Anyone know about stripping membranes?

Question

Anyone know how to do this? Will I know if my doctor does it?

Answer 1

Your doctor should tell you when or if they did it. It doesn't hurt, just kind of like an exam, uncomfortable. Then you seem to go into labor pretty quickly after that.

Answer 2

You will know if your doctor has done this and they may or may not tell you before they do it. It is extremely uncomfortable when they do it though doesn’t quite hurt.

With my first my doc gave me the option and I made her choose. She did it but it didn’t make a difference. With my second, she just did it and said see you tomorrow to deliver the baby and she was right. I came back about 18 hours later and had the baby.

Sweeping your membranes is something that will kick start you’re labour if your body/baby is ready. If you’re not ready, then it will do nothing.

Answer 3

Why do it?

"Routine use of sweeping of membranes from 38 weeks of pregnancy onwards does not seem to produce clinically important benefits. When used as a means for induction of labour, the reduction in the use of more formal methods of induction needs to be balanced against women's discomfort and other adverse effects."
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/bir/2005/00000032/00000002/art00012

"Rupturing fetal membranes, a routine component of labor induction, can cause fetal distress andincreases the likelihood of cesarean section.2,8,11It may also precipitate umbilical cord prolapse (alife-threatening emergency for the baby in which the umbilical cord slips down into the vagina).7,19Fortypercent of all full term births involving cord prolapse were induced labors..."
"If there is no reason to curtail the natural length of pregnancy, then there is no reason for measures suchas stripping or sweeping membranes, which themselves introduce the possibility of risk."
http://www.motherfriendly.org/Downloads/induct-fact-sheet.pdf

Answer 4

I believe when you gyno strips your membranes the procedure is suppose to induce some type of contraction to start labor. I have had it done. In most of the time it works but in a little percentage it doesnt. but any how congrats when ya have ya baby!

Answer 5

I had that done...not to be too graphic, but yes it's like an normal checkup but he or she inserts their hand and actually strips the membranes. I went past my due date by 2 weeks and they deided to try to jump start my labor by doing so. If they do it and it works correctly, labor will start with in 24 hours. Mine didn't work, had to be induced anyways!

Answer 6

My doctor did it to me because I was being induced. She stripped my membranes then broke my water. And she didn't tell me she was going to strip them because it hurts! It hurt me bad now everyone is different but it hurt me. I was pissed that she didn't tell me.......In the end I had a beautiful health baby boy!

Answer 7

Your doctor I believe is required to tell you if they want to do this, as you have the right to turn it down, also some woman experiance cramps, spotting afterward. Also it works 40% of the time, not a sure deal

Answer 8

my midwife did it twice to try to induce labor....it hurt me like something fierce, but everyone's different. Your doc should tell you before he/she does it as it is extremely uncomfortable. Basically, what is being done is the amniotic sac is being separated from the top of the cervix. it supposedly causes eough irritation to the uterus that contractions start shortly thereafter. It didn't work in my case but like I said everyone's different. it's also known as "sweeping of the membranes"

Answer 9

Yes, you'll know because it'll be like an internal exam to check how dilated you are but more uncomfortable and it'll last longer. It's really not that terribly bad and MUCH BETTER for you and your baby than chemical forms of induction/ways to increase labor.

Answer 10

My doctor did it with me with my first baby because she was going out of town and I wanted her to deliver the baby. The next day was my due date and I went into labor the next morning. To me it felt like it does when they check you to see if you are dilated.