Cervical sweeps

Most trusts won't offer them until at least your due date if there are no issues with the pregnancy. I ended up having three sweeps with my youngest and the last one definitely brought on labour as baby was born that evening! It's no more uncomfortable than a smear test.

I'm scheduled for a sweep at 40+1 with my midwife if baby hasn't made an appearance by then.
You can request a sweep with your midwife any time from 37 weeks as you're considered full term but usually you'd need a reason to request one e.g very uncomfortable, not sleeping etc.
And a sweep, if done correctly, shouldn't be painful, just mild discomfort. Like Caroline says, no more uncomfortable than having a smear test done. X

It only works if your body is nearly ready anyway I think. I had 3 sweeps with my first & none of them worked. Had to be induced at 42+1 in the end. If baby just isn’t ready there isn’t a lot that will get them out early!

I’m having one on Wednesday at 39 weeks, the worst that can happen is it doesn’t work no harm in trying🤷🏼‍♀️ I wouldn’t worry about the pain as it’s couple mins max & im sure labours going to be worse hah

I have had my first one this morning, I have since lost my mucus plug and having irregular contractions but nothing to shout home about.

I am 39 weeks today, I was I ly offered today due to being a 2nd time mum, most trust won't do them for first time mums untill due date.

It was not painful at all, as above no more uncomfortable then a smear test.
Xxx

I had one this morning and my midwife couldn’t reach my cervix. I’m also 39 weeks but booked in for an induction x

I had three sweeps which were painful and didn’t work. First 2 agonisingly so, she almost couldn’t complete them. Still only 1cm dilated at 41+3.

I've been offered a sweep on Tuesday. I'll be 39+3 so I'm trying to decided whether or not to accept it.

I had a sweep yesterday at 38+3, it wasn't painful at all, just slightly uncomfortable (I was really dreading it as I'd been told its painful by others). My midwife was really lovely & said if I get any pain or it's too much she'll stop instantly. I'm glad I did it because the midwife said I was 2cm dilated which shocked me! No contractions yet but I've since had my bloody show. I found it really helpful to know what my body is doing & trust that it's getting prepared. 🤞🏻

I had a sweep on Friday at 39+5 and it was slightly uncomfortable but not painful at all! Just try to relax your muscles and breathe through slowly xx

I’m 39+1 and having one done at 39+3. I’m trying to avoid being induced so I’m happy to try get things going. If it fails, I tired! 🫶🏻

You get offered them at 39 weeks now. Nhs guidelines have changed as your only allowed to go over +7 post due date.

Don’t listen to the bad experiences there are a lot of positive ones too which I’ve heard about. Sister in law had one and had no issues. I think if you go in to it expecting pain and discomfort you’ll end up tensing and more like be in discomfort.

Do what you feel is right for you. I’m opting for it cause I’m very much ready now to have baby 😬🤞🏼

It's really not about the number of weeks you are but about how ready your body is on whether it'll be painful or not. I had my first one yesterday, and it was super painful. I am 40 + 3 but cervix closed and posterior so she really had to reach around and try to pull it round/massage it. However, as some other ladies have said, they have been 37/38 weeks and a couple of cm dilated so was just uncomfortable for them not painful. It's so individual, I think it's worth doing it so at the least you can see what's going on with your body. I have another booked in for next week, really hoping it'll be a little better next time! Good luck x

that’s not true, I wasn’t going to be even induced until 41+5!

My Trust won't let you go over 2 weeks. Think every trust has a different policy but a large majority are 42 weeks now

You can go over 42 weeks if you ask for scans to check placenta health and extra monitoring. Everything is our own decision, just have to weigh up the pros and cons for each individual situation 🤸🏻‍♀️

every hospital is different though that’s our local guidelines ☺️. Plus I have a friend who’s a midwife 😊