Membrane sweep question for STM+

[Deleted]

I'm curious.    If you had your membranes swept  in a previous pregnancy, how long after did baby arrive?  

One of my best friends had her DS less than four hours after her sweep, but I've heard stories about it still being a week.

[alayne926]

I had mine swept twice and still had to be induced.

[veggiemo]

Had mine swept--without being asked first. Immediately started having contractions in the exam room. I had contractions all the next day (nothing timeable or consistent, though) but my water broke that following evening and DS was here shortly thereafter. So, about 40 hours between membrane sweep and arrival of DS? I'm positive that's what got my labor going but I don't think it would have worked so fast had DS not been ready to come out.

[brennaz]

I remember my OB saying he would sweep mine...but there was nothing to sweep, apparently it had detached. I don't remember how soon it was before DS was born, but it was at least a few days.

I've heard a membrane sweep is actually painful...can anyone chime in on that while we're on the topic?

[lunalovegood]

I had mine swept with my last pregnancy. Had an afternoon appointment and started having contractions right away. Went to the hospital in the middle of the night and had DS3 the next morning.

For me, it hurt like a bitch. It was very painful and actually made me cry in the doctors office.

[veggiemo]

Mar 24, 2015 13:42:33 GMT -5 lunalovegood said:

I had mine swept with my last pregnancy. Had an afternoon appointment and started having contractions right away. Went to the hospital in the middle of the night and had DS3 the next morning.

For me, it hurt like a bitch. It was very painful and actually made me cry in the doctors office.

Mine hurt a lot too. It didn't help that I wasn't prepared for it at all. She just did it. I was too shocked to cry.

[ktbear]

They did mine at my 40 and 41 week appts. I still had to get induced at 41w4d.
It did hurt a little more that a regular internal exam, but it wasn't totally horrible. The 40 wk one was done without warning so I think I was more unprepared than anything.

[noeliav]

I had a friend who had hers swept two or three times before she went into labor.

ETA: the first and second time were a week a part, I think. And the third time was a day after the second. After the third time, she went into labor that night or early the next day.

[alayne926]

Mar 24, 2015 13:39:15 GMT -5 brennaz said:

I remember my OB saying he would sweep mine...but there was nothing to sweep, apparently it had detached. I don't remember how soon it was before DS was born, but it was at least a few days.

I've heard a membrane sweep is actually painful...can anyone chime in on that while we're on the topic?

Very uncomfortable...not out of this world painful....especially when compared to what it's supposed to start.

[tatersalad]

I had mine swept at 39 weeks 4 days, lost mucous plug the next day and it still took until 41 weeks for me to go into labor on my own.

[ladysif]

Didn't work for me, I still had to be induced. I remember it being uncomfortable but not bad. I think it would vary depending on how... physical? aggressive? for lack of a better word... your doctor is, though.

[wifedeangel]

I had mine swept at my 39w+2 appt. it was uncomfortable, but not painful. I wwant into labor 2 days later

[belle0720]

So what exactly does this membrane sweep process entail? I feel like it's a weird thing to google at work.

[noeliav]

Mar 24, 2015 14:49:59 GMT -5 belle0720 said:

So what exactly does this membrane sweep process entail? I feel like it's a weird thing to google at work.

My understanding of it (researched about 2 years ago, so this may be fuzzy) is that it's like an invasive cervical check where the OB/MW inserts a finger into the cervix and runs his/her finger around the inside edge between the cervix and the bag of water.

[nettje]

I had mine done about a week past my dues date. I still needed to be induced 4 days later. I did start to lose my mucus plug the next day but nothing else was happening. It was pretty uncomfortable.

[belle0720]

Mar 24, 2015 14:52:39 GMT -5 noeliav said:

Mar 24, 2015 14:49:59 GMT -5 belle0720 said:

So what exactly does this membrane sweep process entail? I feel like it's a weird thing to google at work.

My understanding of it (researched about 2 years ago, so this may be fuzzy) is that it's like an invasive cervical check where the OB/MW inserts a finger into the cervix and runs his/her finger around the inside edge between the cervix and the bag of water.

Yeah that doesn't sound pleasant!

[khaze]

Mar 24, 2015 13:30:29 GMT -5 alayne926 said:

I had mine swept twice and still had to be induced.

Same story.

[sugarkissed]

I had this done around 40 weeks but still had to be induced. It was pretty uncomfortable, but quick.

[dmoney]

Im not even sure if my OB office does this!

[omgtree]

My sister had her's done and still had to be induced. But she was induced at 37 weeks. I agree with pp. If baby isn't ready it's not going to do anything but start contractions and make you feel uncomfortable if baby is ready it can start labor. I think my OB said it's like a 50% chance of it working?

[nicolec78]

With my first 15 minutes later with my second 3 hours. I was in the hospital both times.

[kimberlyandthor2014]

Oooh it does sound quite uncomfortable. My OB mentioned she may try this (before induction) if my cervix seems to be ripening between 38-40 weeks.

[wegrowsheep]

I had a MB sweep with baby #2. I think it was a tuesday or wednesday. Lost the plug a couple days later, baby born Sunday morning. Who knows if it helped? Not what I'd call painful.

[tulips114]

My doctor told me it can take up to 48 hours to go into labor. So the stories of it taking a week, I would call an unsuccessful sweep and they just went into labor on their own.

I had mine swept with both pregnancies. 1st one my water broke approximately 30 hours later (so it was the evening following the sweep) and she was born at noon the next day, approx 48 hours after sweep.

2nd baby I went into labor that night and baby was born approx 24 hours after sweep.

ETA: it was definitely not comfortable, but not what I would call painful. I was dilated to 3 already, both times, I think it's more uncomfortable or painful it you're not dilated.

[tahitiandreamin]

Membrane sweep did NOTHING for me with DD. I had one at 39 or 40 weeks. Nothing. I went in for accupuncture to induce labor a couple days after at 40 weeks. Nothing. DD was stubborn, stubborn, stubborn and did not want to come out. I think that a lot has to do with how ripe the cervix is when they do the sweep. I was still quite long and only a "generous" .5cm dilated.

[jcprn]

Not knowing what this was I looked it up and it seems like.. ouch!

[dmoney]

I asked my sister if our office does this, and she said not on the regular. I have an appointment on Tuesday so I am going to ask my OB if it is a regular thing that is done or not.

[nicolec78]

Mar 24, 2015 17:13:38 GMT -5 nicolec78 said:

With my first 15 minutes later with my second 3 hours. I was in the hospital both times.

Sorry I had mine stripped not swept. They did it with what looked like crochet hook.

[Deleted]

Mar 25, 2015 19:08:51 GMT -5 nicolec78 said:

Mar 24, 2015 17:13:38 GMT -5 nicolec78 said:

With my first 15 minutes later with my second 3 hours. I was in the hospital both times.

Sorry I had mine stripped not swept. They did it with what looked like crochet hook.

Do you mean had your water broken?  I had that done with DS after I was induced and in the hospital.   Stripping/Sweeping membranes is when the doc puts a finger in your cervix and separates the membranes from the uterine wall, but leaves the amniotic sac intact.

[PurpleIris]

3 times. It maybe worked the 3rd time (had the baby the next day, about 32 hours later) but by then I was 11 days past my due date so it may have just been go time anyway. I didn't find it particularly uncomfortable, I mean, any more than having someone's hand up your vag is already uncomfortable, but I know other's have found it painful. My midwife wouldn't even do it until I was past my due date, they're big on the baby coming when it's ready.