Stripping Membranes
VABride2008
member
My husband's cousin went in for her 38 week appt. and the Dr. stripped her membranes (on Friday), she was 3 cm and 50%. She lost her MP and her water broke last night (around 9:30). She went to the hospital, had only made 1 cm progress (4 cm) and they started pitocin almost immediately after her arrival last night because she wasn't having any contractions, just cramping. At 12:00 today they scheduled her for a c-section.
Can stripping your membranes too early actually cause your labor to not progress as it should? Do you think had she waited another 2 weeks to have membranes stripped that her body may have progressed more on its own?
I'm just really torn on having membranes stripped and I haven't asked my Dr. what his stance is yet. When do most Dr's consider stripping?
Re: Stripping Membranes
Thanks, I just don't really know much about it, other than what I've read on here. My Dr. has made no mention of it yet. I see the PP had hers done at 35 weeks, I didn't know they would do it that early. I have a lot to learn and just want to make an informed decision. Thanks!
i really doubt thats why she didnt progress. some women just dont.
THIS.
My MW explained that she could strip mine every day, and if my body wasn't ready then it wouldn't make a bit of difference.
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v247/indie_chixor2/?action=view
I was curious last week so checked PubMed (I'm a dweeb). Apparently it is one of the recommended courses for postterm pregnancies (42 0/7 weeks) along with unprotected sex to get things going. So it's probably more likely to bring about labor than walking or spicy food, but lower on the intervention scale than Pitocin, for example. So if you were post-date and wanted to try a more natural approach before getting induced, it might have appeal.
When it comes to appeal I'm going to say that sex is far more likely to win that contest.
Most of what I've heard is that it will only work if your body is ready for it.
That being said, I would never do it before my edd for that very reason - I fear that it would start something and then stall out and I would be left in a bad situation.
I had it done with dd2 when I was 3 days past my due date and DD was born 8 hours later. So it can be successful, I will just always be aware of when it gets done.
As with everything in pregnancy, each woman is different. With my last pregnancy, my doc stripped my membranes (unbeknownst to me until I realized this was waaay more painful than a regular internal exam), the day before my due date. I understand why she did it though. I wanted to somehow make SURE she was my doctor on my delivery date without being induced with Pitocin. I was in labor within a few hours. I didn't go to the hospital right away though... not until I had labored at home for almost 12 hours. I labored for another 12 in the hospital before my son was born; with epidural but no need for Pitocin.
That being said, stripping the membranes does not guarantee labor will start, so I doubt it stalled it either. Her labor probably stalled because her body wasn't ready...and perhaps had never actually been in labor. She probably went to the hospital too soon. If hospitals don't see textbook progress, they bring on the drugs and c-sections to keep business moving.