‣ Quick Highlight
Back pain after membrane sweep is a normal issue, and there are several ways you can get rid of it such as hot and cold therapies, taking a bath, and medication can help ease the back pain.
Getting a membrane sweep is common in the last few weeks of pregnancy. As you gear up for the final bit of your pregnancy a membrane sweep may be the first step on the labor train. If your body is ready a sweep can be painless but other times it can be intense. Read further for ways to ease back pain after a membrane sweep.
How to Ease Back Pain After Membrane Sweep
A sweep of the membranes is common practice in women from 39 weeks pregnant. It is normal to feel discomfort during and afterward and many women report light bleeding. Having back pain after your membrane sweep can be intense, but you can relieve it in various ways from hot and cold therapies, taking a bath, and medication can help ease back pain.
What is a Membrane Sweep?
A sweep of the membranes is to help prepare your body for labor and to give it a little push in the right direction.
In the later phases of pregnancy, your baby’s head is sitting very low in your pelvis, and whilst still in the amniotic sac a doctor or midwife may be able to safely sweep the membrane that is covering your waters in between the cervix.
The doctor will insert fingers into your vagina and gently push the amniotic sac away from your uterus with the intention of starting labor. If you are ready your cervix will be low and easy to find but if you are not then your cervix may be high and backward leaving it a fairly painful experience.
It is usually at this point you tend to feel the first bout of pain as many women report cramping after membrane sweep. It is totally normal for you to feel lower back pain after a membrane sweep. After all, it is the first step in the induction process.
What Happens After a Membrane Sweep?
Let’s be straight, a membrane sweep can hurt and the pain can continue after you have gone home. Your baby has been tucked up safely in your pelvis for nearly 40 weeks so it is safe to assume you will have a lot of pressure after anything has touched your cervix.
I had a sweep on my first pregnancy and whilst I wasn’t yet 40 weeks I can remember the doctor saying that she could feel my baby’s head. Filled with excitement thinking this could be the start of my fourth trimester I didn’t expect the pain that came afterward.
A study conducted by The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, China found that 70% of women reported significant discomfort and 25% reported significant pain during and after a membrane sweep. It was also found that disturbing the membranes of a pregnant woman can make the uterus irritable and cause slight bleeding.
Many women can suffer from back pain after membranes are stripped. This can be down to the onset of labor which means the sweep was successful. It is important to recognize that your uterus can contract afterward yet labor may not have started. Irregular contractions are your body’s way of preparing for the delivery of your baby.
How Can I Relieve the Horrible Back Pain After Membrane Sweep?
It is clear that you can feel significant pain during a sweep yet the back pain can linger for a while afterward. Whilst pains are a good sign it can become draining especially if you are yet to be in established labor.
There are ways you can ease back pain after sweeping membranes. Take a look at a few of the top tips I found worked.
‣ Hot Compress
Heat therapy can work wonders on aches and pains. Using a warm compress placed on your lower back can relax tense muscles and increase blood flow which eases the tension you may be holding in your back. Please note that warm compression should never be applied directly to your abdomen!
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‣ Cold Compress
On the other hand, using an ice pack or other form of cold compress can also help elevate any swelling and reduce inflammation. Cold therapies work well with pain as it is known to numb the area affected. If you are thinking of using this it is worth covering the cold pack with a cloth to prevent ice burn to the skin and keep it away from your bump.
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‣ Sanitary Towels – Losing Plug
Another downside to having a membrane sweep is that it could encourage your mucus plug to come away. Now whilst this is a good sign it can also be the start of the gross things that are to follow. The biggest advice I can give is to make sure you wear a sanitary towel afterward. This is to also keep an eye on any blood loss which can happen.
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‣ Warm Bath
Whether you are pregnant or not sometimes relaxing in a warm bubble bath is all you need to ease the tensions away! Being surrounded by warm water can help your tired pregnancy-bound muscles feel weightless. After having a sweep, having a relax in a deep bath could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Even if you are in early labor, having a bath is known to ease those early contractions helping you cope until the finale.
‣ Rest
Now I am not going to preach to you about how much rest you should be getting at this stage in your pregnancy but if you are feeling any discomfort in your back or tummy then rest may be all you need. Taking it easy after a membrane sweep can help you destress a bit, after all, it is not every day you have a doctor poke and prod at your cervix!
If you have young children then you could always try and entertain them in calming ways or ask for help. Maybe someone could take them off your hands for an hour or two. That way you can chill and not have to worry about the dreaded mum guilt.
‣ Pregnancy Pillow
I cannot give these fluffy-filled cloud’s of comfort enough credit! During both my pregnancies my pregnancy pillow was my savior. As long as your partner doesn’t mind sharing the bed with what resembles another fully grown adult you are onto a winner …. And if they do tell them the sofa is free because you momma have got a long journey ahead before holding your long-awaited bundle!
The pregnancy pillow provides you the support you need under your bump and when laying on your side it can snuggle perfectly into the small of your back. Fully supported you can be sent into a relaxation of heavenly sleep or well-earned rest.
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‣ Medication
If you are finding that none of the above is cutting it and you are in pain then taking over-the-counter pain relief medication is perfectly safe and harmless to your bub. It is vital that you stick to the recommended dosage on the box and always seek advice before jumping on to the medication train.
Remember that feeling uncomfortable after having a membrane sweep is totally normal but if your pain is moderate then medication can help to block the pain.
When to seek advice about your back pain after membrane sweep
The reason behind having a sweep is to hopefully start off your labor. They are a low-intervention way of disturbing the membrane mucus and help to bring on contractions.
You may notice mild to moderate backache after a membrane sweep as your cervix has been disturbed but you need to be aware of when you should seek medical attention.
If you are having:
- Regular contractions – timing contractions is a must, a sweep can bring on irregular tightenings but if they are regular and getting more intense then you could be in labor.
- Signs of your waters breaking – disruption of the membranes could increase the chances of your waters breaking. If they do, seek advice and note their color, meconium in the water can appear as green mucus which can be harmful to you and your baby.
- Significant bleeding – you shouldn’t have significant bleeding after a sweep so if you find you are filling a sanitary towel or that it is running freely contact your emergency team as soon as possible.
Wrapping Up
To conclude, back pain after membrane sweep is completely normal and could be exactly what you need to kick-start you on the way to having your baby.
Anthonissa Moger, Founder of The Hypnobirthing Midwife states that “A sweep is the least medical of the induction pathway.” She also continues to explain that having a successful sweep will only work if your cervix has started to soften and come forward, this is a sign that your body is ready for labor to begin.
Managing pain at home can be easier than in a clinical environment and who knows you could potentially be in early labor so try each of the solutions and find out what works best for you!
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