Anyone having their membrane stripped?

stacylynn1982

I'm due with my first baby on May 29th. Last week I was 50% effaced, no dialation. My midwife said that if I was dialated on Thursday she would strip my membrane. My best friend had this procedure done 5 days before she was due and went into labor that night. I know it doesn't work for everyone and that it can be painful, but I'm curious if anyone else is thinking about this? I am considering having it done next week, two days after my due date if LO isn't here yet. I'm not looking for a bunch of backlash and judgement here...just some thoughts from those who are considering it, or who have done it. Thanks!

pinkmoonlight

I am having a c/s this time around, but I did have it done with DD (four times) and while I was dilated and effaced it did nothing but bring on horrible cramping for hours and then stopped. I still ended up being induced at 41 weeks and ended up with a c/s due to fetal distress and failure to descend. With that being said, I do know at least 1 person that it worked for.

In my opinion it is worth a try, but do not get your hopes up that it will work. 

hdine22

I'm hoping my ob will do this at my next appointment too. I'm due on the 29th as well But definitely hoping he will come sooner!! 

I wasn't dilated at my last appointment, but since then I have lost pieces of my plug. I've been 70% effaced since 36 weeks. I am SO hoping that things changed! 

And you shouldn't be judged for this at all. IMO, it is a fine way to try and get things moving.. Just try not to be totally disappointed if it doesn't end up working. 

Good luck!

theabbey5

I had it done with both of my DDs the day I went into the hospital to deliver...it helped progress things quickly I think.  I will be asking about having it done at my 39 weeks visit if I haven't had the LO yet.  I had DD#1 at 39 weeks and DD#2 at 37...so I'm hoping this one will be my magical in between baby and come in a few days at 38 weeks...and a membrane stripping just might be the trick.  

Some people feel it's unnecessary and risky but I have had it done twice and it didn't hurt...as long as you aren't GBS+ you should be fine.  I remember being a tad crampy and it hurting a tad more than an internal exam, but otherwise no biggie.  I also had to have my water broken so I truly feel I may not have been able to have a quick delivery with both DDs if they hadn't done this first...idk. 

LER091811

There is nothing to judge here. It's no more risky than getting an internal exam. Not even a risk of premature rupture of membranes has been established.

I don't see any reason not to do it, unless you don't want to go into labor within the next 24 to 48 hours. I'm going to have it done if I've gone any dilation going on tomorrow. 

Pikmin620

I'm having it done tomorrow morning - I'll be 39w 2d.  At my last appointment, I was 2cm dilated and 80% effaced, and I've been having contractions the past 24 hrs, so I'm hoping that having them stripped will be the last little push I need.  Like others have said, there's nothing to be judged on and it works for some, doesn't work for others.  I've got my fingers crossed!! 

babyruth88

Im due the 29th also. At appt yesterday i was dialated to the size of a cheerio haha my dr is so weird and about 60%effaced. At my next appt im going to beg to get my membranes stripped.

littleredfish

My OB is doing it for me this friday at my appointment to help me move things along. I'll be 3 days from my due date and she said it CAN increase your chances of going into labor 4 fold or it can do nothing. It really depends on your body and if it is ready or not to go into labor. I figure best case senario it helps jump start me and worse case it doesn't do anything and I'm maybe a little uncomfortable afterwards (since bleeding and discomfort can happen afterward just like any internal exam).

pkclueless

I must be a real dummy but what does it mean to have your membranes stripped? I am also due on the 29th (how funny that we're all the same?!?) and am anxious to get this process going. AS of last week's appt I was 3 CM and have since lost the mucus plug. 

babydawson

I had mine done last Friday at 39 weeks. It didn't hurt (she was already in there for an internal). Nothing at all happened for me except that I lost my plug over the weekend. She will do it again if I haven't had my baby by my appointment this Friday.

The hard thing was DH and I got our hopes up that the baby would come. I was already 2.5 cm and 70% effaced. The weekend seemed really long since we were over analyzing every pain or twinge. So, I would say just don't get your hopes up because if your body isn't ready it won't do anything.

 I hope it works for you though!

ksutt

I had it done today and my doctor said I will go into labor within 24 hours if it worked. I was surprised that the actual stripping of the membranes wasn't that uncomfortable, but her knuckles digging into the outside of my lady bits while she was doing it really hurt! I feel like I'm bruised down there now! I kept telling myself, "I'm sure this is nothing compared to a head coming out!" haha. So we will see, hopefully it works! It's supposed to release prostaglandin, which is also in semen, so I might have to jump my husband at lunch - give myself a double dose!

bornmommy

I'm asking for this tomorrow.  Can't hurt!

fleurette4

I just had it done an hour ago and am 3 days overdue.  For some reason I found it to be quite painful but I am so anxious for my LO to come that I didn't care if it hurt or not.  An hour later... nothing.

PurpleSnapDragons

I will have it done tomorrow.  Even if my midwife accidentally broke my waters doing it (which i've heard of but is very very rare), I'd be pretty happy at this point!

Obsidiandreams

I had it done when I was 2 days overdue. During the stretch and sweep the bloody show started and contractions started that evening (they died out but came back with a vengeance the next day). I had my baby in my arms less than 36 hours later.

nlewis123

I had mine stripped on a Monday and went into labor on that Wednesday, hope that helps

cari12

I'm due 5/29 too! I'm hoping to at my appt. tomorrow. I'm not sure I'm dilated enough though. Barely at 1cm as of Monday but I think I've been having some bloody show so maybe I'm a bit further? I've been contracting a ton for a week and I swear I just need to find that push to get my body into labor and I'm hoping the sweep will do it ;-)

I had it done twice with my 2nd and it didn't send me into labor on it's own, but it started off contractions that were pretty irregular and still coming when I went in for my induction (2 days after my last sweep) and I had a super easy induction - 5 hours, very little pitocin needed. So I definitely think it helped some, even if it didn't send me into straight up labor on my own.

Oh and I was told by my OB and a few friends that having sex after can help a lot too so if you can...try that ;-)