Stripping membranes experience?

carrieandtim · February 2014

We had our 36w appointment yesterday and we discussed with our doctor his thoughts about waiting for labor naturally, inducing, or a selective c-section with this possibly bigger baby. I'd like to go the natural route - meaning in this context, to wait for my water breaking/contractions to start on their own. But I'm nervous. With DD, born at 39w2d and at 7 lb. 9 oz. (after an 8 hour water breaking naturally to baby in our arms labor), I had extensive tearing and lots of blood loss. My recovery was long and difficult. I'm of course willing to go through that again for a healthy and safe arrival of baby, but I'm nervous of the unknown with a bigger baby. At 32w, baby measured at least 2 weeks ahead with an estimated 90%ile in weight at birth - 9ish lbs. (I know that can be off by 2 lbs.) He told us that if my strep B test comes back negative, and I am showing some signs of dilation, he'd be ok with stripping my membranes at 39 weeks. I'd just like to hear opinions, experiences, and/or advice from you about stripping membranes. Shame on me, I googled it, and now I'm on the fence about it.

tinkiewinkie · February 2014

My hubs was to deploy on my due date with DD and so I had my membranes stripped at 38wks to get the ball rolling. I lost my mucus plug a day later and I remember feeling contractions on and off. I was still induced about a week later because it didn't work (I read that if it works you will go into labor within 3 days). In my opinion, getting your membranes stripped is NBD. It hurts but it's not a for sure thing. This time around I am letting bake as long as he needs to no matter what size he is. My daughter was 7lbs 6oz and I tore terribly as well. I figure it's just going to happen and to mentally prepare myself.

kelley72 · February 2014

I have never had it done, but by 39 wks I would feel very comfortable with the dr attempting it. It may assist if your cervix is favorable, but it just as easily may do nothing except cause a little cramping/bleeding. I wouldn't overly worry myself about the size of lo if I were you. First, ultrasounds are known for having errors of considerable amount at the end bc it is too cramped to get reliable measurements. Trust in your body! Best wishes for a great labor and healthy baby!

Renik20 · February 2014

I had it twice. Once on the Monday (DS was born on Saturday), and once on Friday night. They are uncomfortable, but not major pain...just feels like the doc poking around up there, lol. You have minor spotting, a little achiness up there, but nbd. After the first strip, I was 2cm; after the second, I think I must've started early labour, but nothing hurt until 4:30pm on Saturday, and he was born at 9:36pm! I say go for it...DS was also 8lbs 14oz...and that was big enough for me!

Brittlamarche · February 2014

My dr tried stripping my membranes with my son at around 38 weeks. It doesn't work very well if you aren't starting to dilate tho. The first 2 times she tried I was hardly a 1. Then I went a third time at 39weeks+3days and she was able to do a better job that time. Hurt like hell. I went about my day normally and my water broke the very next morning. But I wasn't getting many contractions. It took 2 cervix ripening pills, pitocin, and a peanut ball to get my son out after 27 hours from water breaking to birth. All was vaginal, no c section which was great and minimal tearing. I would say go for the membrane thing but make sure you are dilated enough for it. My dr was just trying to keep us out of the hospital over thanksgiving.

[Deleted User] · February 2014

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jwls84 · February 2014

I had mine swept on my due ( my doc won't do it any earlier than 40w).
It didn't hurt and I went into labour a few days later, not sure if it had anything to do with the sweep or not.

LaurenAsh23 · February 2014

Thanks for posting this. I'm set to be induced between 39-40 weeks because of my blood pressure. I'm hoping to try some other ways to get the ball rolling before I have to go to the hospital to be induced, this was one I hadn't thought much about

parenthood4 · February 2014

I had mine done at 39 weeks 4 days. I had it done around 10 that morning, was kind of crampy, went into labor at 5, and he was born at 10:38pm.

I've read that it has results about 50% of the time, and my understanding is that it really only works if your body is ready. Before I had it done, I was 3 cm, 75% effaced, and he was at -1. So I think it worked and worked so quickly for me because my body was ready to go.

cawettig · February 2014

I had it done with my first dd, the dr did it, slightly uncomfortable but tolerable. When the dr did it my dd raised her head up out of the way then rammed her head back onto the dr during the sweep! Dd did not like it! The dr was surprised of he reaction lol. I went into labor that evening after walking around all day and doing errands. My first dd we did it at 38 weeks, I was dilated but I don't remember how dilated I was.

My first son was 10 lbs with a huge head, the labour was horrible, he had a lot of decels because of how much distress he was having with how big he was. All of my pregnancies I measure big, they are always over the 90%. (Except my angel but that was from her omphalocele). They never did a growth scan with my first and with my fundal measurement and my appearance they estimated him to be between 6-7 lbs. Due to all the distress my first son was we try to plan on having the baby between 38-39 weeks.

This lo we are going to have my membranes stripped at 38 weeks (if I make it that far). We are hoping that with the membrane stripping, nipple stimulation, walking and possibly sex (I can't even remember the last time dh and I did the deed) that we will not need a chemical induction.

jh&kh · February 2014

With DD I had been 2cms dilated since 36 weeks, no change at every appointment. At 39 weeks I had my membranes stripped and it was VERY painful for me. Nothing changed, no spotting, no Braxton hicks (I didn't have any all pregnancy). At 39 +6 I started having some contractions, my water broke on its own and I delivered her on her due date!

Aturl · February 2014

I had it done with both of my previous babies and went into labor the same day with both, but I hear that's uncommon.

carrieandtim · February 2014

Wow. So many different experiences! Thank you for taking the time to post. It sounds like it works if your body is ready...which makes sense. I guess the more I think about it, even with stripping my membranes, I'm not guaranteed a delivery without extensive tearing and/or blood loss.

bunniekrissy · February 2014

I was supposed to be induced at 38w3d for hypertension. I had my membranes stripped at 37w3d and 37w6d. After both times, I had lots of cramping and increased BH contractions the rest of the afternoon/evening, but they were gone by the next morning. Then the night of 38w2d after I went to bed, around 2 am, I woke up with contractions that felt real and continued regularly through the next day. I am sure it was real labor, but I do not know how long it would have taken to really pick up as I was augmented with Pitocin at midnight that night anyway since it wasn't really kicking into gear the way they wanted.

DH and I also had lots of sex when I was 37w until I went into labor and that triggered contractions as well.

There is a risk of your water accidentally being broken during stripping membranes, which would put you on the clock for delivery, but if faced with a possible induction I'd do it again.

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