It is a little uncomfortable, but if your cervix is even a little open and softened the doctor or midwife will enter the cervix and reach between it and the amniotic sac to sweep between those membranes. It's supposed to be sort of nudge to signal the body to bring on some contracting by releasing its oxytocin. Some cramping and little bleeding is normal and it's 50/50 chance of working. Depends on your cervix and how soft it is. Worth a try. I was offered it at 38, 39 and 40 weeks.....mine were obviously unsuccessful because my cervix is tilted and almost impossible to reach by this method. Also I've had no progression of labour signs so far. Go for it, I'm a special case but it's worth a try for you! Good luck!
Its uncomfortable and hurts a little midwife inserts fingers and feels around cervix to check positioning of cervix if its softened dilated etc i had one at 40+1 baby #3 and she could feel his head I'm 40+3 now and finally getting very close still no contractions but lots of pain and cramping today (like severe period pain that doesn't stop)