Stretch and Sweep...

Hi All,

I am having a stretch and sweep done next Monday if my cervix is favorable. I will be 40 weeks and we are planning a VBAC so dont really want the baby to go too long over dates as then it gets harder to do any VBAC appropriate inductions.

Any one had any experience with s&s - any success or otherwise and was it painful???

I am also doing the following to get baby earth side if it is ready...sex, curries, clary sage oil (YUK it doesnt smell that great!) and raspberry leaf tea.

Thanks,

Hi Rommy'sMummy,

I went 14 days over with DD and had a stretch and sweep the day before she was induced, and then the day she was born, to break my waters.

I also tried the curries, long walks, castor oil(BLEEEEEUUUCH!!!) which didnt work so had to have the intervention.
Im going to be honest, I found it really quite painful. Kind of like a pap smear but more intrusive. I guess for me maybe I was just more sensitive Im not sure. But I dont want to lie to you!

Best best best of luck with your VBAC and impending labour!! :)

I had a S&S done about 3 or 4 days before I went into labour, so I don't if it helped or not... but it did hurt quite a lot, probably a bit worse than a pap smear, although I had one of those at my 6 week post-natal checkup and oh boy did it hurt! I was about 1-2cm dilated at the time, had it done on a Wednesday (or maybe it was Thursday) afternoon, went into labour late Saturday afternoon/evening and had DD on Sunday morning.

I hope it gets things moving for you, and all the best for your VBAC!

I've had one baby born the day of a S&S and another the day after. I was already post dates (8 & 5 respectively) and 2-3cm dilated so it was possibly ready to start any time anyway.

I did have one at about 39.5 weeks (can't remember exactly) at 1cm. It was VERY painful and I had lots of cramping and show that night but didn't do anything as I had to go back the next week. I wished I'd not requested it as it was my choice to try it.

I had one when I was in labour with DD1 (I was 6cm). It hurt.
Have you considered acupuncture? I had two sessions before DD2's birth... Didn't make it to the 3rd appt :)

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like it is going to hurt! :doh: Better to be prepared for that than unpleasantly suprised!

I have just printed out the acupressure guide from BB and will start that tonight. Is it too late to start acupuncture? Does that have to be started earlier ie around 37 weeks or is getting it done between 39-40 ok?

Thanks,

I don't think it's too late, though you get the most benefit from acupuncture over a course of visits. You will come out of it feeling very refreshed!

They stick the electrodes on you once you get to 40 weeks. Before that its much gentler ;)

I started at 40 + 1. Phoebe was born on 40 + 4. The practitioners recommended 3 sessions of induction acupuncture.
FWIW, I am sure I have read there are people on here who had a S&S and didn't find it painful :)

I found the s&s more violent than painful (not sure which is worse) but was ok once I got over the shock of what the midwife had just done! I had been in labour 24 hrs then contractions stopped but started up again after the s and s. Mind you I had my one and only accupuncture session the day that labour started but given that I was 41+5 it was bound to start anyway really!
Having my time again, I would do absolutely nothing but wait for bubs...

I had a S&S done when I was 40+4. I didn't find it painful, just uncomfortable.

I was meant to be induced the day they did it, but another lady already had been and was going into her 30th hour or something so they couldn't do me aswell. So they gave me the S&S and sent me home. DH and I went done the shops to do the grocery shopping just incase that was the last chance we'd get before DD came - this was about 4 hours after S&S and well, I had the 1st lot of waters break in the middle of Woolworths... Contractions started that afternoon/evening and DD was born the next day.

Can I just say, if your cervix isn't favourable, don't be disappointed...

I had a VBAC in July, was trying walks, curries, raspberry leaf tea, EPO... started acupuncture at 40 weeks, (the Dr wouldn't do induction acupuncture before then).

Had antenatal appt at hospital at 41 weeks & asked if they would do S&S, as you said induction options are limited with VBAC & I was facing CS if I didn't go into labour by 42 weeks.
I braced myself for the discomfort... and he couldn't even reach my cervix, was still really high & closed... I went home in tears... and went into labour on my own 3 days later.


Good luck with your VBAC :hug: wishing you a H&H birth

just wanted to say good luck rachel. congrats on making it this far.

as the girls have said, my s & s was really painful too. Way worse than a pap smear, a touch easier than a VE during labour and Heaps better than trying to attach internal monitoring clips to bubs head between contractions.

Hope it all works out well for you and that bubs is healthy.

nell

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for all your replies and help.

Well, last night from 6pm to 5am I had very irregular tightenings/contractions. Some were painful, others not. Today I had nothing until lunchtime and then it was every 15 min until 6pm, they are back on again now.

I found an acupuncturist in a neighboring town who specializes in induction and fertility acupuncture! Woo Hoo! And he had a cancellation for tonight. And (oh my goodness) he is SOOO HOT!!

So anyway...I hate needles and he did really deep ones in my lower back, then some more in my hands, shins and feet. I am booked to see him again on Friday and then Monday for needles and electrodes if I havent had bubs yet. Contrax started again as soon as we left and I am also feeling a bit sick.

My OB has asked me to go to hospt around 9pm tonight for internal and CTG to check up on me and bubs if the contrax are still coming or are getting stronger.

I am pretty tired now but excited! I cant believe this might be it! I am sure it will stop again and that it is all in my mind. We will see.

Rachel

Hi Rachel
It sounds like your baby will be in your arms very soon.
Good luck hun

Good Luck Rachel, so thrilled to see that you have gotten this far!! :)

Ooooh, sounds VERY positive, mate! Hope you are able to get some much needed rest before everything ramps up for you :) Take care.
Oh, and what a bonus that your practitioner was good lookin, LOL! Mine were too - I had two: a husband and wife team. Traditional Chinese medicine must attract attractive people ;)

Woohoo! Sounds very close. GL :)

Well it all stopped again overnight. Just niggles again today. Bummer!

So we are still on for the acupuncture on Friday arvo and Monday and S'n'S on Monday too.