Will anyone admit to an at attempt, or at least thinking about, performing their own DIY membrane sweep?

(30 Posts)
RightUpMyRue Mon 01-Apr-13 21:59:32

It's basically a finger in the cervix, isn't it? A small step beyond deep penetration?

Cavort Mon 01-Apr-13 22:08:07

Not only will I not be attempting it myself, but I will be refusing any offer of one from anyone else. I've heard too many stories of agony!

RightUpMyRue Mon 01-Apr-13 22:14:43

How far along are you Cavort?

OpheliasWeepingWillow Mon 01-Apr-13 22:17:05


That's all

TheDetective Mon 01-Apr-13 22:30:24

Couldn't reach my own cervix.

Flisspaps Mon 01-Apr-13 22:59:03

I did.

Had to get in some odd positions.

Waste of fucking time and effort grin

RightUpMyRue Tue 02-Apr-13 10:14:03

Well at least I'm not alone in considering it, feel slightly less mad than last night. There's two more of you who are brave enough to give it a try.

Another day bouncing on this jeffing ball with no results is not appealing.

Jojobump1986 Tue 02-Apr-13 10:27:51

I'd be a bit worried about breaking my own waters if I was already a bit dilated. No idea if that fear has any basis though! confused

ValarMorGoolis Tue 02-Apr-13 10:34:41

I did. Didn't work.

DH had to have the sex with me to get me started. Worked within 30 kind both times. Might be coincidence might not.

RightUpMyRue Tue 02-Apr-13 10:52:48

I'd like my waters to break, should get things going. 40 weeks tomorrow. Ready for the baby now.

DP is at work so no bonking going to happen unless I pay him a visit at his office. I'd have to take DD with me which might kill the mood even further.

justabigdisco Tue 02-Apr-13 10:57:31

It's not just a finger in the cervix though, and unless you're in labour the cervix is likely to be too high to reach.

mayhew Tue 02-Apr-13 11:08:58

If your cervical opening is low enough to reach with your own finger…..labour is imminent. The fingertip needs to go right inside the opening and then then travels a circle about 1cm inside. Unless you have arms like an orangutan.

ohmentalnessisme Tue 02-Apr-13 14:13:07

I tried a few times when I was overdue but couldn't reach.

jumpinghoops Tue 02-Apr-13 16:51:26

I was thinking about this in the shower this morning grin as it is I'm due a 'monster sweep' (her words) from midwife next week. I had 3 last time (final one worked) so should probably not bother this time around but I really didn't find them too bad. Painful yes, but nothing compared to labour!

Coconutty Tue 02-Apr-13 16:54:35

I did this and DS2 was born later that day.

HappyJoyful Tue 02-Apr-13 16:54:52

I contemplated it - thought how difficult can it be?! Mentioned to a friend and she explained that it wasn't a good plan and actually was far more complicated (still not sure why?!) then it sounded.

MadameJosephine Tue 02-Apr-13 17:11:40

I'm a midwife so I admit I did have a go but it was impossible to reach so I had to get one of my mates to do it for me! She did 3 over about a week and I went into labour after the 3rd but it was probably a coincidence, I don't think they work unless you're overdue

TheDetective Tue 02-Apr-13 18:01:34

Same here Madame. I had 6 bloody sweeps over 12 days. They did nothing. I still made it to 20 days past EDD, and had an ARM to get me contracting enough to change my very fucking posterior cervix!

I also have short fingers. Not good!

Coconutty Tue 02-Apr-13 18:12:29

He was born 2 days early but was probably a coincidence then!

BadDayAtTheOrifice Wed 03-Apr-13 15:43:55

I did it. It worked. I have arms lie an orangutan.

NAR4 Wed 03-Apr-13 18:46:16

A friend of mine got her DH to do it. I gave this a miss as it sounded so horribly unsexy I thought it would play on my mind during all future foreplay. Silly to be bothered maybe, but I just stuck with my midwife doing mine.

I had 3 sweeps over 10 days and even though at the last one the midwife said my cervix were high and posterior and I was only about 1-2cm dilated, I went into labour (first time not to be induced) later that day. Definately worth having them done, just in case it helps get things going.

Notmyidea Wed 03-Apr-13 18:49:12

I had a bit of a prod up there with dd2, because by "my" dates she was over (and I knew my dates were right!) and the midwife wasn't going to help yet. Was reassuring to find a nice, low, squishy cervix and that the braxton-hicks contractions that had been waking me up were having an effect, but it took castor oil to get going.

RightUpMyRue Wed 03-Apr-13 19:51:36

Did the castor oil give you the runs though Notmyidea?

I have some castor oil left in the cupboard after trying the oil cleansing method and not getting on with it.

I've got an appt at the birh centre tomorrow. If the MW won't have a furkle up there then I think between DP and I we'll have a go.

Notmyidea Wed 03-Apr-13 20:01:37

personally, no, although it can.

I tried but could only just reach my cervix and feel te opening. I couldn't reach any further than that and it took some awkward positioning to get that far

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