Membrane Stripping....Any success?

runningmango · October 2012

Went for my apt today and I'm only 1cm dilated...due date is Monday and I haven't had any contractions yet either. Dr decided to strip the membranes and see if that helps. Next apt is Wed morning and we'll re-evaluate then if I haven't gone into labor yet.

I've heard this can often help speed things up dramatically, so I'm hopeful but I also want to be realistic.

Is anyone else having this done or have you already done it and had success or no results?

BronzeMama · October 2012

no advice but i do wonder why they decide to strip membranes for some and not others. i'm 2 cm and no such stripping was even mentioned. they were like, "if baby doesn't arrive by next Tuesday, we'll talk induction."

tatercater · October 2012

I'm also due on Monday and was only 1cm dilated at my appointment this past Mon. My dr did a membrane sweep, and I'm not sure if it did anything, but I did start having contractions here and there (nothing timeable) and this morning I lost my MP.

Not sure if I attribute losing MP to the membrane stripping or the long walk I took last night, but maybe it means something!

goldengirl84 · October 2012

I had it done at 40w4d. I was 3cm, 80percent, -1 station so you would think it would have worked but all it did was give me horrible cramps the rest of the day. I knew it wasn't labor because it was just constant pain and the cramps weren't intensifying. All I could do was lie down on the couch. That was 2 days ago and I'm still pregnant. Being induced in the morning. If you have it done I hope it works for you!

alyson686 · October 2012

I had it done with DS and went into labor within 24 hours, but I was already 3 to 4cm and pretty much fully effaced.

lady dixneuf · October 2012

I know it worked when they did it to my SD's BM but she was already 40w +10 days (yes TEN) so I mean, she was ready anyway.

cgelfuso · October 2012

I had it done yesterday and I'm 4cm AND 75% effaced and it caused some frequent contractions and lots of bleeding but than the contractions slowed down and now I am only getting them every 30min or so instead of every 5 like this morning. I was pretty bummed that it hasn't worked. I only have 4 days til my due date but it feels like I will be prego forever! Good luck!

danienross · October 2012

I had it done at 39 and 40wks with DD. It didn't do much. I was still induced at 40wks5days.
I had it done last week but again I don't think it did much. We'll see today if I've made progress. I won't consider it again until 41wks.

StefanieM522 · October 2012

I had mine stripped at my apt on Tuesday. I am now overdue by 1 day and still not feling any contractions, I am starting to loose my MP but that could be because I am already over due and not from the stripped membranes. My doctor told me that if baby is ready it will help start labor but that it does not always work. I have been dialates to 3cm with 95% enfacement for 3 weeks and still waiting. I go to be induced on Oct 19. Hope that it works for you.

Alaskamom1 · October 2012

I was lucky with mine. I went into the hospital with 4min apart contractions diliated to a 3, baby in a +1 and I was already fully effaced and had been contracting for a week. My Dr did an internal check and 15 minutes later my water broke. I asked her if she did the membrane sweep because I heard it could be very painful and she's like "Yep. You both needed just a little push." Baby was born almost 9 hours later!! For me it just felt like an internal exam - no pain at all! But then again...I was already kinda laboring!

jeng507 · October 2012

I'm due tomorrow and I am also only 1cm and 70%....my Dr said we CAN induce this monday but she would rather wait till next saturday the 20th (so 8 days after my due date) in order to give me more time to possibly go on my own. I broke down in tears! I know another week isn't that long, but it just feels like this is never going to happen!! But nothing was said about stripping of membranes. I have had a couple friends have that done and it didn't really do much, but good luck!