Having the membrains stripped

Michelle - posted on 06/09/2009

This is totally different, however I had my membraine rupture 9wks early and was hospitalized due to risk of invection. Be ready for the worst case secnario in the event it works to well..Best of luck!

Shawnasie - posted on 06/09/2009

I had this done with my 2nd child to no avail. I don't really recommend it because it is very uncomfortable. Your body will go into labor when it's ready to. Don't force it unless it's absolutely necessary. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and the delivery.

Make it a GREAT day!

Shawnasie

Serina - posted on 06/09/2009

Thanx everyone for your comments. Im not sure why my doctor wants to do it so early, but by the sounds of things Im not the only one this has happened too! :) I will definatly ask him why before I make any decisions. It doesnt sound like any of you have had any complications with the sweep which is a possitive aspect. Im not worried about pain, If I can handle 13 hours full blowin back labor with no medications, Im sure this would be minor in comparsion! LOL... I was told at my ultrasound last week that the baby was already 6lbs 11oz and that if I went full term It would be close to 9lbs. I wonder if maybe my doctor is concerned about the size cuz Im so tiny and I also have severe scoliosis of my spine. Maybe he doesnt want me to go overdue just for that reason I dunno....

Ariel - posted on 06/09/2009

Stripping the membranes is very poorly named. The bag of waters surrounding the baby is like a water balloon, and the bottom of it rests on the opening of your cervix. "Stripping the membranes" is just sticking a finger into the cervical opening and sweeping it around the opening where the bag of waters is resting. For some it's a simple non-invasive (on a softened cervix) way to speed things up. For others it's completely useless. On an unsoftened cervix it will probably hurt, kind of like a PAP smear, unless the cervix is softened for labor it just isn't intended to have things put in it! It may cause some spotting, or cramping, similar to a cervical exam but more so. Really though, unless you OBGYN can give you a good reason to go into labor this early, you should probably just tell them no thanks. Especially since a due date can vary from your actual 40 weeks by 2 weeks either way, you could actually be due in 5 weeks... or only one. It may be that he is suggesting doing it now because your cervix is already softened enough for it to not be painful, and your progress is giving the indication that everything is ready for baby to come and it's just a matter of giving it a nudge to start the process.

Joanne - posted on 06/09/2009

Hi i had a membrane sweep at 42 wks with my second child but it didnt work i was due to be induced on the sunday but ended of having c section due to complications! sweep didnt hurt though just slightly uncomfortable but isnt pregnancy like that lol

Tamara - posted on 06/09/2009

Quoting Sarah:

jeez that's harsh!! sorry that happened, it should always be optional! sorry for being nosy!! :)

No need to apologize.  I have no problem answering questions. :)  That, among other things, is why I'm avoiding OBs and interventions with my next baby.  I don't need unneeded things messing with the natural birthing process.

Sarah - posted on 06/09/2009

Quoting Tamara:

Quoting Sarah:

just out of curiosity, how on earth did the do a stretch and sweep without your consent?? i was asked both times with mine, it was optional. you don't have to answer, i'm just nosy! lol! :)

She was doing a vaginal exam and all of the sudden I had this incredible pain coming from my vagaina.  I asked what the hell happened and she told me tried to sweep my membranes.  There was no "would you like me to sweep your membranes" or any sort of warning, just BOOM!  membrane sweep.  I was so mad but couldn't switch doctors otherwise I would have.

jeez that's harsh!! sorry that happened, it should always be optional! sorry for being nosy!! :)

Tamara - posted on 06/09/2009

Quoting Sarah:

just out of curiosity, how on earth did the do a stretch and sweep without your consent?? i was asked both times with mine, it was optional. you don't have to answer, i'm just nosy! lol! :)

She was doing a vaginal exam and all of the sudden I had this incredible pain coming from my vagaina.  I asked what the hell happened and she told me tried to sweep my membranes.  There was no "would you like me to sweep your membranes" or any sort of warning, just BOOM!  membrane sweep.  I was so mad but couldn't switch doctors otherwise I would have.

Sarah - posted on 06/09/2009

Quoting Tamara:

It was done to me without my consent and was DAMN painful. I wouldn't recommend it. Baby will come when they're good and ready and not a moment before.

just out of curiosity, how on earth did the do a stretch and sweep without your consent?? i was asked both times with mine, it was optional. you don't have to answer, i'm just nosy! lol! :)

Carmen - posted on 06/09/2009

Why does the doctor want to do this? If it is just something he normally does, out of habit, and you don't want it done...tell him so. Everyone is different and it effects everyone differently. But if I was uncomfortable with having it done and the doctor was just doing it to be doing it...I would definitely speak up. I think that patients let doctors do too many things without understanding the reasoning behind them. And good doctors would prefer their patients to speak up and communicate concerns with them. Congratulations on your new little one!

