Stripping Membranes...?

Re: Stripping Membranes...?

• SusieQ1982

  September 2009

  Why do you even want to get things moving quicker than your body is ready for?

  I'm still not sure why they induced you with your DD just because you were dilated.
  

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• ecfrazier22

  September 2009

  SusieQ1982:

  Why do you even want to get things moving quicker than your body is ready for?

  I'm still not sure why they induced you with your DD just because you were dilated.
  

  I was simply asking the dr since I was induced with DD and that is what she told me.  I was just explaining my last delivery (was with a different doctor than I have now)  It's a good thing that they did induce with DD because she came so quick once we got to the hospital that I would have delivered at home   No thank you!  LOL

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• chelsearenee

  September 2009

  Im not exactly sure how it works.  From what I hear, it can be a bit painful. It only works for some people (if your body is ready), but lots of people go into labor w/in 24hrs of having it done. 

  

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• iowagirl73 member

  September 2009

  I had my membranes stripped at 39wk, 4d with DS.  I have a low tolerance to pain so to me it hurt like a SOB.  Stripping the membranes does not guaranty that you will go into labor and have your child though just so you know.  It worked for me but I know plenty of other people who had it done twice or it didn't work at all.  In fact, from the people I know the ones who had their membranes stripped earlier then me did not go into labor and had it done again or just not at all.
  

  When they strip the membranes it is sort of like an internal except they stick their finger (1 or 2 I don't remember) in even further and then do this circular motion.  I wasn't dilated very far so it might have hurt more because of that I don't know.  

  I also do not understand why they would strip your membranes just because you are dilated.  At 4cm you are checked into the hospital (here) whether your water has broken or not.  Whatever is your case, I hope you have a healthy L&D and child.  GL to you!
  

  

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• JuliaKL member

  September 2009

  stripping membranes is where the OB puts a finger into your (dilated) cervix and separates any fibers connecting your "membranes" (i.e. bag of water) to your cervix.  it doesn't necessarily do anything, but can often jump-start labor.  as someone who had it done yesterday, it is not comfortable, but not painful -- for me, it was a ton of pressure in an uncomfortable area!

  

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• ecfrazier22

  September 2009

  Thanks for all of your input.  I had no idea what it meant to do that since I hadn't ever had it done before and knew nothing about it.  I still have plenty of time to ask the dr more questions and see whether or not I need to go that route.  I guess it's maybe more common around here to be induced because when I asked her she said 'oh yeah, we can definitely do that.'   Kind of like it was a normal thing....and I was only wondering about it....!

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• sare_bear

  September 2009

  I have heard that some doctors will strip your membranes while doing internals without even telling you.  My sister's midwife said it's a common thing for women to not even know.  I guess the reason is because it only "works" if your body is ready for it.

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• thetwistedwillow member

  September 2009

  sare_bear:

  I have heard that some doctors will strip your membranes while doing internals without even telling you.  My sister's midwife said it's a common thing for women to not even know.  I guess the reason is because it only "works" if your body is ready for it.

  Yup, this is very true.

  And there IS a reason for it- it releases a hormone in your body (oxycotin, I believe but don't quote me) that signals to your body that labor is beginning. For some women it works (which it did for me twice) and for some it takes a few sweeps before things can get going and then there are just some women whose babies won't budge for anything. Work a shot!
  

  
  

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• ecfrazier22

  September 2009

  sare_bear:

  I have heard that some doctors will strip your membranes while doing internals without even telling you.  My sister's midwife said it's a common thing for women to not even know.  I guess the reason is because it only "works" if your body is ready for it.

  Hmm...maybe my dr years ago did that to me and I didn't even know it which is why I dilated so quickly...?!?!

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• fisha25

  September 2009

  hello just dropping in...I had my membranes strip with my first DD ( i went to 42 weeks 3 days) and with my DD #2 because i midwife though it would be for the best if i got a little jump start. For me it freaking hurt! Your membranes can also reattach a little bit so they might keep doing it at each appointment. For my First DD i had my membranes stripped every couple of days starting at 40 weeks, it did NOTHING. i was finally induced. For my DD #2 she started at 38 weeks and i had the baby the day after my due date. So it may have had an impact or not. But imoa it hurts. They put their fingers in there and pull (in a sweeping motion) your bag of water away from the cervix. So i know this is a rough example but have you ever pull the skin of from the meat of.. say... a turkey when your stuffing it at thanksgiving before it's cooked? you have to kinda pull and break it away. that's kinda what they do. I know it a horrid example but it's all i can think of so you have a realistic pic. good luck sorry for the bad example but i hope it helps.     
  

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