I've had it 3 times so far this pregnancy. 1st- 38.4 weeks- nada, 2nd- 40.1 weeks- nada, 3rd- 40.4 weeks (today)- waiting and seeing. I've had more cramping this last time though, hoping it's a good sign. Really hoping to avoid induction set for Tuesday! Good luck!
ETA: Dr said I'm 2-3 cm (been that way for the last 2 weeks) and my cervix is very soft and has gotten thinner.
Ive never had it before but I think my doctor plans on doing giving me a membrane sweep now that they plan to induce me. How soon before induction would they do a membrane sweep? I'm being induced on Wednesday and was 2-3cm dialated at my last appointment. So hoping to go into labor naturally before then!
@ashley2824 I didn't know this was something that could be done more than once. Do they think maybe they didn't fully separate the membranes the 1st time so they repeat?
Ive never had it before but I think my doctor plans on doing giving me a membrane sweep now that they plan to induce me. How soon before induction would they do a membrane sweep? I'm being induced on Wednesday and was 2-3cm dialated at my last appointment. So hoping to go into labor naturally before then!
@ashley2824 I didn't know this was something that could be done more than once. Do they think maybe they didn't fully separate the membranes the 1st time so they repeat?
The doctor can do the sweep multiple times if you are so inclined. It is just intended to cause irritation that hopefully will cause the uterus to respond with contractions. It's not guaranteed to work and is really only effective if your body is already ready to go into labor.
If your doctor was planning to do one to help you go into labor on your own, they probably would have done it at your last appointment since yourninduction is scheduled for Wednesday. If you have another appointment between now and Wednesday, you could ask for it then. I know in our area unless you are working with a midwife birth center that does not offer pain relief or induction meds, they do not do a membrane sweep during the induction since it isn't guaranteed to start labor.
I have another appointment this afternoon and the day before induction so maybe they will do it then. Just hoping to avoid a lot of induction meds but since they are inducing me at 37 weeks I wasn't sure if they wanted to "risk" doing it today and me going into labor before then. I'll let you ladies know how it works for me! I feel like my body is ready for labor... feeling so much pressure when I walk!
Just wanted to say that my last membrane sweep I wrote about worked! H and I had sex that night and an hour later contractions started 6/7 minutes apart! Had our beautiful baby boy the following morning.
So I guess I'm proof that it won't work until your body is ready, but it does work!
So dumb question time (full disclosure - I had a membrane sweep with my first and it did nothing for me). But if a membrane sweep only works if your body is ready to go into labor, then what's the point? I mean if you're truly ready isn't labor going to start soon anyways? And if you're not ready then the membrane sweep isn't helpful at all. For some reason all of a sudden the whole concept has me like
**TW**
Me & DH: 32 Married 2013 Kiddo #1: Sept 2015 BFP: 1/19, EDD: 9/30
"I'm having fruit salad for dinner. Well, it's mostly just grapes, actually. Ok all grapes. Fermented grapes. Fine, I'm having wine for dinner."
@wannabeamongoose There are no dumb questions; only dumb people. Kidding. I am not sure I totally understand the logic either. I think the best case scenario for a membrane sweep would be if you are facing having an induction and want to avoid it, a membrane sweep could help you naturally go into labor.
Obviously they do them for people without scheduled inductions too, so for those cases, it could just be a matter of starting your contractions tonight instead of them starting on their own tomorrow night assuming your body is about to start it up anyway. But yeah, if your body is still a week away from being "ready" for real labor, it won't do anything. That's my understanding of it anyway, taken from my doctor and the interwebz. *shrug*
Yeah I just had one Tuesday (my 40 week apt) and it did nothing. It didn't hurt and didn't cause any contractions or cramps at all. Still pregnant af. So over it right now.
@wannabeamongoose I've been wondering the same thing. I've been offered a membrane sweep if I'm still pregnant next Fri, which is my 40w appointment. I guess there's nothing to lose by having it right?
My OB tried this morning, and said I'm a "very tight 1 cm" at 38+5. It hurt a lot, but I think it's because he was determined to get in there and shake things up. He was confident that I would not go into labour before my appointment next Tuesday. I'm really sore and have spotting now, but if he can encourage any action I'm all for it. I can't handle going 12 days over like I did with DS!!
Re: Membrane Sweep
RAD born 6/2015 | mc at 7 weeks 9/2016 | rainbow baby RHD born 9/2017
ETA: Dr said I'm 2-3 cm (been that way for the last 2 weeks) and my cervix is very soft and has gotten thinner.
DS2: EDD- 09.08.17
@ashley2824 I didn't know this was something that could be done more than once. Do they think maybe they didn't fully separate the membranes the 1st time so they repeat?
If your doctor was planning to do one to help you go into labor on your own, they probably would have done it at your last appointment since yourninduction is scheduled for Wednesday. If you have another appointment between now and Wednesday, you could ask for it then. I know in our area unless you are working with a midwife birth center that does not offer pain relief or induction meds, they do not do a membrane sweep during the induction since it isn't guaranteed to start labor.
I have another appointment this afternoon and the day before induction so maybe they will do it then. Just hoping to avoid a lot of induction meds but since they are inducing me at 37 weeks I wasn't sure if they wanted to "risk" doing it today and me going into labor before then. I'll let you ladies know how it works for me! I feel like my body is ready for labor... feeling so much pressure when I walk!
Type 1 Diabetes since 2001, MTHFR hetero A1298T
Dogs: Raider 4 yrs, Dex 4 yrs
BFP #2 7/6/16 SCH, D&C 8/4/16
BFP #3 12/26/16 EDD: 9/6/17
My Chart / My Diabetes/Pregnancy Blog
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"Sugar Fancy Tutu"
So I guess I'm proof that it won't work until your body is ready, but it does work!
Married 2013
Kiddo #1: Sept 2015
BFP: 1/19, EDD: 9/30
"I'm having fruit salad for dinner. Well, it's mostly just grapes, actually. Ok all grapes. Fermented grapes. Fine, I'm having wine for dinner."
Kidding. I am not sure I totally understand the logic either. I think the best case scenario for a membrane sweep would be if you are facing having an induction and want to avoid it, a membrane sweep could help you naturally go into labor.
Obviously they do them for people without scheduled inductions too, so for those cases, it could just be a matter of starting your contractions tonight instead of them starting on their own tomorrow night assuming your body is about to start it up anyway. But yeah, if your body is still a week away from being "ready" for real labor, it won't do anything. That's my understanding of it anyway, taken from my doctor and the interwebz. *shrug*
Anecdotally, it worked for me. Had sweep Tues (40w+2d) at 4:30pm, and water broke at 1am this am. Still in labor but getting there. GL, ladies!
@wannabeamongoose I've been wondering the same thing. I've been offered a membrane sweep if I'm still pregnant next Fri, which is my 40w appointment. I guess there's nothing to lose by having it right?
As for the membrane sweep, there aren't very many downsides but there are a few. I didn't find it very painful but some do. See this great video: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-membrane-sweeping/