[Banned-AnnaMama]

Over the last few weeks I've been making decisions about the birth, what I plan to do if I go overdue etc... and I just wanted to ask has anyone had the experience of a sweep? Did it bring on labor? How long did it take? Was it painful?

Thanks!!

[lanie4]

I had it done with two (maybe three?) of my kids. It just takes a minute-- while the dr is doing an internal check anyway-- and can be uncomfortable but I wouldn't call it painful. It did cause contractions each time but I didn't have the baby right away or anything like that. But I do think it helped get things going.

[Frangipani]

What do they do? Just sweep along the cervix? Or are they actually up in your cervix doing something?

[momof6lopez]

Originally Posted by Frangipani

What do they do? Just sweep along the cervix? Or are they actually up in your cervix doing something?

They go in your cervix with one finger and stretch it all the way around....for me, it hurt BADDDDDD.....I had it done with ds2, twice, three days apart, he was 1wk overdue. First time, no contractions, 2nd. time (3 days later) went into active labor within 1hr. I was dialated to 2 the first time, and 3 days later, I was dialated to 3 before the sweep....after he stretched me out, I was 3.5 to 4 immediately.

[Dreamsinpink2010]

i have had it done three times, it does not hurt but it is uncmfortable
everytime i had it done i went into labor within 24-48 hours

[TXErinC]

Uncomfortable, a little painful if you aren't expecting it. It didn't do anything for me, hopefully it will this time.

[K_photo_mom]

I had it done with my first and she was born about 24 hours later. Like the others have said, it didn't hurt, but wasn't very comfortable.

[lexicon]

My doc did it at my 39 week appt. I was a fingertip dilated, and my BP was rising (I was admitted 2 days later for induction due to PIH) so he wanted to just stretch my cervix a bit to see if that helped get things rolling (which it didn't... I was still a fingertip 2 days later )

It did hurt. And I felt crampy all day afterwards. So I *thought* it might have done something

This time around if they ask again I'll probably say yes (no earlier than 38 weeks though) just because I'd like to see if I can avoid induction and dilate/go into labor on my own.

[~Kris~]

Haven't done it and don't plan on it.

[redbirds]

I'm thinking of getting this done maybe on the 1st or 2nd... I haven't had it done, and I remember in my PR (when we were a DDC) some women went into labor 24-48 hours later, and others had no effect... I think it has to do with how "ripe" and ready you really are.

[pbcups10]

I got one with DS. I saw my OB the day before I was scheduled to be induced and she decided to strip my membranes to help speed the process. She said "this will be slightly uncomfortable." For me that was the understatement of the century, it hurt bad, I was crampy that whole day and the next day at the hospital I wanted to die when they checked my cervix it hurt so bad. Not to scare you, obviously it isn't like that for everyone. I did have a relatuvely quick induction though so maybe that helped. I might say no though this time.

[Shawnda]

I've never had it done with my other three but would really like to give it a go this time once I'm full term.

[Justjessie]

They did it to me at 7 pm at a routine appointment with my daughter...told me after. I felt nothing. My water broke at midnight and I had her at 5 am.

I'm going to request it again!!!