If this happens, your midwife may be able to carry out a sweep at your next appointment. If a sweep isn’t possible, a midwife may be able to stretch or massage your cervix which may help it soften and start to dilate. This can stimulate the release of hormones (prostaglandins), which may start labour. If this isn't your first baby, you should be offered a membrane sweep at your 41-week antenatal appointment.Ī sweep is when a midwife or doctor sweeps their finger around the edges of your cervix with the aim of separating the membranes of the amniotic sac from your cervix. Some midwives will offer a membrane sweep every 72 hours (three days). If you're a first-time mum, you may be offered a membrane sweep at your antenatal appointment at 40 weeks and again at 41 weeks. Induction is offered to all women who don’t go into labour naturally by 42 weeks as there is a higher risk of stillbirth or problems for the baby. It will be one of the first things your midwife will offer to you, before other methods of induction. You may also be offered one if there is any risk to you or your baby’s health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or obstetric cholestasis. 2014 3(1):30-34.A stretch and sweep, or membrane sweep, is a way of bringing on labour if you are overdue and things just aren’t happening. The Efficacy of Membrane Sweeping at Term and Effect on the Duration of Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Randomized clinical trial evaluating the frequency of membrane sweeping with an unfavorable cervix at 39 weeks. et al. Membrane sweeping added to formal induction method to increase the spontaneous vaginal delivery: a meta-analysis. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.ĪCOG. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. I was also hoping to avoid induction. But alas, I showed up at the hospital for my scheduled induction a few days later.īab圜enter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. I was bummed, for sure, because I was so ready to be done with that pregnancy and meet my baby. I never even felt any cramping at all that day. There was some initial spotting that time, after my OB did the sweep – but that’s it. Since the membrane sweep worked so well with baby number three, I requested another during my fourth pregnancy. My husband and I headed to the hospital around 10:30 that night, and our third child was born about five hours later. By the time evening rolled around, actual contractions started. (This is a fairly common side effect.) I put on a panty liner when I got home and experienced mild, periodic cramping throughout that afternoon. When I had my membrane swept during my third pregnancy, I started spotting immediately. My daughter was born in less than four hours. They went ahead and gave me some Pitocin anyway. By the time I showed up for the induction at 6 a.m., I was having regular contractions. I got the sweep at an afternoon OB appointment and scheduled an induction for the following morning. I grimaced through the awkwardness and got through it by focusing my thoughts on the hope that labor wouldn’t be far away. But although it was super uncomfortable for 10 seconds or so, I wouldn’t say it was particularly painful. It’s a lot of pressure in a highly sensitive place. Getting a membrane sweep feels kind of like a rough cervical check. During my first sweep, with my second baby, my whole body involuntarily recoiled. "I've had four babies and three membrane sweeps.
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