Ah,  the membrane sweep.  What is it exactly?  Also referred to as a stretch and sweep or membrane stripping. It is a technique that involves gently lifting the amniotic sac away from the cervix and the lower part of the uterus. Your doctor or midwife inserts a gloved finger through the cervical canal and uses a sweeping motion to separate the membrane from the cervix. This intervention releases prostaglandins, which are the chemicals that help soften and open the cervix for labour.  Most providers will offer you a sweep in late pregnancy.  Remember, it is your choice and it should never be preformed without your explicit consent!

What are the risks and benefits of the sweep?
Risks 

• It can be uncomfortable, or downright painful for some
• May cause spotting and light bleeding
• Can cause cramping
• May take several tries 
• It often is not effective if preformed before 39 weeks
• On rare occasions your provider breaks your bag of waters by accident

Benefits

• It is a drug free option
• It is a generally safe option
• If your body is close to spontaneous labour, it may prevent a formal medical induction

So the take-away really is, getting an early sweep will likely just be uncomfortable and make you feel crampy without any real benefit.  After 39 weeks a sweep(s) can be helpful if you want to avoid a medical induction or get spontaneous labour kick-started.  Just remember, there are no guarantees.   

Why is it good to labour at home as long as possible?  So many reasons, early labour can be long, the hospital won't admit you until you are in active labour (sorry....no epidural yet!), you are comfortable, less anxious, you can eat, drink, be in your own bed and personal space.  

So what are the things that you can be doing at home so you get to the hospital in active labour?

• Ignore early labour contractions as much as possible.  They will be annoying and uncomfortable at times, but they might hang around for awhile.  Go about your day, if things pick up in intensity, you won't mistake it.  Just don't wander too far from home!
• Rest, rest, oh and did I say rest?  Sleep when you can, and if you can't, try and just relax and chill.  Everything is happening in it's own good time.
• Take a bath.  Hydrotherapy has long been used in early, active labour and birth as a form of pain management.  In early labour it can be relaxing and soothing.
• Don't worry about timing contractions, you will know when they get longer-stronger and closer together, there's no question about that.  Early labour can last days (sorry, unfun fact), and even if it doesn't, contractions will rarely be patterned for awhile.  It is super common for surges to start and stop repeatedly.  Try and expect and except that this is part of the process.
• Eat and drink normally, please, please do this.  You will need calories for labour and pushing.  This is often restricted in the hospital, so please, fuel up.
• Call your Doula!  I know I am happy to pop by, bring my TENS and give moral support and  a hip squeeze to two....or a thousand.

Having said all this, never hesitate to check with your provider or head into ELAU if you need to.  But know that your body and baby are doing their job and if you can labour at home if all is well until active labour, your time on the birth unit will be reduced and your progression might be faster.