The procedure only takes a few minutes, but it can be uncomfortable or slightly painful. Some people describe it as a rough cervical exam. You should expect some discomfort during and just after the membrane sweep. If the sweep worked, you may begin feeling contractions within a few hours.
Membrane sweeping does not usually start labor right away. If you do have membrane sweeping, expect to feel some cramping during the procedure. You might feel mild cramps or contractions for up to 24 hours afterward. You may also have slight spotting (a small amount of bleeding on your underwear) for up to 3 days.
After having a membrane sweep
Most women will go into labour within 48 hours. If you do not go into labour within 48 hours your community midwife will give you an appointment to come for an induction.
A sweep can't always be performed. Unless you are at least 1 cm dilated, it can't be done. After a sweep you will most likely lose some or all of your mucous plug. It can also cause bleeding and irregular contractions that do not progress into labour.
Stripping membranes does not make the labor more painful. The procedure can cause you discomfort or mild pain and slight bleeding. The pain is due to the release of prostaglandins, which is normal. If the procedure works on you, contractions begin within a few hours.
People have reported experiencing pain or discomfort with the procedure. You may also experience bleeding after the procedure. Membrane sweeping, but not cervical massage, may increase the risk of your water breaking before labor.
A membrane sweep can be uncomfortable, as the cervix is often difficult to reach before your labour begins. Some women find the procedure painful. If you've been practising breathing techniques ready for labour, you may find they help you to relax while your midwife is carrying out the sweep.
One study showed that 90% of those who had a membrane sweep gave birth by 41 weeks compared to 75% who did not have the procedure. Membrane sweeps are a safe and effective way to start labor in most people.
This is something that can be done to help begin labor It can be done in your care provider's office at a regular check up near your due date. In order for this to have a chance of starting labor, it is helpful if the cervix is favorable—dilated at least 2 cm and over 60% effaced.
Walking. Being upright and gently active may help your baby move down towards your cervix, which encourages it to open, according to this NHS guidance.
During membrane sweeping, you may feel some cramping like you get during your period. You may feel mild cramps or contractions (muscles of your uterus getting tight) for up to 24 hours afterward. You may also have slight spotting (a small amount of blood on your underwear) for a day or two.
Almost all women will have their baby within a week of having a membrane sweep performed. With the membrane sweep success rate being 24%, doctors may repeat the procedure in 36 hours if the woman hasn't gone into labor after the first time having the procedure done.
How effective is a Stretch and Sweep? Statistically, there is around a 24% success rate of the procedure being effective with labour tending to start within the next 48 hours. Most women will deliver their baby within one week of having a stretch and sweep done.
When we do a membrane sweep, we are trying to strip the membranes away from the cervix. This is something that you need training to do, to make sure that you don't actually hurt the cervix. So we wouldn't recommend that you do a DIY membrane sweep at home.
It is also possible for the plug to be dislodged during a vaginal examination by a doctor or midwife or after sexual intercourse. Sometimes a membrane sweep (a technique performed to encourage the start of labour) causes loss of the mucus plug. Let your midwife know about any vaginal loss after a sweep.
As long as the mucus plug discharges after 37 weeks of pregnancy or later and you and your doctor have no concerns, there is nothing specific you need to do after losing the mucus plug. Even if you lose your mucus plug several weeks before delivery, don't worry.
Alix Bacon, a registered midwife in Ladner, BC, says while one finger is required for a membrane sweep, a stretch needs two fingers to be able to fit through the cervix in order to “literally stretch those fingers apart.” If your cervix isn't ready to be widened, this part of the procedure won't be done, she says.
A stretch and sweep could also send you into a false or slow labour. You might have some hormonal changes, some cramping or spotting, but labour does not start for a few days. This can lead to tension, restlessness and tiredness – not a great way to feel when you go into actual labour.
Is membrane stripping safe? Yes, membrane stripping is safe when it's done at full term (39 to 41 weeks). Researchers have found that women who have membrane stripping aren't more likely than other women to end up having a c-section or other complications.
There are several different reasons why expecting mamas get these pains, but boils down to pressure on the bundle of nerves around the cervix. The majority of the nerves in the uterus just so happen to be right above your cervix. As baby moves around and things start happening down there, it can stimulate these nerves.
A membrane sweep is usually performed either at home or in the antenatal clinic and takes about 10 minutes. You do not need to do anything to prepare for it.
If you're expecting a baby then you may have heard people talk about having a membrane sweep. This is a method used by doctors and midwives to encourage labour. While it may sound a bit scary, it's a very common procedure and is nothing to worry about.
Focusing on slow breathing and using other relaxation techniques during the exam can help to reduce discomfort. You may have some spotting after the procedure, so wearing a panty liner is a good idea. It is normal to feel some cramping afterwards. This cramping may or may not continue into active labour.