Sarah - posted on 06/09/2009

Hi, i had two stretch and sweeps with my youngest, after i'd gone overdue a week. it didn't hurt at all! just a bit uncomfortable. it didn't bring on labour for me, i was induced 14 days overdue! i would wait until you are at least a few days overdue to be honest. but in my experience it did not hurt at all!
good luck! :)

Sarah - posted on 06/09/2009

I had it done with all 3 of my kids. I couldn't tell if it did anything really, baby #1 came one day early, baby #2 came 10 days early and baby #3 came 7 days early. My opinion by that point in pregnancy was ANYTHING (safe) that will hurry up labor was more than welcomed.



Also, I had heard that it hurts but I felt nothing, it just felt like a normal exam.

Jennifer - posted on 06/09/2009

I had it done and if you're really counting on it making you go into labor don't get your hopes up. Didn't work at all for me or anyone I know. I had it done a week or two before my due date because I was already dilating but still didn't go into labor until my due date. 38 weeks is technically still full term but unless there's some other reason you HAVE to have the baby now it's kinda early to be worrying.

Angie - posted on 06/09/2009

Why does your doctor want you to go into labor at 38 weeks? I think as long and you and baby are healthy and doing well there is no reason to rush labor. You body and your baby know when it is right to go into labor. I am also against drugs during labor so I think it's best not to force your body to do something it's not ready for.

Tabatha - posted on 06/09/2009

i have never had my membranes stripped early but i have been induced due to preeclampsia and just withm y last one she had no water and placenta started tareing, it could happen even with them doing a normal examination i had a friend who went in for her examinantion at 38 wks and doctor went to chekc dialation after he pulled his hand out her water broke. i could understand your concern but ihave had friend who had their membranes stripped and nothing happened for weeks and ended up having to have a c section or beinginduced.

Amanda - posted on 06/09/2009

Hi. my name is Amanda. I was 38 weeks when my dr stripped my membranes. I was going to get induced at 30 weeks. My dr wanted me to try and go natural without all the medication of induction. He stripped my membranes on a Thursday and i went into labor the next day around the same time he did that. It also depends on if you are dialated at all. I was to one and like i said i went the next day. Some say it hurt but i have a strong pain tolerence (my dr even said something to me) so it didn't really bother me. That was on my first and only child. It's up to you and if your uncomfortable with it i would tell your dr or tell your dr you want to wait until it's closer to your due date. I hope this helped you out.

Krista - posted on 06/09/2009

I had it done several times...hurt like hell and didn't bring on labor at all! Apparently it works for some people, and it doesn't involve drugs, so it might be worth a try...but I wouldn't sit at home waiting for labor to happen immediately after!

Tamara - posted on 06/09/2009

It was done to me without my consent and was DAMN painful. I wouldn't recommend it. Baby will come when they're good and ready and not a moment before.

Melissa - posted on 06/09/2009

Hi Serina,

I have two little guys and had my membranes stripped just prior to my due date for both of them. I have to say, it didn't really do much for me. All it will do is remind your body that it should be doing this naturally very soon. I had a bit of spotting and cramping shortly after both times they were stripped but my first was still 9 days over due and my second 3 days. Both waters broke naturally about a week after the stripping and I still required induction in both cases, but apparently there is a high variance of effectiveness depending on the individual.

Stripping is essentially just a gentle, manual loosening of the placenta, just around the bottome edges. I did not find it any more painful than checking dialation. Hope this helps!

Wendy - posted on 06/09/2009

Hi Serina, I'm from Wales in the UK and over here it's called "a stretch and sweep". I had it done to me with my first child. I had lots of problems the main one being a lack of fluid around the baby and they eventually induced me one week early. The first induction didn't work so they tried the stretch and sweep and then they had to induce me again. It took me three days in all to give birth! It's not painful as such but can be very uncomfortable. My third baby was born two weeks early and was fine. I know of other people who have had the procedure too and sometimes it brings on labour and sometimes it doesn't. I've also heard of people losing their mucous plugs naturally but not going into labour for weeks or even months. I would say, if you're fed up of being pregnant (I know that feeling), then go for it. At the end of the day if baby is ready to come out then baby will, if not then baby will wait a few more days! Good luck x