Membrane Sweep - did it work for anyone?

WinniethePoohsPants · June 2016

Just had my sweep done about 2 hours ago. I've had cramping and back pain since then. I'm 39w5d, 3cm, and 50%. FX that it works!

WinniethePoohsPants · June 2016

WinniethePoohsPants said:

Just had my sweep done about 2 hours ago. I've had cramping and back pain since then. I'm 39w5d, 3cm, and 50%. FX that it works!

Welp, it's the day before my DD and still no baby. Although I was up all night with cramps and a dull back ache - SUPER helpful, THANKS membrane sweep.

KRuthie25 · June 2016

Warning about membrane sweep:

I had my first cervical check at 39 weeks and, despite my request to NOT have a membrane sweep, my midwife accidentally swept my membranes. I had pinkish discharge that I was told was normal that afternoon that eventually stopped. Fast forward two days later: I ended up in L&D with severe back pain, a high fever, and both baby and I had tachycardia. I was diagnosed with a prolonged rupture of my membranes (due to tiny tear from membrane sweep) that did not result in labor, but rather a severe infection called chorioamnionitis. I had to be started on IV antibiotics and induced with pitocin which was definitely not part of my birth plan. Luckily baby and I are okay, but I wanted to share that membrane sweeps come with a risk that should be taken seriously.

adiaz132003 · June 2016

KRuthie25 said:

Warning about membrane sweep:

I had my first cervical check at 39 weeks and, despite my request to NOT have a membrane sweep, my midwife accidentally swept my membranes. I had pinkish discharge that I was told was normal that afternoon that eventually stopped. Fast forward two days later: I ended up in L&D with severe back pain, a high fever, and both baby and I had tachycardia. I was diagnosed with a prolonged rupture of my membranes (due to tiny tear from membrane sweep) that did not result in labor, but rather a severe infection called chorioamnionitis. I had to be started on IV antibiotics and induced with pitocin which was definitely not part of my birth plan. Luckily baby and I are okay, but I wanted to share that membrane sweeps come with a risk that should be taken seriously.

This is exactly why my midwives won't even do cervical checks until they believe you are in labor and no membrane sweeps until you are overdue. You just never know. So happy to hear you and baby are okay.

nightwitch · June 2016

I think all my sweep did was send me into prodomal labor. Thanks for that sweep, really loving this magical phase of pregnancy!

kaitielynnrichardson · June 2016

Had mine done today. So far have been feeling more intense contractions and cramping. Hoping little man arrives in the next couple days!!!

Knottie83732320 · June 2016

Worked for me! Had it done Friday at 10am and by 1am Saturday my water broke.

kaitielynnrichardson · June 2016

Last night was a treat. Contractions every 19 minutes. Hopefully we are making progress and will have a baby today! It's my papas birthday-he passed three years ago.. Would be a sweet day to welcome the little one into the world for sure.

Rosehip15 · June 2016

I'm 39/1 today. Hoping for a VBAC, but given my history of late babies (41/3 and 42 weeks, respectively), my OB is getting a bit anxious. She's more flexible than others in the practice but they're not excited about VBACs going late.
I'm a "loose 1 cm" (I think she's trying to give me hope), and still long. She swept my membranes today, hoping to get things moving. If my cervix is favorable, she's amenable to a foley balloon or just pit induction if it gets to that. My next appt will be at 40/3 and will include a fluid check u/s.

Fingers crossed.

mamabird24 · June 2016

Rosehip15 said:

I'm 39/1 today. Hoping for a VBAC, but given my history of late babies (41/3 and 42 weeks, respectively), my OB is getting a bit anxious. She's more flexible than others in the practice but they're not excited about VBACs going late.
I'm a "loose 1 cm" (I think she's trying to give me hope), and still long. She swept my membranes today, hoping to get things moving. If my cervix is favorable, she's amenable to a foley balloon or just pit induction if it gets to that. My next appt will be at 40/3 and will include a fluid check u/s.

Fingers crossed.

