Unexpected membrane sweep

Southern Belle Kathy · December 2011

Had my weekly check-up yesterday and while she was checking my cervix, she swept my membranes. All I can say is, that is NOT for the faint of heart. I almost threw up. Cervix is soft and starting to dilate. If nothing happens in the next week, we will be scheduling the induction for the week between Christmas and New Year's! Woo hoo! Guess I need to pack my hospital bag!

VABride2008 · December 2011

You aren't even full term yet (according to ticker). Why did she do that and did you ask for her to do it? I would be pissed if I didn't request it and they just did it.

Luvvy1 · December 2011

I agree, you aren't even term yet. What was the motivation behind that?

spolan · December 2011

VABride2008:
You aren't even full term yet (according to ticker). Why did she do that and did you ask for her to do it? I would be pissed if I didn't request it and they just did it.

Some doctors consider full term to be 36 weeks and there are also circumstances where an earlier labor is preferable.

Southern Belle Kathy · December 2011

VABride2008:
You aren't even full term yet (according to ticker). Why did she do that and did you ask for her to do it? I would be pissed if I didn't request it and they just did it.

According to my calculations, I'm full-term tomorrow, but according to theirs, I was yesterday. I went two weeks over with DD and had a very traumatic and complicated delivery. We are avoiding that this time by shooting for between 38-39 weeks. She's the doc who delivered DD (and a personal friend) and she wants to avoid the same situation from happening. My induction last time took 3 days. I didn't ask her to do it, but I'm glad she did. Just really hurt and made me nauseated.

Huahine · December 2011

Did she ask first?

Southern Belle Kathy · December 2011

spolan:

VABride2008:
You aren't even full term yet (according to ticker). Why did she do that and did you ask for her to do it? I would be pissed if I didn't request it and they just did it.

Some doctors consider full term to be 36 weeks and there are also circumstances where an earlier labor is preferable.

Amen, sister. This baby's head is already almost 10 cm. I have a narrow pelvic arch. Hope to not have to use vacuum this time. I have big babies.

J&JSuiter070205 · December 2011

Why in the world would she sweep your membranes at 36w? My OB won't even consider it until 37 or 38w and only if you're already progressing a little on your own. And to top it off; without your permission?! I would change doctors.

ON a side note: I only found it to be mildly irritating; it was not painful at all.

Southern Belle Kathy · December 2011

J&JSuiter070205:

Why in the world would she sweep your membranes at 36w? My OB won't even consider it until 37 or 38w and only if you're already progressing a little on your own. And to top it off; without your permission?! I would change doctors.

ON a side note: I only found it to be mildly irritating; it was not painful at all.

Please see responses above. 37 weeks, I was already progressing, medically indicated in my case. I just wasn't expecting it and didn't know it would be that painful.

Huahine · December 2011

It isn't the earliness of it that bothers me (as a GD mom who will be risked out of her birth center if I don't deliver by my EDD, I totally get the desire to try to move things along when medically indicated), rather it is the lack of consent. I know you are okay with it, but the idea that someone would do any medical procedure to me without my express consent really bothers me. It shows a lack of respect for you. And if you are her friend, how does she treat patients that she isn't close to?

PsyDr04 · December 2011

I had a doctor's appt yesterday and my doc was out so I had to see one of the other docs. He did the Strep B swab and then said he was going to check to see if I was dilated. I don't know what he did, but it hurt really bad. How do you know if they are sweeping your membranes versus just checking for dilation (or is that the same thing?). He didn't ask me if he could check me, just said he was going to. After I got home, I was pissed because I don't think my regular doc would have checked me at all and there is no reason I needed to be checked in my opinion because I haven't had any early contractions or any complications at all. All I know is I would like to avoid that as much as possible in the future because it hurt like a mo-fo and I consider myself someone who has a relatively high pain threshhold.

DEBBIE33CASEY · December 2011

my OB won't swipe your membranes until your 40 weeks and he did it for me with DD when I was 39w5d and I remember it hurting quite a bit, too! I was cramping for HOURS afterwards. Too bad she didn't give you a warning!!! My OB did the sweep with one hand and let me squeeze his other hand. I also remember needing a pad afterwards b/c it made me bleed a little.

Hopefully for you it gets things going! Unfortunately for me I didn't deliver until nearly 5 days afterwards so it was kinda pointless for me! lol

talitha712 · December 2011

PsyDr04:
I had a doctor's appt yesterday and my doc was out so I had to see one of the other docs. He did the Strep B swab and then said he was going to check to see if I was dilated. I don't know what he did, but it hurt really bad. How do you know if they are sweeping your membranes versus just checking for dilation (or is that the same thing?). He didn't ask me if he could check me, just said he was going to. After I got home, I was pissed because I don't think my regular doc would have checked me at all and there is no reason I needed to be checked in my opinion because I haven't had any early contractions or any complications at all. All I know is I would like to avoid that as much as possible in the future because it hurt like a mo-fo and I consider myself someone who has a relatively high pain threshhold.

Cervical checks hurt, particularly if your cervix hasn't started moving forward yet. I've been checked 4 times now (2 in L&D and 2 by my doc). My doc said that it doesn't hurt as badly as your cervix softens and moves forward more. And many doctors start checking at 36w. I know that's the norm at my office, so even if I hadn't been having contractions at 34w, I would have been checked this week at my 36w appointment anyway.

PsyDr04 · December 2011

talitha712:

Cervical checks hurt, particularly if your cervix hasn't started moving forward yet. I've been checked 4 times now (2 in L&D and 2 by my doc). My doc said that it doesn't hurt as badly as your cervix softens and moves forward more.

This is good to know. Maybe it won't hurt so bad the next time it has to be done.

Want a personalized experience?

Unexpected membrane sweep

Re: Unexpected membrane sweep

Choose Another Board

Search Boards