Membrane Stripping - Pros and Cons?

konyx2

I had my 36 week appointment this morning (I'll be 37 weeks on Saturday), during which my OB talked about how large my LO is- he estimated her to be around 8 pounds and growing. I was over 10 pounds when I was born, my sister-in-law just had a baby last week at over 9 pounds, and my FI was almost 9 pounds, so we're expecting a big one.

 My OB said that he didn't want me to hit my due date because of this. He said that they will check to see if I am dilated during my 37 week appointment and, if I am, he suggested doing membrane stripping.

I know the basics of membrane stripping, but has anyone ever had this done? What were the circumstances that you had it done for, and what are the pros and cons?

Gina418

Weight estimates are notorious for being wrong. That being said, I had my membranes stripped twice with ds#1 - at 38 and 39 weeks (I was between 2-3cm dilated). It did nothing for me. I went overdue and was induced at 41 weeks. I don't think there are any pros or cons. It's uncomfortable, but not painful and it may or may not jump start labor.

missesru

I agree with the PP about weight estimates often being wrong.  

That being said.. I had my membranes swept at my 38 week appt and DD was born 2 days later.  The pros?  Baby arrived 2 days later.. Cons... I was completely uncomfortable the day it was done and day later... Random BH contractions, a ton of cramping and back pain.. some spotting.  I was miserable for those 2 days so it was good DD arrived quickly.   

mrsoh

I just had mine done yesterday.  I've had cramping and consistent contractions ever since, but I'm not in active labor.  From what I've read, if it's going to work it will within 3 days of the proceedure, but there are no guarantees it will work.  It was pretty uncomfortable, but no where near as painful as I thought it would be.

blossom_0826

I have GD and my Dr. will not let me go past my due date.  I have an induction scheduled for next week on my due date if LO doesn't come before then.  I expressed my desire to have a natural birth to my Dr. yesterday and she suggested that we try stripping my membranes to see if that would jump start anything, so I had mine stripped yesterday.  Very uncomfortable, but not painful.  I was pretty crampy yesterday afterward and had a few contractions last night, but nothing really since.  So we shall see if it has any effect, I'm hoping to have LO this weekend to avoid induction.

MOH Linds

konyx2:

I had my 36 week appointment this morning (I'll be 37 weeks on Saturday), during which my OB talked about how large my LO is- he estimated her to be around 8 pounds and growing. I was over 10 pounds when I was born, my sister-in-law just had a baby last week at over 9 pounds, and my FI was almost 9 pounds, so we're expecting a big one.

 My OB said that he didn't want me to hit my due date because of this. He said that they will check to see if I am dilated during my 37 week appointment and, if I am, he suggested doing membrane stripping.

I know the basics of membrane stripping, but has anyone ever had this done? What were the circumstances that you had it done for, and what are the pros and cons?

High five on the big baby!  I'm in the same boat.  This is my second and they were EXACTLY RIGHT about LO#1's size.  They predicted anywhere from 9-12 lbs (if I went to term) and he was 9 lbs. 13 oz. when we induced at just over 38 weeks.  Had we waited any longer, I probably would have had to do a c-section, so I felt very fortunate that my doc was willing to induce early.  So, yes, sometimes weight estimates can be wrong, but they are NOT always wrong.  Ultrasounds get better and better every year and are much more accurate now than they used to be.

I'm having my membranes stripped at 37 week appointment as well (it's really a 37 1/2 week appt, I guess) because this one is measuring 8 1/2 pounds RIGHT NOW and projected to be 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 at birth if I go to term.

I don't remember any serious issues with having my membranes stripped with LO#1, but that was 6 1/2 years ago.  If anything really yucky or bad had happened, I would remember.  Mainly just cramping a little more than usual.  But the membrane stripping didn't work to send me into labor, so that could be why it was no big deal for me.  I've read everything on both ends of the spectrum from "it hurt so bad I almost passed out" to "it didn't feel any more uncomfortable than the regular interal exam."  I think it depends on your doc and how your body handles it.

Good luck!

JaneBeam

Thanks for posting this question!  I was really curious about membrane stripping.

shaunamw

I had my done yesterday and I didn't think it hurt I wouldn't even say it was uncomfortable.  MY OB is so gentle internals don't really feel like anything.  Afterwards I had some cramping off and on but nothing painful.  I did loose my mucas plug last night and some this morning but since then I haven't really had any cramping or anything.

lizard76

I had my membranes stripped the day before my due date with Ethan and went into labor later that day (had him on his due date).  I believe I was 2cm dilated, but I don't know what % effaced I was.

With this one, I had my membranes stripped on Tuesday.  It took me from 2 to 3cm, but I was also about 80% effaced.  Nothing happened on Tuesday, but yesterday I lost my mucus plug (ew!) and went through abotu 5 hours of contractions that were 10 minutes apart, but never got stronger or closer together.  Today the same thing happened with contractions.

I will say that both time, it hurt like crazy, but it was short-lived.  Just go into it knowing that it may or may not work.

musicamh

I had my membranes stripped 3 times with DD and nothing happened for me.

Goodysgirl

musicamh:

I had my membranes stripped 3 times with DD and nothing happened for me.

 

This, except it hurt like h*ll.  And I was still 6 days overdue. 

konyx2

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I'm trying to take every precaution possible to avoid a c/s, mostly because I haven't been alotted the time off from work (I work in law enforcement/government and am struggling to get two-four weeks off!)

 I do know that those size estimates can be off, but he said that she is definitely large enough to be fine. I will be full-term when they do this, so as long as she's big and healthy I'm o.k. with it.

 My OB also said the same thing about the pain- he said that he had a patient yesterday who didn't even flinch when he stripped her membranes, but he's also had patients cry during it. He also said that he did it twice for his wife and that she went into labor within 48 with both of them!

