does a membrane sweep hurt?
i was due on Thursday 13th Feb but this little fella didn't show and been told if he hasn't arrived by next Thursday 20th then i need to go in and have a sweep - does it hurt? how long will it take? whats its like? feeling a little anxious - thank you!!
I'm not able to say if it hurts generally as I had a sweep after being induced so I was already uncomfortable and extremely sore from a pessary so mine was very painful. From what others have said it can be a little uncomfortable and maybe feel like period pains. Good luck 
Hi hun ive not got any experience but my friend described it like a smear. Remember you don't have to have it.done its your choice and you might not even make it til thurs 
xx
Hey hun.. It is uncomfortable but usually does the trick so worth having done if lil man is too comfy. They literally sweep and prod across your cervix with the fingers, same as they do whilst in labour to see what stage dilated you are.. Good luck hun x
It doesn't hurt in the sense of " ouch" but it can be rather uncomfortable. I guess it depends on how far the baby's head has engaged to.
It feels a lot like a smear test ( if you've ever had one) & let's face it if your planning on having a vaginal birth a membrane sweep is going to be the last of your worries.
x
This is very true Abenaa x
I know everybody is different, but it hurt me very much and was completely ineffective. I wouldn't have that to be done to me again. But then I also found the checking how far I was gone was the most painful part of labour - as I said, everybody is different.
Hey, I had a sweep 3d b4 Induction. To quantify pain/discomfort depends on your threshold & how you deal with it.
I found the sweep more 'uncomfortable' then a smear which I have experienced annually for 20 years so consider myself a bit of an expert in them! I had a stretch and sweep and the MW at ANDU described it as a good one and said I did well to 'deal' with it as many women are not brave, I was also about 2cm dilated.
The best advice I can give is relax and focus on your breathing, good practice for labour and delivery. The more you tense the more it will pain you.
My sweep didn't work so I was induced 3 days later when I returned for a second one to be done (i would try anything for the natural labour) as my LO was not so happy that day so they wouldn't do it.
Good luck and try not to worry. It'll be just fine. There is nothing to stop you from taking paracetamol beforehand as you know your having one. You may feel some cramps after too X
I had a couple, and the first one was a real shock but the second not bad at all. Like she was drunkenly rummaging in her handbag for her keys. But the second one wasn't as bad, not sure if it was the different technique or how ready I was! Either way the ladies are right, just relax and focus on that breathing! Hope it works! xx
It depends on whether you felt uncomfortable with having a smear ? Quite similar although my cervix is very far back and its was very uncomfortable for me personally everyone is different and it depends on the hands performing this !!
Hey. I had 4 and as the other ladies have said, it doesn't hurt as such, can just be a tad uncomfortable. My midwife was so nice though, we were joking about and having a giggle through mine! If you relax.....same as a smear....it makes it much better x
I had 3 (as my baby girl refused to budge!) and they're 'uncomfortable' rather than painful. (Personally I'd say they're not half as bad as a smear test.) When I had mine done it made me 'make a face' (as it's an odd sensation) but nothing else.
Yes, generally I would say more uncomfortable than painful but I think it does depend a lot on the person doing it -I have had a rather rough sweep from a consultant who was trying to 'save' me the trouble of being induced I don't think being rough necessarily helps (didn't in my case!) and most midwives are aware that it can be quite uncomfortable and are careful. Don't be afraid to say that it hurts or that you want them to stop if you are unhappy, most MWs will ask you to say so anyway. As Fattyboom has said, just like a smear (or a vaginal examination) trying to stay as relaxed as you can with some gentle breaths and a hand to hold if possible can make a massive difference to how you experience it. x
Hi I had three sweeps. I found it a bit uncomfortable. Good luck.
Mine didn't hurt I was actually surprised the mw was very gentle and it worked as 8hrs 45 mins later he was born although my waters did break as she was doing it ( very embarrassing lol )
fingers crossed this luck will repeat for me
I had it twice and both times the baby was far up (so the midwife was not really able to do a sweep) the third time my midwife did a sweep as my dilation was taking longer and the baby was completely engaged so they just decided to jump from 7 to 10 
The first two time it did not hurt just felt a bit ouch (and embarrassed ) the third time I was already on epidural
Thank you to everyone who replied
i really hope things start naturally and he arrives before Thursday but atleast now i have an idea of what to except :/ lol
Just to add - there is no sense in which you 'need to' have a sweep if you are still waiting on Thursday. You are totally free to decline. You might want to look into how successful they actually are statistically (I don't know off the top of my head) and decide whether you think it is worth trying. There is no procedure you have to agree to. You might feel like labour is going to start soon anyway by then and in that case having someone poking and prodding might not help your body relax and do what it's meant to - or you might feel it's worth a try to give things a nudge if there is no sign yet... completely up to you.
thank you still in two minds as to what to do - feel a little worried about what its gonna feel like :/ think ill go along n see how far down he is n ask about success rates n go from there
Well i had a sweep today
Little one was 4/5ths engaged and i was 1.5cm dilated
It wasnt as bad as i thought it would be - it was rather uncomfortable but thankfully was done pretty quick!
Had it done at half 2 - felt quite sore after it and still do - got cramps and feel sick but nothing major happening as yet
If this one doesn't work ill be getting another on sunday - also been booked in to have waters broken on Wednesday as a last resort
Going to bed now so fingers crossed things will progress - ill update tomorrow!! Night all
Good luck
Thank you
Any development's? Xx
nothing 
hello (33hrs after sweep) just woken up feeling very sick
still not had contractions or a bloody show but still quite sore n got backache n pains downstairs
Can I ask how succsessful are membrane sweeps I starting labour
Did your membrane sweep work?
How is membrane sweep done? At which week?
sweep
Sweep ...
Successful sweep perhaps....
