overdue worrying in pregnancy shall i have a membrane sweep its my first baby ?
a membrane sweep is performed at the maternity hospital often by a consultant also known as membranes stripped,membrane stretch and sweep,cervical sweep.
The procedure involves the midwife or doctor placing a finger just inside the cervix and making a circular, sweeping movement.It separates the membranes from the cervix. Membrane sweeping increases the chances of labour starting naturally within 48 hours and can therefore reduce the need for other methods of induction of labour.
how does a membrane sweep take place ? the mum to be lies on her back and just like having a smear done is asked to flop both legs apart and is at the entrance where the baby will leave the body during delivery. the entrance is called the vagina and later as baby starts to emerge it widens to allow the whole baby to come out.