Membrane sweep question

[starzz]

What have your experiences with this been?

I am researching this because I am overdue and am trying to decide how long I will wait before interventions and what interventions are the best to consider.

[PassionateWriter]

technically, "overdue" is over 42 weeks.

there are some links to risks associated i was just reading. ill try to find them and post them.

[coyotemist]

With DS when I had it done, it hurt. He was born 3 days later, 4 hours after his due date. I don't know if it made a difference or not.

It can break your water, and has a slight chance of introducing infection.

[77sugaree]

I had this done 4 days ago and I am still pregnant. I had no cramping or spotting like the Dr. said I might. I did lose more of my mucous plug though. I really want to avoid a pit induction so I thought this would be a good alternative if it worked. But, alas... no baby yet.

[Tori Gollihugh]

My midewife swept my membranes with #1 and I immediately went into labor. Labor lasted 21.5 hours and the frustrating part of the membrane sweep was that I knew I was in it every minute. At least with natural onset it's sort of a question mark rather than an expaectation... if that makes sense. My midwife swept my membranes when I was 10 days overdue and I won't even consider it again until 14 days this time. DD #1 was 11 days overdue (since I was in labor almost 24 hours) and DD #2 was 14 days overdue. Thus, I'm not allowing any inductions at all until 14 days. I'll probably go with the membrane sweep if my current midwife pushes anything because it did work quickly for me.

I think, personally, that it's best to wait as long as possible. As someone already mentioned, you're not "technically" overdue until 42 weeks!

[Fireflyforever]

I had a sweep with both of mine - DS at T+10 & DD at T+5. DS was born at T+12 and DD was born at T+7 so I guess they were effective for me BUT ... I was already 3cm dilated and showing strong contractions on the monitor before they did the sweep with DS. He ended up arriving by cs after 36 hours of OP labour (I never dilated past 3cm, except briefly to 7 when I had ARM and I regressed back to 3.)

I really don't want to be a doom monger because I think it's probably the least interventionist of the induction interventions (if that make sense) but I do feel the sweep precipitated a labour with a badly positioned baby for me. I think my advice would be to ensure your m/w checks baby's position before proceeding and don't have one if there is any doubt about whether baby is "correct" for labour.

I'm intending to decline any sweeps for sure until 42 weeks and, even then, I'm wavering. I guess I'll make the decision if I get that far.

One other thing, there is evidence that sweeps only decrease mama's waiting time by 48 hours at most. In other words, is it worth it to save 2 days of pg? In some cases the answer will be yes, in others definitely a no.

I hope some of this is useful.

[~Stephanie~]

I've had it done with several of my pregnancies right around the 40 week mark. I did have bloody show afterwards two of the times, but it didn't seem to jumpstart labor for me. I was 3cm dilated one time and 4-5 the other two times. I would do it again. For me, it wasn't very painful and I do think it did "help things along" down there as far as dilation and effacement which did end up making actual labor shorter and easier.

[NCSSM04mom]

I've done two stretch and sweeps with this pregnancy now. The first one, at 40w6d was no problem. A bit uncomfy during, but no problems afterwards. But when I had the second at 41w1d...Oh god. I was hurting for 36 hours afterwards. Ow, ow, ow. And I'm still pregnant at 41w4d.

I don't think I'll do it again this pregnancy, although I might in a future one. I have an induction scheduled on Thursday night at 42w. I at least plan to try it for a while, although I may check out AMA if it doesn't do anything. Hopefully my little girl will stop procrastinating before then, though!

ETA: I asked for the stretch and sweep because I considered it the "lesser evil" to a chemical induction. I'm just not sure if it was. Experiences obviously vary even in the same pregnancy. I think if you're facing a deadline it becomes a big question. If you have lots of time left, though...I would wait.

[lovemysunshine]

My OB did this w/o my knowledge during an internal exam at 39 weeks while pg with DD. I realized later what he had done and am still angry with him over it. It hurt, lots of cramping and bleeding afterwards.

2 days later my water broke, but it was a trickle type break and I had no regular contractions for 20 hours, when I finally gave in to the pressure of pitocin at the hospital. I honestly don't think she was *quite* ready to be born and him doing that got things started that shouldn't have been.

I'm not saying it is an awful thing to do, but I would definitely wait longer as you're barely overdue. Wait until your babe is ready and things should go more smoothly for you. I was minutes away from a c/s with DD because they didn't want to wait any longer for her to come (37 hours after ROM), scary stuff. Good luck mama and trust your body and your baby! :