To sweep or not to sweep

[myrmom]

Ok....I am 40 weeks today and don't feel like labour is going to happen anytime soon. I was 41 weeks with ds1 and 40w1d with ds2, so I know it could happen anytime and will but I am getting anxious.

I had planned on not getting any prenatal checks done, cuz really what is the point, it's not going to tell me when baby is coming.

I have an appt today and I am seriously considering having my membranes swept...even though I really don't want to and would prefer my body just do this on it's own.

So I have 3 hours to decide...ugh!

Thoughts???

[trimestersdoula]

Honestly, I say if you want to do it, go for it. Membrane sweeps will only work if your body is ready.

I was going to post about this too, just now, but then I saw your post hehe. I have an appointment tomorrow morning and I am also seriously considering asking....if she doesn't bring it up herself. My BP keeps going up and up. On top of that, the doc wants to do an ultrasound by Friday. I would rather not have one but I don't want to fight with her over it, so if I have the baby, then no ultrasound right? I am also feeling that induction is imminent, thanks to my BP and I would rather get this baby out without induction.

I have a question to other mama's here....hope you don't mind, myrmom.

Did membrane sweeping work for you other mama's?

[mkmb129]

I'm 40wks 3 days and am curious about having this done as well.. though I don't think they plan to do an internal today, so I doubt I'll ask. I agree will it won't work if your body isn't ready, so what can it hurt (well.. besides the cramping a lot get with it)? Are there any negatives to it?

[Amber Lion]

Every woman I've worked with who has had their membranes swept said it hurt like the blazes while they did it and then they had cramping afterward.... and most of them did not go into labor afterward. I think there is also a risk of AROM (correct me if I'm wrong?)?

Anyways, it's a totally personal choice. If you really don't want to do it though... maybe hold out until you're farther along so you give your bod enough chance to go into labor on it's own?

ETA: I've been doing some googling and it seems some think there is a small risk of AROM and others think there isn't a risk at all. Also, lots of midwives talking about how gentle and slow they do this so it doesn't have to be painful - all my Moms had it done very quickly by OBs and I would not be surprised if that is why it was so painful for them (lots also had it done without consent, were told afterward). If I was considering having it done I'd read up on it a lot more and really decide if it was what I wanted done.

[trimestersdoula]

Other than the cramping, irregular contractions, and some slight spotting that some may experience....and the pain of having it done of course, I don't think it can hurt. It doesn't increase the risk of infection to mother or baby as far as I know.

[mkmb129]

Okay, so I had it done. I agreed because I'm 3cm now, so at least I'm progressing, last week I was 2... and I'm desparate! Sad, huh? It was quite!! uncomfortable. Here's to hopin', I guess!

[ferretfan]

i had it done with dd for really stupid reasons (i was very ill-informed then). mum was due to fly over from the UK to see us and i wanted to make sure we had some time with the baby alone before she came yeah, i know...

the sweeping didnt hurt me at all, but i bled like a stuck pig from then on. the next day i had mild ctx all day. went to the hospital and they wanted me to stay overnight with a plan of an am induction. i did that. water broke sometime after 2 am then the descent into hell occurred. she was posterior, but i dont recall being aware of it as much as i am with this one. i had lot of interventions and narrowly missed a c/s, she was pulled out with forceps (the doc actually had one foot on my ass cheek as he pulled her out ) and was quite bruised and pitiful.

always in the back of my mind is that if i hadnt asked for the sweep, she may have turned in time and i wouldnt have had to deal with all that. or maybe i just carry posterior babies. i dont know. she was born approximately 48 hours after my sweep. this time i'll not have a sweep unless i get to 42 weeks and i'm threatened with induction. some people have a sweep and it works out great. for others it has no effect.

[JeDeeLenae]

Hope it does something for you. All it did for me with my last pregnancy was made me crampy, and sore... and I didn't go into labor.

[Amber Lion]

: for you!!

[mkmb129]

Well, I'm not sure how long after a sweep you're supposed to be crampy, but I got nothin' and it's been 5hrs so far. I'm not talking about no contractions, I mean no discomfort from the sweep whatsoever. Not even a the tiniest bit of pink from my cervix being irritated! How odd is that? I was at the very least expecting some cramps just from having it done since so many say they are crampy afterwards. Does it just take a while for your body to realize it's irritated?

[JeDeeLenae]

Originally Posted by mkmb129

Well, I'm not sure how long after a sweep you're supposed to be crampy, but I got nothin' and it's been 5hrs so far. I'm not talking about no contractions, I mean no discomfort from the sweep whatsoever. Not even a the tiniest bit of pink from my cervix being irritated! How odd is that? I was at the very least expecting some cramps just from having it done since so many say they are crampy afterwards. Does it just take a while for your body to realize it's irritated?

it might. I got mine swept a couple hours ago and have definitely been crampy, but not overly uncomfy... I think I need IHOP.

[myrmom]

so I decided against it...I got her to check me and I was barely 2cm and barely effaced at all so I figured it would do a whole lot of nothing and make me miserable cuz it didn't work.

[lee1203]

Originally Posted by JeDeeLenae

it might. I got mine swept a couple hours ago and have definitely been crampy, but not overly uncomfy... I think I need IHOP.

Oh my gosh IHOP sounds really good. Darn you for bringing it up!

ETA, to stay on topic: I'm SO tempted to ask them to do a sweep, but my next appointment isn't until 42 weeks anyway. If I make it that long, I figure I might as well wait it out.

[mamanurse]

Sweeping/stripping membranes does increase the risk of AROM/PROM.

However... I wil be the STRONGEST woman ever if I don't request it or take my OB up on it at my appt on Thursday. I'm ripe with a side of ready sauce and want to have my baby so badly.

[Katerz2u]

I had sweeps for all of my pregnancies. With #1 labor started hours later, I was 41 weeks. #2 had multiple sweeps and while I did dilate some, it didnt put me into labor. I was induced at 39 weeks for chronic hypertension. With #3, contractions started almost 12hrs later, stopped for a day, started back up for hours, stopped again and eventually my waters broke and labor REALLY started.

I agree, it all depends on how ready your body is. All of my sweeps hurt, but I also had OBs each time.

[selena_ski]

I had my membranes swept with DD at 41 weeks. It did hurt like the blazes, (with a MW) We actually did it three times and hour apart, and she had me taking the cohoshes. I did go into labor, but i very well could have at any point as well.

[covertlycrunchy]

I had mine swept at 38 weeks with DD#1 without my consent and went into labor later that night but it stalled out when she flipped posterior and got stuck, ended in a c/s 9 days after my due date.
Now I'm really considering asking to have it done but I'm past 42 weeks and have been having painful contractions since Saturday (so for about 3 days) that I haven't really been able to sleep through. I have an induction planned for Wednesday morning b/c I just can't take this any more.