bff said hers didn't (and I have the higher pain tolerance, so who knows!). I had immediate cramping and lots of timeable contractions for the first 2 days, then all quieted down and no real labor. This is my 4th pregnancy. I am guessing they will sweep again tomorrow on my due date.
Edit to add I was 1 1/2 cm dilated and baby is low (but Dr did not say how effaced, etc)

kitandcat · May 2016

@hellogoodbye2 ... At my appt last monday the doc said my cervix was "unfavorable" (I think the word unfavorable is also unfavorable!), I was 1cm then and still 1cm now but he said I am very soft/thin and baby is at -2 station which he said is really great progress even tho no further dilation. I really hope this works to avoid being induced in the coming week or so but it sounds like it is so up in the air. My doc is okay with inducing any time between 39-40 weeks but I hope so badly that I go on my own!!

It sounds like everyone's experiences are so different. IE I read a lot about cervical checks the last few weeks of pregnancy being awful and some people find them super painful and I don't mind them at all! @Bellodomani Did you find the membrane sweeping experience painful?

@DanandVan - What was your effacement/dilation/station like when you had it done?

Thanks for your answers ladies!!

Knottie64278661 · May 2016

FTM here and 39+4. I'm scheduled for 2 membrane sweeps tomorrow with my doctor. At my appointment this morning he put his fingers up there and could feel my baby. I didn't even know I was dilated because I haven't had any contractions. We're planning for a vaginal breech birth and her position is good right now so I'm hoping the sweeps tomorrow works and sets me into labor! Ready for this little girl to come out. Good luck with your sweeps. Hope it works for both of us.

lionstigersbears · May 2016

I was a FTM and had a sweep at 40+2. I was about 1.5-2 cm and it did nothing. It was uncomfortable but worth the attempt in my opinion. I was then swept again at 40+5 in a desperate attempt at avoiding an induction the next morning. I was 3cm at the time and was in labor within hours, but I do believe I was already in pre/early labor when it was done. My understanding is that it's not harmful other than causing discomfort, sometimes at the time sometimes later via contractions that do nothing and something both/neither! Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on whether there are additional risks.

So, regardless of others experiences and how much I was scared of it hurting, I was facing down an unwanted induction so I tried. This time if a sweep is offered I will only do it if I'm 2+ cm and/or facing induction. Good luck!

codeeye · May 2016

I'm a FTM and I am 40+5 as of today (Monday) on Wednesday they are going to sweep my membranes to try to get things going. I am super against being induced (I want an unmedicated birth, and kind of need one due to allergies to most pain management options, so avoiding induction meds would be great!) I haven't had any cervical checks yet (they don't do it around here unless they have a 'reason', and although I have had contractions show up on my NST I can't feel them so they figure they aren't 'real' and don't check my cervix)

im a bit nervous to be honest, but I'm hoping it works! After my appointment I will post again to let you know how it was.

hellogoodbye2 · May 2016

Yea I think it just depends on the woman & the doctor. My doc also called my cervix "unfavorable" today, but obviously that can change in seconds. She told me she could do a sweep, but did not foresee it putting me into labor since I'm only 1cm/50% effaced.

DanandVan · May 2016

@kit&cat My Dr didn't give me any more info last week besides saying I was 1 1/2 cm and baby is low. I am really hoping she gives me a favorable report tomorrow (my due date)! Also hoping that if I have to endure another sweep it will actually work this time! I'm trying for a vbac, so induction is off the table.

epc5027 · May 2016

I haven't been able to post in forever because this app is weird on my phone (seriously I hate the iPhone 5), so I apologize if I seem like a stranger!
With my second son, I had my membranes swept twice & then I did go into labor with him. We did it once in a Thursday, again on a Saturday, & he was born after a four hour labor Monday morning. I was between 38 & 39 weeks.
That is pretty typical, most women need it done more than once & in fairly close succession to actually have it push you into labor. It's also a good idea to have sex after the sweep. It just helps everything along more. It may not be the best sex of your life- you may be kind of gooey & crampy (sorry if that's tmi), but it should get things moving in one way or another.
This time (I'm now 37 weeks with #4, have GD & hypertension, scheduled for an induction 5/24 at 39 weeks), I'm going to do two membrane sweeps next week, assuming I'm favorable. One on Tuesday, one on Thursday or Friday. And then have sex with DH after. Worst case scenario, it will encourage my cervix to be as favorable as possible for my induction, best case scenario, I'll go into labor myself.
Eta- I have a background in women's health, pregnancy, & birth, so my experience is a bit anecdotal, a bit empirically & experience based. That said, of course, everyone is very different!!

Bellodomani · May 2016

@kit&cat It really wasn't that bad. Like, not something I'd like to do on the regular, but I wouldn't describe it as painful either. Kind of just an uncomfortable crampy feeling.

