A sweep, a membrane sweep, stretch and sweep…..they are all the same thing!
What happens during a sweep?
You will be asked to lie down on your back, legs bent and knees apart. The doctor or midwife will enter a finger up into the vagina, to try and reach the cervix in order to free the amniotic membranes from the lower uterus and stretch the cervix open to help induce labour.
Sometimes the cervix can be tricky to reach and this can make a sweep quite uncomfortable. Once the sweep has taken place your healthcare provider may be able to tell you a little about what is happening with your cervix, its position, readiness for labour and possible dilation.
It may be presented by your healthcare provider as a simple, gentle and more natural way of bringing on labour, it is however still a form of induction. It is a form of intervention that may ultimately lead to further intervention during the remainder of your pregnancy and birth.
The risk of the process harming your baby is very minimal, there are no guarantees that the sweep will actually stimulate labour and it may be offered to you as you approach your due date, once you’ve passed your due date, or if you’re experiencing some medical issues prior to your due date.
What we think you should know:
- It can be uncomfortable.
2. It can cause bleeding.
3. There is a risk of infection occurring after having a sweep.
4. It can result in the breaking of your waters.
5. Having a sweep can bring on irregular cramping or contractions – this is often because the process encourages the body to produce more prostaglandin which is what stimulates contractions.
This may be the right option for you, but it is always important to make sure that you understand how your body works so that you can make an informed decision. This is your birth and you choose what you feel most comfortable with.
This is something that we discuss at length in my antenatal and hypnobirthing classes.
If you’d like to discuss the process a bit more, comment on the post over on our Facebook page: Just Exhale | Facebook