What even is a sweep? Keep reading for more info on sweeps.

What even is a sweep? Keep reading for more info on sweeps.

A sweep (also called a membrane sweep or stretch and sweep) is a procedure sometimes offered in late pregnancy to help trigger labour naturally, without using medication.

Here’s what it is:

• Your midwife or doctor inserts a gloved finger into your vagina to perform a vaginal examination.
• If your cervix has started to soften and open, they gently sweep their finger around the inside of it.
• This motion separates the thin membranes of the amniotic sac from the lower part of the uterus.

Why it might help:

• The sweep is thought to release hormones (prostaglandins), which may encourage the cervix to soften and labour to start.
• It’s considered a form of induction of labour, but without medication or a hospital drip.

Things to know:

• It usually only works if your body is already close to starting labour.
• You might experience some discomfort, cramping, or spotting afterwards.
• Labour may start within hours or days — but sometimes, nothing happens.
• Sweeps are generally offered from around 39–41 weeks in straightforward pregnancies, but timing can vary depending on your health, your baby, and local guidelines.
• You can decline a sweep - as with everything, they are an offer.
• There is no evidence to show the effectiveness of a sweep as it is impossible to say whether the sweep started labour or not.