Women’s experiences of membrane sweeping for labour induction: a phenomenological qualitative study

Background. Membrane sweeping is a common but still invasive procedure offered to hasten labour in prolonged pregnancy. Rising labour induction rates have increased the use of interventions like membrane sweeping, though its impact on women’s experiences remains unclear. Aim. To explore women lived experiences of membrane sweeping in a tertiary Italian maternity unit and identify their informational needs. Methods. Twenty women ≥40+0 to 41+6 weeks’ gestation who underwent membrane sweeping were interviewed in-hospital 24-48 h postpartum. Semi-structured interviews (mean 18 min) were analysed with combined inductive-deductive content analysis. Findings. Three themes emerged i) clarity and timing of information ii) baseline knowledge and information-seeking behaviour iii) physical and emotional experience of the procedure in relation to the onset of labour. In addition, some women reported the procedure as painful or required further pharmacological induction of labour, adding a layer of dissatisfaction in their narrations. However, most women stated that they would undergo membrane sweeping again in a future pregnancy. Conclusions. When embedded in shared decision-making, membrane sweeping can be a well-accepted initial induction option. Moreover, structured antenatal education could be recommended.