Induction Methods – Stretch and Sweep

Your medical caregivers will tell you that a stretch and sweep is not considered an “intervention” because it doesn’t involve drugs, so it is natural.

This is not true and anyone putting their fingers up inside your vagina and pulling, poking, stretching and sweeping around the inside of the cervix is not natural and more honesty should be given around the information provided to women about a stretch and sweep.

Anything that is trying to start labour (other than your own body) is an “intervention” and has risks.

The stretch and sweep success rates are not very high.

A stretch and sweep is performed from 38 weeks (sometimes even as early as 37 weeks) and studies show that only 24% of women will go into labour within 48 hours of having a stretch and sweep.

Your midwife or Obstetrician will insert their gloved index finger into your vagina and in through the cervix.

The cervix has to be “favourable,” which means it is soft and stretchy and slightly open to get the finger inside and if this is the case, this means that your body is already starting to do something.

Once inside, the finger is moved around in a circular motion (sweep) inside the cervix to separate the membranes (amniotic sac) from the cervix.

This is a way of triggering the release of prostaglandins, which may initiate labour – but more often than not it doesn’t.

The stretch is the massage and stretching open or movement of the cervix with the finger to again trigger the release of prostaglandins. 

 

Stretch & Sweep Benefits

• This procedure can reduce the risk of women going over 42 weeks
• A gentler way of inducing in comparison to other medical procedures
• May help to trigger the release of prostaglandins
• It is a quick procedure
• Can be repeated after 48 hours if nothing happens.

Stretch & Sweep Risks

• This procedure can be quite uncomfortable, even painful
• Bleeding and increased mucous loss along with nausea and lower back pain
• Women may experience intense cramping and feel they have gone into labour, but then the cramping subsides. This can go on for days without any progression, eventually leading to exhaustion before the woman is in real active labour;
• Pre-mature rupture of membranes (PROM) leading to an increased risk of infection
• Once rupture of membranes occurs it is a race against the clock for some women due to hospital policy
• Psychological and emotional distress due to women feeling their body is failing them and that they won’t go into labour unless they are “helped” along
• If your dates have not been calculated correctly there is the risk of pre-term birth.

 

Here are the RANZCOG Guidelines for Induction of Labour in Australia and New Zealand.

Induction-labour-pamphlet

OTHER INDUCTION METHODS

Prostaglandin Gel – CLICK HERE

Balloon Catheter (Foley’s or Cook’s) – CLICK HERE

Artificial Rupture of Membranes (AROM) – CLICK HERE

Synthetic Oxytocin (Syntocinon) – CLICK HERE