Membrane Sweep

[Mom2Ms]

Hey ladies! I have a feeling my doc is going to recommend this tomorrow if little Nacho is still snug in the womb. Two appointments ago, she grazed upon the subject, saying we might want to do it in conjunction with setting an induction date. Tomorrow I'll be 39w6d. I haven't seen much if anything about this on the boards. Dr. Google tells me 1) it hurts like a MF, 2) it may not even work. So I'm curious as to anyone's experience of having it done, if it worked, and how long it took. Pros/Cons. Preach.

[misshart00]

Feb 24, 2015 11:39:47 GMT -5 Mom2Ms said:

Hey ladies! I have a feeling my doc is going to recommend this tomorrow if little Nacho is still snug in the womb. Two appointments ago, she grazed upon the subject, saying we might want to do it in conjunction with setting an induction date. Tomorrow I'll be 39w6d. I haven't seen much if anything about this on the boards. Dr. Google tells me 1) it hurts like a MF, 2) it may not even work. So I'm curious as to anyone's experience of having it done, if it worked, and how long it took. Pros/Cons. Preach.

I was told there is a 50% chance of it working between 24 and 48 hours after. I had it done twice and neither worked. But I've had friends that had it done and went into labor a couple hours later.

It seems that when it does work, it just kind of pushes you over the edge when you're already there. If that makes sense.

[Mom2Ms]

Feb 24, 2015 11:42:24 GMT -5 misshart00 said:

Feb 24, 2015 11:39:47 GMT -5 Mom2Ms said:

Hey ladies! I have a feeling my doc is going to recommend this tomorrow if little Nacho is still snug in the womb. Two appointments ago, she grazed upon the subject, saying we might want to do it in conjunction with setting an induction date. Tomorrow I'll be 39w6d. I haven't seen much if anything about this on the boards. Dr. Google tells me 1) it hurts like a MF, 2) it may not even work. So I'm curious as to anyone's experience of having it done, if it worked, and how long it took. Pros/Cons. Preach.

I was told there is a 50% chance of it working between 24 and 48 hours after. I had it done twice and neither worked. But I've had friends that had it done and went into labor a couple hours later.

It seems that when it does work, it just kind of pushes you over the edge when you're already there. If that makes sense.

That makes perfect sense. I can't even see the edge yet, so I'm thinking "why bother." I've read stories of people having nasty contractions for 12 hours and then nothing.... I'm already physically miserable enough!

[flyster]

Go over to the bump....you'll get way more info then you want constant topic over there

[Mom2Ms]

Feb 24, 2015 11:58:28 GMT -5 flyster said:

Go over to the bump....you'll get way more info then you want constant topic over there

Thanks, but no thanks. Unfortunately, there's no useful information coming out of there because everyone left to come over here. Plus, I think the focus over there is castor oil at the moment.

[hollydfromtn]

I had mine swept on a Tuesday and had my LO in my arms at 12:17 Thursday morning. I was 38.6 and she wanted to go ahead and try due to his size. From what I understand it only works if you're already close anyway so that's why I went along with it that early. As for the procedure, it was uncomfortable but I wouldn't say it hurt like a MF. My doc also said she was pretty aggressive with the sweep. I had no signs of labor prior to having it done and was only dilated about 1cm and 60% effaced. I was a little crampy throughout the day but real contractions didn't start until 4:00 on Wednesday morning. My recommendation is to give it a try but know that everyone is different and our experiences may not be the same. Good luck!

[kcrosem]

I had it done Tues am and contractions started Wed am and he was born early Thurs. Not painful for me. My doc was a bit skeptical at the time though at my follow up yesterday she said maybe that did it. With my first, I had it done and nothing.

[Mom2Ms]

Thanks hollydfromtn and kcrosem. That's exactky the kind of stuff I was curious & wanted to hear about! That helps so much.

[babycfeb2015]

Didnt work for me but also didnt think it hurt and didn't cause contractions

[beth1212]

Personally, I wouldn't consider it until well after 40 weeks. Probably not till after 41. (Though my approach tends to be hands off, ex. I wouldn't agree to a traditional induction till 42 weeks unless there was a medical indication for it, such as pre-e. IMHO, OBs tend to want to manage birth when the best outcomes happen when they leave things alone, assuming mom and baby are healthy.) If she accidentally breaks your water she'll probably want you to deliver within 24 hours, which will probably mean pitocin and an epidural, and you'll significantly increase your chances of ending up with a C-section.

That being said, I haven't researched membrane sweeps at all, so I don't really know much about the risks and benefits.

Whatever you decide, GL, and I hope your LO arrives soon!

