How does it feel to have your membranes stripped to get your labor started?

Question

I am 36.5 weeks pregnant. I am going to be taken early because my baby is big due to gestional diabetes. I just dont know how early. I will be full term thursday, and I saw the dr today. When I had my exam, it really hurt. I think he tried to strip my membranes, but I am not sure. When he examined me, it was painful on the right side and then he moved to the left and it didnt hurt like it did the first. When I was preg with my first, I think he did the same thing, and sent me to L&D right after he examined me to be induced. He wants to see me friday, hopefully for induction. But I feel crampy now. I am not dialated but I am really soft and thinning out. Anyone have membranes stripped? And if so, what did it feel like and how long did it take to go into labor after words. And were you dialated when they were stripped?

Answer 1

First of all congratulations on your baby! The dr. should have told you he was going to do this procedure. To me it sounds like he swept the membranes yes as I had the same thing done to me. Not to scare you, but I'm going to be honest. It hurts alot. I had this procedure done at 37 weeks. I remember feeling my son move his head up and down. (he was already in the birth canal) Your dr. inserts a few fingers into the vagina (they go pretty far up there). It feels like they are tugging and twisting. The procedure is normally only a few minutes long but because of my baby moving his head so much, it took longer for me. I was not dialating yet; my son was having heart related problems. (he is fine now :)) I never did go into labour from this. At 39 weeks I had an emergency -section, also because of my baby's heart condition. Some women go into labour a few hours to days after or for some women it takes much longer or some (like me) never do. You have cramps after this prodecure is done and dont be alarmed if you see blood. Spotting is extremely normal to occur. ( I began bleeding right after the procedure) A little blood is ok, but if you notice clotting or heavy bleeding please see your dr. right away. Now that this procedure has been done, it is very easy for you to get infections and pass it on to the baby. The lining that once protected the fetus is now gone. Be careful when bathing (try not to use too much soap) and no sex. I hope this helped a little. Good luck to you and your soon to be new baby :) If you would like to chat further please email me at [e-mail] or send me a message on yahoo. My id is icey_chica

Answer 2

Gestational diabetes is a good enough reason for induction of labor. Full term technically is 40 weeks;but at 36.5,it's okay to deliver. The obstretician didn't try to strip your membranes. He was trying to break the bag of water or the amniotic sac. Once this is broken, and you are not fully dilated;chances are you could have an infection. If you're not fully dilated about 7or 8 cm, he might induce labor thru pitocin drip.
Breaking the bag of water is not a painful procedure. If you are soft and thinning out;that means your're effaced. which is a sign of early labor. It doesn't take long to go into labor once the bag of water is broken. Hoping this will do the trick. Otherwise, induction is indicated and you get to choose the date to deliver and determine the birthday of the baby.

Answer 3

You have to be dialated to at least a 1 to get your membranes stripped. It's hard to explain how it feels, kind of like your cervix is being pulled around and stretched. It hurt all the way around when he did it to me. After I had my membranes stripped I lost my mucous plug slowly in chunks over a week. Then the following Sunday (5 days later) I started into prelabor with cramping and contractions. But I never made into into real labor before they induced me 4 days after that. But I was able to dialate all the way to a 3 on my own. Good luck!

Answer 4

well you have experience with your first baby delivery. Do not worry as the first one went through well it will be easier. Always the first one is most difficult. The membranes can only be stripped or ruptured when their is good dilatation of the passage, otherwise these cannot be approached. First their is lower part of uterus called cervix. The cervix is like a funnel, closed below. As the upper part of the uterus starts contracting and pushing the baby against the cervix-the cervix starts getting dilated. The baby is floating in a liquid medium called amniotic fluid and the fluid is in balloon like membranes. As the process advances the membranes start bulging into the dilated cervix. These may rupture by themselves, sometimes the membranes need to be ruptured to hasten the process of dilatation of the lower part and contraction of the upper part. The rupture either spontaneous or artificial is followed by a gush of fluid discharge. We should not wait more than ten hours after rupture of the membranes because there is risk of infection creeping inside. Well wishing you a smooth and easy delivery and a healthy baby. Remember no pains no gains. But you will have much less pain than your first delivery

Answer 5

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RE:
How does it feel to have your membranes stripped to get your labor started?
I am 36.5 weeks pregnant. I am going to be taken early because my baby is big due to gestional diabetes. I just dont know how early. I will be full term thursday, and I saw the dr today. When I had my exam, it really hurt. I think he tried to strip my membranes, but I am not sure. When he examined...

Answer 6

I had gestational diabetes as well I just gave birth to my daughter in may. it sounds like they might have stripped your membranes I know it hurt real bad and I was crampy afterwards. I wasnt dilated either when they did it. I was induced at exactly 39 weeks not dialated at all. they stripped me about a week before they induced me and when they induced me I was dialated to about 2. they should have told you that they were stripping your membranes because of the signs of labor to watch out for.

Answer 7

When my OB stripped mine, I was about 39 weeks, and had already dilated a few cm at that point. From what I recall, I felt nothing at the time, but went into labor within about 45 minutes. (The beginning of labor, with a first full contraction, although not yet really painful..) That would have been at 4:30pm and I had my daughter at 4:12 am..but most of the labor was not very hard, just the last 4 hours of it. Good luck!

Answer 8

It doesn't hurt at all, if done correctly by a good OB/GYN. They'll strip you if you're already dilated. You might get a litle crampy, but that's about it.

And my water broke the next morning - and labor went so quickly, I didn't even need an epidural! My daughter was the easiest of all my deliveries, because I had the membranes stripped.

Answer 9

I was overdue with both of my kids and the midwife was stripping my membranes in order to induce the labor, I was about 1 cm dilated at the time (with both of my girls). Unfortunately as painful as it was it didn't work for me.
Reading your question I was wondering why you didn't ask your dr about what he was doing to you - I always do especially when something hurts a lot.
Maybe you should give him a call?
Good luck with your childbirth!

Answer 10

Four out of five of my pregnancies, the Dr. stripped or broke my membranes... All I felt was the gush of waters! Of course, I had already been in Labor and the baby was ready to come out. The last pregnancy, the water bag ruptured on it's own, before labor. Labor had to be induced.

I am sorry for all of those that it was painful for. :(