I'm booked in for a sweep tomorrow - does anyone know if they actually work?

[CheekyP]

Most people I have spoken to who have had a sweep aren't convinced that they worked and had to have more than one. Wondered what people on here thought about them? Do they work? And if you have a second one how soon do you have that after the first one? Thanks everyone x

[CarolineDarz]

It depends what you think of 'working'. My midwife said that the idea isnt spontaneous labour. But the first one is likely to make you more favourable for the second- usually a week later and that will help if you need an induction. x x

[Hidden]

I had one at 37 weeks and then at 38 my waters went 3 days after basically it encourages the prostagladins which soften ur cervix and get things going my friends cousin is a midwife and if ur ready life ur body is on its way then it works her cousin said she had done sweeps on women and they have come back 5 mins later with contractions so fingers crossed for u tmw I'm having one next week

[CheekyP]

Ah thanks. Really hope it works as am already 6 days overdue and feeling v impatient! X

[Hidden in reply to CheekyP]

Ur have to let us know good luck x

[CheekyP]

Oooh I will do, thanks x

[Summerfield]

I had a sweep. In the night I started having pains then stop the next day I had nothing than the following day I went into labour.

[sugar123]

I had a sweep with my son. It worked. I started to have contractions about 2 hours later and had my baby 7am the next day. Good luck hun

[DrFluffy]

You need a 'ripe' cervix - thus oy really 'works' on someone who was likely to go into labour within 48h anyway...

[taybaysmum]

Im 40weeks +4 and have now had two sweeps. Needless to say they didn't work for me. But they could work for you. I had mine a week apart. X

[CheekyP]

Ha - I'm secretly hoping that when they do it they say 'oh what a suprise, you are already 5cm dilated'

[f3speechy]

I had a number of sweeps with the last one to bring him on early. Hurt so much I nearly fired myself head first up the bed into the wall! I didn't expect it to hurt so bad!!!!

They didn't work as far as I know. Pains came on, then went away again each time. There was a woman across from me who'd been having sweeps and bouncing on a ball for 3 days. I think your body just has to be ready.

[hippolike]

I agree with DrFluffy and f3speechy - it will only work if you are on the brink of labour anyway. I had three, and they did b*gger all to bring on labour. I ended up being induced ... In terms of how painful sweeps are, I found that it differed wildly depending on the technique of the midwife. One hurt terribly, the other two not very much at all .. . Good luck - I hope it works for you!

[CheekyP]

Hi everyone. Sweep done and didn't find it too bad, bit uncomfortable but not painful. Had some more crampiing than usual tonight but nothing over exciting. Oh well, time will tell x