[michelle142]

With DS I had it done twice, at 38 and 39 weeks. It didn't hurt to have done, but made me crampy both time. It didn't do anything in terms of labor, DS was born at 39+6.

With DD, I had it done at 39+6. Didn't hurt, but I had a ton of cramping and lots of discharge. Did nothing for labor though, she was born at 40+4.

Usually if a seep is going to do anything, it will happen within 24-48 hours. Wether it hurts or not varies from person to person.

[Mom2Ms]

Feb 24, 2015 13:43:42 GMT -5 beth1212 said:

Personally, I wouldn't consider it until well after 40 weeks. Probably not till after 41. (Though my approach tends to be hands off, ex. I wouldn't agree to a traditional induction till 42 weeks unless there was a medical indication for it, such as pre-e. IMHO, OBs tend to want to manage birth when the best outcomes happen when they leave things alone, assuming mom and baby are healthy.) If she accidentally breaks your water she'll probably want you to deliver within 24 hours, which will probably mean pitocin and an epidural, and you'll significantly increase your chances of ending up with a C-section.

That being said, I haven't researched membrane sweeps at all, so I don't really know much about the risks and benefits.

Whatever you decide, GL, and I hope your LO arrives soon!

I kind of share your sediment. That's why I'm asking around to get experiences. I was induced with DD at 39w1d. No sweep. I really didn't want to go the induction route again because like you said, I almost ended up in a c-section. There are some concerns about his size which make induction a possibility. My placenta is far enough away where they won't force a c-section, but it's close enough to the cervical opening that that they are keeping an eye on it, and I could end up with one. So many variables!

[Mom2Ms]

Thank-you michelle142!

[beth1212]

Feb 24, 2015 13:55:49 GMT -5 Mom2Ms said:

Feb 24, 2015 13:43:42 GMT -5 beth1212 said:

Personally, I wouldn't consider it until well after 40 weeks. Probably not till after 41. (Though my approach tends to be hands off, ex. I wouldn't agree to a traditional induction till 42 weeks unless there was a medical indication for it, such as pre-e. IMHO, OBs tend to want to manage birth when the best outcomes happen when they leave things alone, assuming mom and baby are healthy.) If she accidentally breaks your water she'll probably want you to deliver within 24 hours, which will probably mean pitocin and an epidural, and you'll significantly increase your chances of ending up with a C-section.

That being said, I haven't researched membrane sweeps at all, so I don't really know much about the risks and benefits.

Whatever you decide, GL, and I hope your LO arrives soon!

I kind of share your sediment. That's why I'm asking around to get experiences. I was induced with DD at 39w1d. No sweep. I really didn't want to go the induction route again because like you said, I almost ended up in a c-section. There are some concerns about his size which make induction a possibility. My placenta is far enough away where they won't force a c-section, but it's close enough to the cervical opening that that they are keeping an eye on it, and I could end up with one. So many variables!

There are so many variables! Re. the size concerns, make sure you feel comfortable with their recommendations there, too. A family friend just had a c-section for a supposedly "big baby" who turned out to be a bit under 9 lbs. From my understanding of her situation, a totally unnecessary c-section. ACOG doesn't recommend even considering an induction at all for a suspected big baby. ("In cases of term patients with suspected fetal macrosomia, current evidence does not support early induction of labor." from www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0701/p169.html)

[dreemkin]

My feelings: it doesn't hurt to try (it also didn't hurt for me but I was 2+ dilated).

ETA: I forgot to add my personal experience. I had it done monday evening at 39w1d. I had some discharge after for a few days. Contractions started Friday. So basically I don't think it worked. I was just going to go on my own time. Hope it works for you if you do it.

[MrsPavlov]

No experience here, but my OB just said at my 40 week appt that they don't sweep if you're GBS+, like me. I didn't request it, she just mentioned it. I'll just leave that tidbit there for lurkers.

[Mom2Ms]

Well, I opted to not have it done today. Yesterday I started having regular contractions, not in the sense of them being 5 minutes apart, but 9, 10, 15, 20, 30 ect. They'd get closer, then farther apart. Then stop for a couple hours. Then start again.... Then stop. I'm still having them today, but not tracking them. I'm 4cm and 80%, so she said she thinks I'll naturally go into labor! Yay! I have another appointment Monday, if I haven't delivered, and she'll do the sweep then. And it that doesn't work, they will induce next Thursday at 41 weeks.....

Until then, yoga ball and walking....

[kcrosem]

Good luck Mom2Ms!

[beth1212]

I hope that those contractions become regular soon and you go into labor! GL!

[dreemkin]

It sounds like itll be soon then! Good luck!