To me, it still seems very surreal that I'll be having a baby in the next few weeks, let along next week. I'm glad I got advice from all of you on this to make sure that we were taking the right steps! I was nervous that I would hear horror stories about it, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

konyx2

MOH Linds:

konyx2:

I had my 36 week appointment this morning (I'll be 37 weeks on Saturday), during which my OB talked about how large my LO is- he estimated her to be around 8 pounds and growing. I was over 10 pounds when I was born, my sister-in-law just had a baby last week at over 9 pounds, and my FI was almost 9 pounds, so we're expecting a big one.

 My OB said that he didn't want me to hit my due date because of this. He said that they will check to see if I am dilated during my 37 week appointment and, if I am, he suggested doing membrane stripping.

I know the basics of membrane stripping, but has anyone ever had this done? What were the circumstances that you had it done for, and what are the pros and cons?

High five on the big baby!  I'm in the same boat.  This is my second and they were EXACTLY RIGHT about LO#1's size.  They predicted anywhere from 9-12 lbs (if I went to term) and he was 9 lbs. 13 oz. when we induced at just over 38 weeks.  Had we waited any longer, I probably would have had to do a c-section, so I felt very fortunate that my doc was willing to induce early.  So, yes, sometimes weight estimates can be wrong, but they are NOT always wrong.  Ultrasounds get better and better every year and are much more accurate now than they used to be.

I'm having my membranes stripped at 37 week appointment as well (it's really a 37 1/2 week appt, I guess) because this one is measuring 8 1/2 pounds RIGHT NOW and projected to be 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 at birth if I go to term.

I don't remember any serious issues with having my membranes stripped with LO#1, but that was 6 1/2 years ago.  If anything really yucky or bad had happened, I would remember.  Mainly just cramping a little more than usual.  But the membrane stripping didn't work to send me into labor, so that could be why it was no big deal for me.  I've read everything on both ends of the spectrum from "it hurt so bad I almost passed out" to "it didn't feel any more uncomfortable than the regular interal exam."  I think it depends on your doc and how your body handles it.

Good luck!

 

We are definitely in the same boat- glad I'm not the only one! That means you should be having that done this week, so you'll have to let us know about the procedure and keep us updated on whether it induces for you or not!

JustineDD

With my first I had a good sized baby, 9lbs 6oz... my doctor did a sweep & stretch and I started having cramps/contractions, and within 36 hours I was 6 cm, went to the hospital and my son was born...

I know it doesn't work for everyone... but its worth a shot right, other then a little pain, and some possible spotting, what do you have to loose!.

 good luck with everything

Keansor

One "con" of having your membranes stripped is the possibility of accidentally breaking your bag of waters during the procedure. If this happens, you are "on the clock" so to speak (because of the risk of infection), and may have to submit to chemical means of starting labour if it doesn't start on its own. This doesn't bother some people, but if you are trying for a natural birth (and want to minimize your chances of a C-section), it's something to keep in mind!

Good luck!

redstars93

It hurts like *** hell and doesn't always work.

 

ksprincess82

Thanks for the post!  My doctor suggested possibly doing this for me at my 38wk appt because I haven't made much if any progress and I am hoping for vbac and avoiding the scheduled c/s route!    (which would be during 39th week)      I might not do it though because if it broke my water but didn't make me go into labor then I would have to have a c/s anyway because they won't let me have a med-induced labor for my vbac.  I also have GBS and have to get to hospital for IV antibiotics.       So many variables!    With my son, my water broke at 36w5d and so none of this was on the table for me then!

lad919

Hurts so bad. Like an insane pap smear with intense cramping that lasted a few hours. I started contractions 12 hours later and my daughter was born the next morning. Before that I had nothing going on. It wasn't pleasant but it was less torture than being full term and uncomfortable and having my daughter's feet in my ribs 24/7.

kurplunkie

I had my membranes stripped at my 41+ week appointment.  I was 9 days overdue and had already lost my mucus plug but was only 1-2 cm dilated and slightly effaced.  It was really painful--mostly a feeling of intense pressure--and I immediately started with back pain and light contractions.  I went into active labor about 4 hours later.  For me it obviously helped get the ball rolling and I was able to have the natural, drug free birth in the birth center like I wanted.  Like some of the other women mentioned, I would be nervous about employing it too early especially since you have a family history of successfully delivering big babies (vaginally, I'm assuming?).  I'd look into nipple stimulation (they actually can do it with a breast pump...I know, it's weird) as a first course of action before I tried more interventional practices. 

jmsmith27

Hi!  I totally understand your dilemma about not wanting a c-section but let me PLEASE warn you about stripping membranes. 

I had mine stripped at 37 weeks with my son (who is almost 9 mo.) side note: it was uncomfortable but didn't hurt, and less than 24 hours later i was in the ER & had to have an emercency induction b/c when the membranes were stripped the OB introduced bacteria to my placenta/amniotic fluid & caused a condition called chorio amnioitis (google it).  It was 10x worse than labor and could have caused serious damage to my son, his heart rate went over 220 due to acute infection.  He got pnemonia & spent a week in the NICU.  Not to mention, it caused a problem w/ my uterus AFTER labor & caused a sever hemorrage & I almost had to have a blood transfusion.  I had no other complications prior to this. 

I'm not saying this to scare you but PLEASE, PLEASE make sure you know all your options.  Also, if you are group B strep positive, NO WAY should you have them stripped!  Just my little horror story, I hope that no matter what, all goes well!  Good luck!

 

redstars93

My OB stripped my membranes at 38 weeks and it didn't do a damn thing besides make me crampy and uncomfortable for 2 days.

 I think this is one of those "works for some, not for others" kind of things.