STM's Advice on Stripping Membranes

rachellynne27

With my first I was induced at 39 weeks due to complications so I have no experience with the stripping of membranes.

At my appointment yesterday my dr suggested stripping membranes at my next appointment (if I don't go into to labor before then)....

Anyone who has had this done how long before you went into labor?

My next appointment is on Friday and my husband works Friday-Sunday nights, I am afraid if I have this done I will go into labor while he's at work and he works an hour away. We do have a plan for if I go into labor while he's at work but we are hoping that this baby decides to come during the week when my husband is home...would it be best to change my appointment to earlier in the week if we move forward with stripping membranes?

MississippiCatfish

This one's tough, because you just never know if it was the membrane strip that caused the labor or not!

I didn't try it with my first baby (I was never dilated past a fingertip before my induction at 42 weeks), but with my second we stripped membranes at 40+6, at 12:30 on Friday, and I went into labor at 8 am the next morning. ETA - I didn't have the baby for another 17.5 hours of labor, so I personally would be comfortable doing it with my husband an hour away, but if I had had fast labors in the past I would not. 

Latina211508

I had my membranes stripped when I was pregnant with my third baby. I was already 40 weeks and it did not help me at all go into labor.

Ju111310

No way to know if/when it will work for you. I'd just go with the flow and assume that DH will have time to get home from work if needed. With DS1 had my membranes stripped at 37&5 (3 cm & 80%) did nothing but cause about 8 hours of irritating contractions. Stripped again at 38&4 (4 cm & 100%), water broke about 4 or 5 hours later & labor began fast & furious 20 mins later.

22snc12

I had mine stripped when I was pregnant with my son and it didn't do anything. Delivered 6 days late.

kira91499

I had my stripped with my first after he was 3 days past due...contractions started that night and delivered him at 7:45 pm the next day.

moomee

I had mine stripped with my first DS and went into labor that day, but like others have said, there's really no way to tell if it'll work for you. Everyone and every pregnancy is different! There are other, more non-invasive and natural, methods of "induction". They're not 100% either. 

g8trkim

It could go either way. I went into labor after my membranes were stripped with one kid but didn't with the other. Plus there's no way to know if that had anything to do with it. I would just do it.

AdventureMama

I think if your body/baby are ready, stripping is probably helpful. If they aren't, then it won't be.

My midwife stripped my membranes at 40 weeks...never went into labor. I was induced at 41+3 and had him via c-section due to no progress at 41+5. So it's not a magic solution. Nothing really is. :P

thoughtfulmommy

I agree with @AdventureMama that if your body is ready, it will put you into labour. I had mine done at 40+4 days with my DS and I felt crampy all day. I went into labour early the next day and had my son about 24 hours after my membranes were stripped.

rachellynne27

Thank you ladies, I appreciate you sharing your experiences with this.

I honestly would be surprised if it did nothing for me. At the time this would be done I'll be 38+4. I've already thinned out a lot and am dilated at 3 plus baby's head is right there....I guess we'll just wait and see what happens....

g8trkim

rachellynne27 said:

Thank you ladies, I appreciate you sharing your experiences with this.

I honestly would be surprised if it did nothing for me. At the time this would be done I'll be 38+4. I've already thinned out a lot and am dilated at 3 plus baby's head is right there....I guess we'll just wait and see what happens....

You may be right, but try not to expect much. I was 3-4cm and 90% for several weeks before my daughter came. It doesn't mean a whole lot.

EC2016

Lurking from jan16.
I've had mine stripped twice now, still no baby...

cMichelle0423

With my oldest LO, my OB stripped mine twice (once at 39 weeks and once at 40). Definitely did not work for me either time. I refuse to try it again unless I'm like a week past my due date or more.