Your doctor or midwife won't offer to sweep your membrane until you reach that 39-week milestone. Since the risk of childbirth complications increases once you become overdue, your healthcare provider may want to try to spur spontaneous vaginal labor. In uncomplicated pregnancies, your doctor or midwife may bring up membrane sweeping in the final stretch between 39 weeks (full-term) and 40 weeks.

If you are in severe pain or bleeding heavily after the appointment, that also merits a call to your obstetrician. Keep an eye on any labor symptoms and call your doctor if you suspect labor has begun. If you have your 'bloody show' or lose your mucus plug, it could mean labor is imminent. You should discuss the pros and cons extensively with your doctor before you proceed. Some midwives and obstetricians eschew membrane sweeping in normal pregnancies as they could lead to mild contractions for days (or even weeks) before you enter labor, making for sleepless nights and uncomfortable days. With any luck, though, you'll go into labor! So, what are the signs a membrane sweep has worked? Those contractions, obviously - have a timer handy in case they become more regular. You may even have some light spotting and cramping or contractions. Not surprisingly, you may feel a bit tender and sore afterward.

What should I expect after a membrane sweep? Just think of it this way - membrane sweeping is largely viewed as less effective than induction by medication but more effective than other natural methods of induction (i.e., nipple stimulation, etc.).Ī membrane sweep can lead to childbirth a few days earlier, but there are no guarantees. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 90% of those who had a membrane sweep gave birth by 41 weeks compared to 75% who didn't have the procedure. How effective is a membrane sweep?Īs is often the case in the medical community, you may hear varying opinions on just how effective membrane sweeping really is. You can always ask your healthcare provider to stop if it hurts too much for you. Granted, it's nowhere near as painful as childbirth itself, and it's over in just a few (uncomfortable) minutes. Your doctor or midwife will remind you to relax and breathe through it because that's about all you can do. If you don't want to risk any additional medical interference birth plan, you might want to forgo membrane sweeps. Given this, your doctor may want to move forward with more medical forms of induction. If that timeframe flies by and there are no other signs of labor, your baby becomes more susceptible to infections. That's still not necessarily a 'negative.' However, once your sac ruptures, your doctor will usually expect labor to begin within a certain timeframe. In other words, there is always a chance that a membrane sweep can lead to your water breaking. While doctors will tell you that a membrane sweep is virtually risk-free, The National Library of Medicine published a study that suggests a slight risk of a premature rupture of the amniotic sac during membrane sweeps.

In a 2014 study published by the Journal of Clinical Gynecology and Obstetrics, researchers concluded, 'Sweeping of the membranes at term is safe and reduces the incidence of post-date gestation.' So, is there any reason to skip a membrane sweep?

Is membrane sweeping safe?Īs long as your pregnancy is considered normal, you likely have nothing to worry about. They'll make a circular, or 'sweeping,' movement with the finger to separate the amniotic sac from the sides of the uterus near the cervix. Your healthcare provider will insert a gloved finger into your vagina and then into the cervix. Not unlike a standard examination, you'll hop onto the exam table and assume the position (you know the one). If you're not sure what the process entails or if it's safe, keep reading for a full rundown of this technique and whether it's right for you. I had it during both of my pregnancies, and both times I was in labor a few blissfully short days later. Membrane sweep is a method health care practitioners use to naturally and 'gently' trigger labor in a normal, full-term pregnancy. Real talk: You also feel like you're going to pop, so you may be super-receptive to the idea of membrane sweeping when your doctor mentions it. You'll inevitably be a little nervous about childbirth because, hello, it's a big deal! But, mostly, you're looking forward to laying your eyes on your baby for the first time. By the time you hit 39 weeks in your pregnancy - a milestone known to expectant people as full-term - you're beyond ready to meet your little one.

Membrane sweep 39 weeks