I'm right there with you, 39+1 and trying for a vbac. I have an appt this Thursday and will see if my OB will induce this weekend. Like yours, she doesn't want me going too late so it would have to happen next week either way. The balloon thing sounds interesting, she mentioned that for me too. I'm hoping for some progress at my next check, I was at 1cm and long last week. Here's hoping we get to hold our babies soon!!

vintagevix2016 · June 2016

40wks today and had an appt with the dr this afternoon. I'm 2cm dilated so that's progress from the appt last week. She is hopeful that I won't need to be induced but if I don't deliver by my scheduled appt for next week, then we will talk induction options. Fingers crossed that he decides to show up before that point!

AmberLiz99 · June 2016

Just found out I can't have one this time because I'm gbs+

sorarose · June 2016

I declined mine at 39w2d. I am afraid it will hurt like hell and do nothing. DH also read about it and felt uncomfortable with me doing it, so I respected his wishes. Already have the induction scheduled for 40w6d if no baby.

helca · June 2016

More then 24 hours after membranes sweep, and big fat nothing. 41 weeks pregnant with baby number 3. First two both came 3 days early. Could it be the boy syndrome? Hmmmmm.

Rosehip15 · June 2016

I copied & pasted this from my VBAC check in thread post, which is why it's so VBAC-focused, but it's also my membrane sweeping story. Who knows if it's what did the trick, but I'll take it!

Hi ladies - recovering from my successful VBAC here! I went to the OB Tuesday morning, which was 39/1. Given that I was still 1 cm, and my Hx of late babies, she did a membrane sweep in the hopes it might kick start things. I was super crampy for the rest of the day at work, and by 9 o'clock that night, I was definitely having contractions - very irregular, but surprisingly intense. DH & I stayed home from work Wednesday - I was really hoping it was the real deal. By 3 pm, the contractions were getting very painful, though still irregular and pretty spread out (7-15 min apart). Though I figured I probably wasn't very dilated, the thought of having to deal with the car ride to the hospital when things were any worse spooked me, so off I went. Indeed, I was only 3 cm when I got there. They suggested I either walk the halls or go home - L&D rooms were all full, so I couldn't be admitted. I stayed & walked the halls of triage. By 6:30 pm, I was only 4 cm, but in serious pain. This is my third baby, and this early labor was MUCH tougher - I didn't have an epidural at this point with number one, and never got an epidural with number two (until my crash c/s after 45 minutes of pushing). But I couldn't get an epidural until I was admitted into L&D, which meant waiting for a room. That finally happened about 8:30. By that point, it had been nearly 24 hours of these painful, but not particularly productive ctx, and I was exhausted and really needed the epidural - and thankfully, it worked really well, unlike my first one.

By 9:30, I was still 4 cm. I started to dread that I'd end up w/a c/s. It seemed like I was going nowhere fast. They planned to break my water at midnight, after I'd had 4 hours of abx for GBS. But a little after 11, my water broke - they checked me & I was 8 cm:) An hour later, the nurse thought I looked ready (I had asked for a top off on the epidural, and boy did it work - I couldn't feel a thing). The doctor checked me and I was complete. They had me do one "test push" and said - stop, hold on. That single push got her crowning, so they gowned up and I pushed her out with the next two contractions! Anna came out a perfect 7lb 7oz, I had a tiny little skid mark, and feel amazing. What a huge difference from my first two deliveries which were really tough. I feel so good that I've asked for early discharge, now just waiting to see if the pediatrician clears her! With my previous two, I felt like I'd been run over by a monster truck, and would have happily stayed in the hospital for a month if they'd let me!!

