membrane sweeping

manbearpig31610

At this point, this may be a somewhat irrelevant question but the subject came up at my OB appt yesterday and I didn't think to ask specifics until after I had left. My OB did my first cervical check (no progress yet) and said that she will continue to check every week and if I have some progress but have not gone in to labor we can try membrane sweeping and some other induction techniques (but no pitocin, which I knew). All that sounds great but I didn't think to ask at what point they are able to do these things. Does anyone know how far dilated you need to be for this?

MAprincess

With my first pregnancy, they swept my membranes when I was a fingertip dilated.  So I guess they just need enough to get in there.

bensbabe

A coworker did it for me (my OB had knowledge). I was 1cm/50% effaced. It was uncomfortable & it can vary based on effacement/finger size/dilation.

babyike

For my VBAC, my midwife did my membrane sweep at my 41 week appt per my request.  I was 1-2cm and 75-80% effaced.  She told me at my 39 week appt that I only needed to be 1cm for a membrane sweep, though the more dilated I was the less "uncomfortable" I would be... She was able to get 3 good "sweeps" and I went into active labor within 14 hours  GL!!