Remember, the more favorable your cervix, the more likely membrane sweeps are to work. Using a firm circular or sweeping motion, your midwife or doctor will sweep and separate the membrane of the amniotic sac from the cervix. Some providers also stretch the cervix to increase the chances of the membrane sweep working.
Having 2 or even 3 membrane sweeps 48 hours apart is the most successful in encouraging labour to start.
A membrane sweep increases the likelihood that labour will start within 48 hours. It has a higher chance of working if the neck of your womb is already softening and preparing for labour.
Stretch and sweep is used to help start labour and reduce the need for an induction. If it works, you can expect to go into labour within 48 hours. If it does not work, it can be repeated two or three times over the next few days.
Gentle exercise releases endorphins in your body, which can help relieve some of the discomfort once your contractions start.
Walking around the room, doing simple movements in bed or chair, or even changing positions may encourage dilation. This is because the weight of the baby applies pressure to the cervix. People may also find swaying or dancing to calming music effective.
Try being upright
One of your biggest allies is gravity. When you are upright—standing, sitting or kneeling—the weight of your baby presses on the cervix, encouraging it to open. An upright position may also help get your baby into the best position for birth.
Human sperm contains a high amount of prostaglandin, a hormone‐like substance which ripens the cervix and helps labour to start. Sometimes it is necessary to help start labour and it has been suggested that sexual intercourse may be an effective means.
The British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology found: overall the intervention is associated with a 24% increase in chance of delivering within 48 hours, a 46% increase in chance of delivering within a week and a 74% reduction in likelihood of going 2 weeks over dates.
Positive signs after a membrane sweep indicate that your body has responded well and that labor is progressing. Signs of a successful membrane sweep include contractions becoming more regular, the loss of your mucus plug, your water breaking, or your cervix becoming more dilated.
Results: Spontaneous labour occurred in 79% of women following membrane sweep. A quarter of nulliparae (25%) and 18% of multipara had labour induction despite membrane sweep. Three quarters of both nulliparae (73%) and multipara (76%) delivered within 7 days of membrane sweep.
A sweep can't always be performed. Unless you are at least 1 cm dilated, it can't be done. After a sweep you will most likely lose some or all of your mucous plug. It can also cause bleeding and irregular contractions that do not progress into labour.
There are no proven safe ways for a woman to break her water at home. It can be dangerous if the water breaks before natural labor begins or before the baby is fully developed. During the natural process of labor, the water breaks when the baby's head puts pressure on the amniotic sac, causing it to rupture.
Side-lying release
Not only can this position be used to help engage the baby into the pelvis and to encourage cervical dilation, but it can also be used during labor to help ease discomfort.
1. Squats & Lunges. Squats are a great way to prepare for and to promote labor. “Squats allow gravity to open your pelvis,” says Amanda, “giving your baby more room to descend further into the birth canal.”
Medical cervical ripening
Medications also can be given to help induce softening and dilatation of the cervix. Oral or vaginal suppository drugs, such as misoprostol and other prostaglandins, are also commonly used to ripen the cervix.
Try a birthing ball
Rocking, bouncing, and rotating your hips on an exercise ball or birthing ball also opens the pelvis, and it may speed up cervical dilation.
Prostaglandins are naturally occurring chemicals in your body that have hormone-like properties. Synthetic and natural prostaglandins work to soften the cervix and relax cervical muscles, which helps with dilation.
Muscles worked: Deltoids, triceps, pectorals, erector spinae, latissimus dorsi, transverse abdominals, rectus abdominus, adductors, gluteals, quadriceps and hip flexors.
Sweeping, if done the way your maid does it requires you to squat and walk like a duck. This actually gives your body a great workout. You will use your hips, thighs, quadriceps and hamstring muscles to sweep.
A sweep will only work if your cervix has already started to soften, open, and come forward because your body is getting ready to go into labour. If your body hasn't started to change the midwife may not be be able to reach your cervix at all."