@shanolas1st, it’s optional. My dr didn’t see any progress of my cervix softening so he gave me the option to have my cervix swept to speed up the progress

@2014mama1993 damn sounds like a lot but most of all I'm glad it's optional cause I have 0 tolerance for pain and wouldn't be looking forward to a sweep lol

@shanolas1st ya it is normally done to try to get things going i had my son at 38 weeks from what they told me they don't do them before 3i weeks and it all depends on the situation mine was I had been having painless contractions for a week before that and was 4cm and 70% effaced from 36 weeks till 38 when I found out I was 100% effaced and 5 cm so they admitted me and I went into labor 4 hours after my 38 week check up pretty much got home and laid down for 2 hours with bad contractions and then went back in to labor and delivery I carried my son supper low and my husband was working 3 jobs at the time and they were worried if i wasn't admitted I wouldn't make it back and we were worried about my hubby losing his main job that was being shitty to him but if I have anouther baby ever again I wouldn't do the membranes sweep unless I absolutely have to because having my son was not as easy as my first that I didn't have one with but idk if that's y but still it was hard

@2014mama1993 so basically if ur having issues going into labor u can get one of those to get things going?

@damiensmommy1117 Thank You!

I had it done with my second and it hurt it's like a cervix check but feels deeper and they move around alot more to separate the membranes between the placenta and cervix I went into labor same day I had mine done I had it done I believe around 9am I was allready 4cm for 2 weeks at that point n 70% effaced then and painless contractions here n there n then by 12:30 like 3 or 4 hours later I had bad contractions and was 100%effaced and 5cm and admitted then had my son at 1:25 am

Yes it's optional, I didn't have it done, but I've heard it's pretty painful.

The doctors inserts a finger into your cervix and does a side to side sweeping motion all the way around to separate the placenta membranes from the cervix to try and get labor started.

@daylenerebecca why tho? What's it 4 and is it optional?

My dr did it to me with daughter it hurt!