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.
How soon after a membrane sweep does labor start? Labor begins within 48 hours for most people after a membrane sweep. Every person and every pregnancy is a little different, so it's hard to say how long it will take for your labor to start (or if it will).
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. This bleeding can be reddish, pink, or brown and may be mixed with mucus. Spotting and cramping after membrane sweeping are normal.
You might feel mild cramps or contractions for up to 24 hours after your membranes have been stripped. You may also have slight spotting (a small amount of bleeding) for up to 3 days after your mem- branes are stripped. This bleeding can be reddish, pink, or brown and may be mixed with mucus.
Gentle exercise releases endorphins in your body, which can help relieve some of the discomfort once your contractions start.
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.
Remember, the more favorable your cervix, the more likely membrane sweeps are to work. Using a firm circular or sweeping motion, your midwife or doctor will sweep and separate the membrane of the amniotic sac from the cervix. Some providers also stretch the cervix to increase the chances of the membrane sweep working.
Having 2 or even 3 membrane sweeps 48 hours apart is the most successful in encouraging labour to start.
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.
Compared with no intervention or a sham sweep (40 studies involving 6548 women), allocated to membrane sweeping may be more likely to have spontaneous onset of labour, but we found no clear difference in unassisted vaginal births. Women may also be less likely to have formal induction of labour.
To carry out a membrane sweep, your midwife or doctor sweeps their finger around your cervix during an internal examination. This action should separate the membranes of the amniotic sac surrounding your baby from your cervix. This separation releases hormones (prostaglandins), which may start your labour.
When your baby is ready to begin the journey through the birth canal, your cervix dilates from fully closed to 10 centimeters. This process can take hours, days, or even weeks. But once you hit active labor – about 6 cm dilated – it's usually just a matter of hours before you reach full dilation.
Try being upright
One of your biggest allies is gravity. When you are upright—standing, sitting or kneeling—the weight of your baby presses on the cervix, encouraging it to open. An upright position may also help get your baby into the best position for birth.
Getting up and moving around may help speed dilation by increasing blood flow. Walking around the room, doing simple movements in bed or chair, or even changing positions may encourage dilation. This is because the weight of the baby applies pressure to the cervix.
Early dilation often feels like menstrual cramps as the cervical changes cause pain and cramping noticed in the lower part of the uterus. It is the same sensation and location as menstrual cramps. Active labor tends to be felt in a larger area but can be a similar sensation as cramping (with more intensity of course).
One study reported that 90 percent of women who had a membrane sweep delivered by 41 weeks, compared to 75 percent of women who didn't have one. Membrane stripping might be most effective if you're past your due date.
Cons of membrane sweeping.
Irregular fetal heart rate. Too much pressure on your umbilical cord. Uterine tear. Increased risk of cesarean birth
Conclusion: Sweeping of the membranes weekly from 39 weeks does not increase the number of women who will deliver within the first week but significantly decreases the number that will reach 41 weeks. Induction of labour then becomes less necessary.
Your midwife or doctor may offer to perform a stretch and sweep when you have reached full term (38 weeks) to try to start labour. Some hospitals and doctors recommend the procedure only if you are 40 to 41 weeks pregnant in an attempt to prevent an overdue delivery, which may place the baby at risk.
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.
A bloody show means your cervix is preparing for labor. For some women, labor begins shortly after the bloody show, but for others it could still be several days away. If you are unsure if you are experiencing a bloody show or think you are in the early stages of labor, contact your healthcare provider.
So does it hurt when they check for dilation? If you have a care provider that cares about your comfort and wellbeing, then it should not hurt when they check for dilation and many people don't experience pain during their exam.
Just over 7 out of 10 women ended up in spontaneous labour with a membrane sweep (723 in 1000). 3 out of 10 women without a membrane sweep had their labour induced (313 women in 1000). 2 out of 10 women with a membrane sweep had their labour induced (228 women in 1000).