I'm SO happy I went for a VBAC. Other than the weird, painful early labor, it was an easy, dream delivery that I never thought I'd have. Maybe those early ctx got my pelvis opened up? Who knows? In any event, good luck to those still waiting!

mimi_8607 · June 2016

I will see today. I have my sweep today at 39+1. I have been stuck at 1 1/2 cm since 36 weeks. I'm hoping today I'm a little further along. I went 4 days early with my first and hoping to go a little early with this one. FX that the sweep works.

taralynnosullivan · June 2016

Membrane sweep number 2 today at 40 weeks, after the first one at 38+1. Came home and DH and I DTD and went for a mile long walk before temps spiked to 100, will go for another walk tonight when it cools off. Will keep you all posted if this one makes anything happen!

mimi_8607 · June 2016

mimi_8607 said:

I will see today. I have my sweep today at 39+1. I have been stuck at 1 1/2 cm since 36 weeks. I'm hoping today I'm a little further along. I went 4 days early with my first and hoping to go a little early with this one. FX that the sweep works.

Update: Almost 24 hours after sweep and nothing. However I was 3 cm when I went to the doctor. So that's a big plus. I hate this waiting game.

nekedfeet · June 2016

Had my first one today at 10:30am 40+3 and holy crap that hurt!! Only1cm dilated, but she said the cervix was nice and soft and "moving forward(?" in to the right position, whatever that means. She said she even felt the baby's head, so at least he's in the right spot!! I was completely unprepared for how much it would hurt though...

Nothing so far- it's almost 4p and I've had a little cramping and discomfort, but nothing to write home about....

Doing another one on friday if nothing happens....

whodaz · June 2016

I'm wanting to get it done, I have an appnt this thursday (will be 39w3days) - do most doctors do it if you ask?
(Last week thursday, I was 3cm, 75% effaced) am a FTM.

laura091314 · June 2016

Lurking from July, hoping to have a June Baby!! Got my first on yesterday at my appointment, 38 weeks. I've been 1 cm dilated for the past 2 weeks. Definitely lots of pressure while she was doing it and discomfort and cramping last night. Not a whole lot today.....fingers crossed!! If it doesn't work she said she would do another one next week.

@whodaz- I just asked and she said as long as I was a candidate. Sounds like you are so I would just ask her!

kaitielynnrichardson · June 2016

I had my son 2 days post membrane sweep

laura091314 · June 2016

Still no baby....lost my mucus plug yesterday with contractions that were not consistent all evening. This morning basically nothing......

whodaz · June 2016

I got my membranes swept today, yay! Hoping it does something to move things along..

I went from being 3cm/75%effaced/-2position for babys head last week to 3.5cm/80%effaced/still -2 position for babys head..

so not a whole lot of progress

Will check back in if I have any changes due to the sweep!

AmberLiz99 · June 2016

I got mine swept while in labor and oh my goodness! It got things going alright! Went from 4cm to completely delivered in an hour and a half.

whodaz · June 2016

AmberLiz99 said:

I got mine swept while in labor and oh my goodness! It got things going alright! Went from 4cm to completely delivered in an hour and a half.

Wow thats awesome! (Congrats btw!) So far, I feel the same.. but still have some hope something could happen!
When they swept yours, had your water already broken?

AmberLiz99 · June 2016

whodaz said:

AmberLiz99 said:

I got mine swept while in labor and oh my goodness! It got things going alright! Went from 4cm to completely delivered in an hour and a half.

Wow thats awesome! (Congrats btw!) So far, I feel the same.. but still have some hope something could happen!
When they swept yours, had your water already broken?

No my water hadn't broken. I'd been in labor for 5 hours and gone from a 3-4cm. She swept them at that check because I had gotten my antibiotics (for being gbs+) and she was going to break my water after I got an epidural. Turns out my water broke on its own about 10 minutes after my epidural was in place, and my daughter was born less than 20 minutes after that.
Kind of wish I had skipped the epidural, but who knew it would only take 90 minutes to go 6cm?

longhurrdontcurr · June 2016

So I had a membrane sweep last Thursday, on my due date. Nothing. Still no baby..... I had a few irregular contractions, a few tiny pink streaks as I was shedding my mucus plug (for a week straight!!), but my son has settled in and refuses to budge. I fear I will end up getting induced next week, and also having to use my husband's insurance instead, which means I would have to meet a new, higher deductible, after I already met mine. Awesome.

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