Membrane sweeping is a way to help your body naturally speed up the start of labour. In this article, we go through everything you need to know before a potential membrane sweep.

How does a membrane sweep work?
A membrane sweep involves the midwife or obstetrician inserting two fingers through the vagina and into the cervix. They then try to create space between the amniotic membranes and the lower part of the uterus by sweeping their finger or fingers in circular motions. This releases prostaglandin, a hormone that naturally speeds up the maturation of your cervix and increases the uterus’ readiness to induce labour.

When may a membrane sweep be necessary?
In order to do a membrane sweep, the cervix needs to be open to at least one finger, which corresponds to approximately 1.5 cm. It’s then a matter of you as a pregnant person wanting and agreeing to a membrane sweep and receiving information about what a membrane sweep entails.

Getting a membrane sweep will depend in part on regional guidelines, but usually they are only recommended after you have passed your due date in order to avoid unnecessary interference. In some cases, however, one may want to speed up the natural process even before your due date.

As a first-time mother, it can be difficult to have a membrane sweep before your due date as your cervix is often closed, while it is more common for people pregnant for a second time to already be slightly open towards the end of the pregnancy. A membrane sweep can be performed by midwives at the midwifery clinic as well as at the maternity ward or specialist maternity care.

You will not receive a membrane sweep if:

• Your baby’s head is still mobile
• The placenta is low in the uterus
• The foetus’s growth is stunted
• You have an ongoing infection in your cervix
• The foetus is in a breech or transverse position
• A malformation of the foetus has been identified
• You previously had a C-section

What to expect after a membrane sweep?
Research shows varying results after a Pap smear, but taken together from a large number of articles, it can be estimated that membrane sweeps reduce the risk of going to 42+0 by around 14%. How much a membrane sweep helps in your particular case is difficult to say, but probably depends on how mature your cervix is during the sweep. The best effect will be achieved by repeating the membrane sweep every few days.

Are there any side effects of a membrane sweep?
After a membrane sweep, it is common to experience some pains and painful contractions that do not affect the maturation of your cervix. You may also experience minor vaginal bleeding after the sweep, which should subside.

Summary
Membrane sweeping is a way of helping the body to naturally speed up the start of your labour. The effects are likely to be highly individual, but at the population level they are not that great. On the other hand, it is unusual to have complications and maybe it will help if you wish to speed up your delivery!

Regarding GBS (Group-B streptococci), there is currently no research that has proven that membrane sweeps entail any increased risk of infection in the pregnant person or the foetus, but the evidence is limited, so no safe conclusions can be drawn.

Please note that variations may occur depending on region and provider