stripping membranes?

nminn0904

Hey ladies,

So today I have my weekly appointment and I'm at 39 weeks. Last week she told me if I was dialated this time around then she planned to strip my membranes. I did some reading to actually find out what this meant because it seemed a little awkward lol.

Anyways, what are your thoughts on having this done? From my understanding she's going to scrap or swipe her finger across where my sac is attached...is this right? And does this hurt? Has this helped induce labor for any existing mamas?

fyrefairie

it only works if your already progressing and on your way.  I hear varying things about how uncomfortable it is, depends on you and your doc i think

kmm2150

FTM, so I haven't had it done.  I hear it can be uncomfortable and cause you to have some cramping/contractions, but if you're already progressing some it can move things along.  But, like pretty much everything else I think it's one of those "maybe you would've gone into labor without it anyway" things - a friend of mine had hers stripped a week ago, she's due today and no action yet.  All that being said, I think if I get to 39 weeks (next week) and my doctor thinks it could help, I'll go for it - for medical reasons they don't want to let me go much past my due date at all, so the closer I get the more eager I am to kick-start things and avoid an induction.

jason&robin

I have had it done 3 times. Once with my first baby and twice with my second. It didn't do anything and it did hurt. I think it was the dr though. I'd still try again though just to see.

talitha712

I'm planning to have it done if I haven't had this baby by my next appointment (I'll be 39w5d).  At my appointment yesterday I was 3cm dilated and 80% effaced, and I've been having BH like crazy, so my body is already preparing itself.  I don't know that I'd ask to have it done if I weren't already progressing decently.

gymkatinka

I had it done (I actually posted about it) yesterday.

My doctor did it for me, without me knowing it.

I'm dilated 3cm, 80% effaced, baby is in position.

So far, I'm still here, no baby in sight...don't get your hopes up. 

BabyTime01032012

I just got back from having it done.  It was more uncomfortable than the cervical exam for me.  TMI ALERT:  I started bleeding and peed on the table a little.  My doula and DH were in the room.  I guess I better get used to having all kinds of bodily fluids come out of me in front of people if I'm going to do this birthing thing.  ;-)  Anyway, right now I'm wearing a pad because I'm still bleeding a little.

CNK2007

I had my membranes stripped yesterday as well. Just as pp all I had was cramping so far and it feels like my little man is going to fall out!

BeckyTheEngineer

I had this done on my due date with my daughter, and was in labor the next morning.  I also had it done yesterday (due Jan 4) and no baby yet.  I'd say it is uncomfortable, but not crazy painful.

lamphele

I had it done this past Tuesday and it caused me to loose my mucus plug later that day and have a little bleeding.  I have been exercising and moving a lot since then and still no baby.  It looks like I'm going to have to wait a couple more days to meet my little girl.  Oh, and yes, it hurt.  I was only 1 cm dilated and have been told that it would have hurt less if I was more dilated at the time.