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3rd Trimester
anabell0920
member
To strip or not to strip...
anabell0920
member
Let me start by saying I am trying for an all natural no drug/intervention birth and I have a doula. Today is my 40 week appointment and my OB's office is very strict on not letting their patients go PAST 41 weeks. It is the norm here and I wish that the policy was different because obviously I do not want to be induced. I am going to try and get them to work with me on it but we shall see when/if we get to that bridge.
Anyway I emailed my doula about possibly getting my membranes stripped today. She gave me the run down and possible risks and basically said since my doctors are so set on not letting me go past 41 weeks it might be a good idea if I am dilated enough. Otherwise I could wait a few more days. Totally up to me obviously. Of course dumb me had to call my mom to talk about it and she pretty much told me that she is worried about the risk of infection (though my doula said it is a low risk) and that I should just wait because I still have a week.
I am now torn on what to do. I would like to give my LO all the time he needs but don't have that many choices since the majority of doctors are the same with inductions around here. A midwife was not an option since there is only one in the area and she is only allowed home births. Trust me I tried here lol. I know that no one can decide for me and fully intend on discussing it with dh when he gets home soon and going from there but given my situation and my desire not to be induced what would you do personally? Thanks!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: To strip or not to strip...
Personally, I'd try to stick it out those few days. I'm the same as you prepared 100% for a med free, natural birth. I just don't want to feel like I'm rushing my body into something it's not ready for. Given you're 40w now, what could a few more days hurt?
ETA: Do you know if you've dialated any? And if you didn't have them stripped now would they just induce you around 41w?
I would hold out a few days if you can, don't forget your momis speaking emotionally and your Doula professionally so if she says it is low risk then I would side with her, especially if her advice backs your wishes - makes it easier to justify!!
Either way - good luck!!!!!
Yes that is another option I am going to do if we still get closer to 41 weeks. My doula has a few things for me to try and that is one of them but she has been a big advocate of at least letting me get to 40 weeks before we tried anything other than lots of walking and sex.
DD2 8.22.13
MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
I do realize that and like I said before I fully intend on fighting but there are really only so many options and that would be them letting me go possibly a few more days or dropping me as a patient which if I refuse induction they have every right to do. I obviously don't want to be induced based on a date but being dropped as a patient isn't the ideal situation either. If things get to that point I will have to decide though.
Thats a tough call. But, since you want to be able to go natural....I would try it, the risks are low and when you compare it against your desire not be induced its worth a try. Hopefully you're dialated enough to do it, but if you're not, it may give a few more days to make sure you're making the choice you want to make.
Good luck!
I would give it a shot. It will only work if your body is ready. Definitely far less invasive than a chemical induction.
Good luck! I fought tooth and nail to go to 42 weeks with my first pregnancy, Even though I didn't end up with a natural birth in the end, I'm happy I tried everything possible before the induction.
Yeah, my OB's office has the same 41 week policy. I spoke to them at my appt yesterday about stripping- unfortunately I wasn't dilated AT ALL so they couldn't strip my membranes. Personally, because I want a med-free birth so badly, I want to try and stay away from Pitocin at all costs. Not because I'm against it, but because I know it's so much harder to decline the epi once you're on pit contrax.
However, I managed to negotiate terms with the office during my appointment. They said if I go in at my next appt (41 weeks) still pregnant, they would check again to see if they could strip membranes first. And if not, they'd use cervadil or the Foley catheter before they went the Pitocin route. And they will let me go to 42 weeks if I schedule 2 NSTs AND another u/s.
Perhaps you could try and negotiate something similar to get an extra week? G/L!
If I had the option, I would strip. I am not even dilated enough to consider this. My doc refuses to allow me to go pst 41 weeks, also. That being said, I have a bed reserved for Tues to be induced. This was a bit of a shocker, as this is not what I wanted and I feel like my body is totally not working. However, I do respect my docs opinion and understand the risks of going past 41 weeks. Sending lots of labor dust your way.
GL
I say do it!
I am also going for a natural birth and one of my fears is to have to be induced. My midwife goes up until around 42 weeks and then I would have to be induced. If having them strip your membranes is going to prevent any induction in the future then I would totally be on board for that. Don't feel guilty at all.
Best of luck!
I had my membranes stripped yesterday. Lots of cramping and some contrax, but nothing organized still.
I would do that and hope it works for you!
They cannot drop you as a patient bc you have an opinion about your medical care. Drs are there to give you the facts about your situation but YOU are the patient and therefore are the one who is ultimately responsible for your care. So, say they schedule an induction and you don't show up. The next day you go into labor and arrive at the hospital - they won't refuse to deliver your baby!
My dr is very against letting moms go past 41 weeks, but we had a BPP on monday and LO looks awesome. He wanted to schedule an induction for tomorrow. I said no thank you and if he needed to schedule one that he could do so for 41wks and 6 days. We will go back in and have another bpp and nst on monday and if LO is still looking awesome, we will wait some more. My mom went over a week late with my sister (her first) and they say that is one thing that COULD be hereditary. I would stick to your guns if I were you. As long as LO is healthy and doing well, there is no reason to rush. Good luck!
Some other things to consider:
You might also go to the birth stories board and look for Panorama99's birth story. She had a "natural" induction of sorts on March 10th that had good results. May give you some ideas to discuss with your doula.
Also, my doula and I have discussed the possiility of my body not going into labor before 42 weeks. This is what she suggested: foley catheter instead of cervadil which can get you to 3cm. Then starting pit at a VERY low dose. It will take longer this way so the drs won't love the idea but the contractions will be more managable. Once the ctx get to a good speed, asking them to turn off the pit and see if my body will take over. Overall, remember, YOU are the patient and your care is up to you. As long as your baby is doing well, there is no reason to not push for what you want.
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