Successive trials have
conclusively demonstrated the safety of membrane sweeping. In
addition to accelerating the onset of spontaneous onset of labour,
sweeping of the membranes may also increase successful vaginal
delivery rates. Additional membrane sweeping may be offered if
there is no spontaneous onset of labour after 48 hours, however,
the extra benefits of this remain unclear. The NICE guidelines
recommend that membrane sweeping be offered to nulliparous
women from between 40 and 41 weeks’ gestation and multiparous
women from 41 weeks. However, in practice, the sweeping
of membranes is often offered earlier.