Knottie64278661 · May 2016

Posting an update with me. I've had 3 sweeps done so far this week. Yesterday I had one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Afternoon sweep was much stronger and caused me to have strong cramping throughout the evening. I also went on a walk and sat on my birth ball. Cramping went away as I slept through the night. I had my 3rd sweep this morning and now I'm on my birth ball at work with mild discomfort. I'm 39 wks tomorrow, 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. We're doing another sweep friday morning and my doc thinks the baby will come Friday night or over the weekend. This is my 1st baby so my body is taking longer to go into labor than most women who are already ready for labor (2nd sweep should have set me into labor according to my doc).

codeeye · May 2016

I had my first sweep done about an hour ago. I'm having some cramping and discomfort. I'm overdue, but the doc said my cervix was still pretty tight (he had trouble getting in there so it was rather painful) I'm really hoping it will set stuff in motion but only time will tell!

hellogoodbye2 · May 2016

Knottie64278661 said:

Posting an update with me. I've had 3 sweeps done so far this week. Yesterday I had one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Afternoon sweep was much stronger and caused me to have strong cramping throughout the evening. I also went on a walk and sat on my birth ball. Cramping went away as I slept through the night. I had my 3rd sweep this morning and now I'm on my birth ball at work with mild discomfort. I'm 39 wks tomorrow, 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. We're doing another sweep friday morning and my doc thinks the baby will come Friday night or over the weekend. This is my 1st baby so my body is taking longer to go into labor than most women who are already ready for labor (2nd sweep should have set me into labor according to my doc).

Why so many sweeps in a week?

"This is my 1st baby so my body is taking longer to go into labor than most women...." But you aren't even 39w yet!

sparkledonuts · May 2016

I agree .. that's insane !! yikes @hellogoodbye2

hellogoodbye2 · May 2016

And why would you Doctor think the sweep you are getting tomorrow is going to put you into labor? Your body is obviously not ready yet, especially after 3 failed sweeps already. Sounds like your doctor is setting you up for disappointment.

josie12367 · May 2016

I had a sweep with DD1 at 37 weeks due to her being small and wanting to avoid medicated induction methods. I delivered a week later. I had a sweep this am at 38+4 for similar reasons and I think labor might be starting already....but we shall see. I was 3~4cm/and thinner than 70% though he didn't give me a number.

It it was uncomfortable but not painful. Have a pantyliner on hand for afterwards

proudparent2b · May 2016

How do you even get scheduled for that many sweeps in a week? I had a hard enough time getting an okayish time for my upcoming Friday appointment when I scheduled it out two weeks ago (I normally have been scheduling out 2-3 months in advance, and even then tend to be in the office waiting for 1 - 1 1/2 + hours when I'm lucky enough to get one of the first three appointments of the day). I'm anticipating being in the OB's office for up to 2 1/2 hours this Friday.

Sorry, I'm currently over due and frustrated. Whether all the sweeps work for you or not, it's great that you're able to get that sort of time in with your OB.

codeeye · May 2016

Update: had the sweep done at 1:30 this afternoon. Had a real good contraction at about 4 am and got up to the washroom since it woke me up. Lost my whole MP in one gross shot. No contractions since, but I would say the sweep did its job. Of course it could still be a few days but I'm keeping positive that it's sooner rather than later!

I feel like I have been pregnant forever at this point, so I'm just excited to have ANY sign that the end is near.

blaisdew · May 2016

I had a sweep done at 40 weeks. My OB was happy that I was 2 cm, 75% effaced. It didn't really hurt, but I was pretty nervous and had a hard time relaxing. It was very intense feeling. He said he only needed about 30 seconds and it made me realize how long 30 seconds is! After, I had immediate, really bad cramping and quite a bit of bleeding for almost two days.

At 41 weeks I had another sweep done. My cervix was almost exactly the same but it has softened quite a bit and the baby was lower. I knew what to expect from the sweep that time so was much more relaxed. It wasn't painful at all. You just need to breathe through it and it's okay. I didn't have any bleeding, and only mild cramping after that sweep. It looks like neither of the sweeps worked unfortunately, since it's been four days since that appointment.

At at that appointment, we talked about induction. Doc gave me the pros and cons of waiting vs. induction and let me decide for myself what I would like to do. I opted to let them put me on an induction list for when I am 10 days overdue.

I hope all goes well with you!

kitandcat · May 2016

I had it on Friday AM!! It didn't feel any different than a cervical check really, and I don't find cervical checks to be painful at all, just pressure, so it was easy peasy. I have had some very mild cramping on and off and no bleeding. It has been just under 48 hours and no labor but I did lose my mucus plug (or I'm in the process of losing it, some overnight and some more this AM) so who knows! Maybe today is the day!!

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