38 week appointment..stripping membranes????

drewbon13 · February 2012

So DH and I went in for my 38 week appointment Friday. I wasn't expecting it to be much more than a Q and A session, since we did the GBS test last week. Well we go into the room and the nurse was asking me "Ok, so we're checking to see if you're dilated right? Did you ask for that last time?" I was confused because I didn't ask anything about it and the doc hadn't said anything, so the nurse had me wait to get undressed until the doc came in.

When she came in she said that at this appointment they check for dilation and they strip the membranes, which had me a little bit anxious because I didn't remember her bringing this up at all. I thought that stripping membranes was a way to induce labor, and I'm only 38 weeks! My ob said that them stripping the membranes on average makes pregnancy last three days less than women who don't have them stripped.

I declined having the membranes stripped but DH wanted to see if I was dilated, so we went ahead and had her check. Boy, I guess I wasn't expecting her to have to shove so far up in there to check! It was definitely uncomfortable and I wasn't prepared for it. But it looks like I'm 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced so far.

After the appointment I had some minor bleeding for the rest of the day (turned more brown later on) and all of today I've been losing my mucus plug. Part of me was all paranoid and thinking "Oh no, my OB must have accidentally stripped something while she was in there and now I'm losing my mucus plug!" haha.

Has anyone else had their membranes stripped? I guess I'm confused as to why they wanted to do it at 38 weeks, because I thought this generally starts labor.

zubenescamali · February 2012

sounds like an inpatient OB to me. it also sounds like if doc had to reach that far up to feel your cervix, you are definitely not ready for a membrane sweep. some docs are rougher than others, and spotting can be normal afterwards. if it felt like she was digging around though then she probably did strip you and just not tell you. they can do it as long as you are dilated and for most it does just feel like a very rough exam.

fwiw, my midwife checked me on friday with my GBS screen, and it was painless. i think she was mostly checking softness and baby position though.

nmdeskins · February 2012

I had my 38 week appointment this past Wednesday. I asked my doctor if he could strip my membranes (I had them stripped at 38 weeks with our first daughter). He gave me an internal and said that although I was dialated to a two and 30% effaced, my uterus was still posterior so stripping my membranes wouldn't do all that much and he definitely didn't want to put me in pain for nothing.

Before I saw my doctor, I was talking to the nurse about possibly stripping my membranes. She mentioned that when my OB strips a woman's membranes, she usually leaves crying, but going into labor 1-2 days later. I'm not a big fan on the pain part, but was definitely ok with the fact that LO could be here so quickly!

Oh, and with our first, my membranes were stripped twice. Once at 38 weeks and once at 39 weeks. DD didn't arrive until 40 weeks (on her due date). So, I guess it all depends on how ready your body is and how good your OB is at getting the process started. Hope things happen quickly for you! And if you think about it, send good vibes to me on Wednesday so I'm progressed far enough along to strip my membranes and get LO out! Best of luck to you!

Sawyerplus1 · February 2012

nmdeskins:

She mentioned that when my OB strips a woman's membranes, she usually leaves crying, but going into labor 1-2 days later. I'm not a big fan on the pain part, but was definitely ok with the fact that LO could be here so quickly!

Ay yi yi! I know it can be uncomfortable but I really dont think it should hurt enough to reduce a woman to tears! I had my membranes stripped at 40w 5 d with DS and it didn't hurt at all (and MW stretched me from 2 cm to 4). I was in labor the next day.

I had my membranes stripped again with DD at around 39 weeks and it did nothing.

OP, I agree with above poster that it sounds like you have an impatient OB. I would not be comfortable at all with an OB that made stripping at 38 weeks a routine procedure.

bellelamb · February 2012

With my last son I had an internal at 38 weeks that sounded a lot like what you were describing and the dr did not strip my membranes. Then at 39 weeks had an internal with membranes being stripped, then again at 40 weeks, then at 40 weeks 2 days the same thing, then at 40 weeks 4day my water broke and I had ds. Basically it can help get things going if your body is ready other wise it doesn't do much.

drewbon13 · February 2012

Yikes! Thanks for the opinions ladies. That makes me a little nervous about my OB haha

susie1079 · February 2012

I've only heard of having your membranes stripped if you are PAST your due date. At 38 weeks my OB did check if I was dilated (I wasn't), but he wasn't too concerned either way. Sure enough I lost my MP the same time as my water broke and had zero dilation prior. So it all happened naturally at once on my due date!

manning15j · February 2012

My SIL had her membrane stipped on Friday morning, she was 38 weeks and she went into labor at 2am on Sat morning. She had the baby by 2pm, so I think the membrane stripping does induce labor.

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38 week appointment..stripping membranes????

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