June 2016 Moms

Membrane Sweep - did it work for anyone?

Hi there!  Just had my doc. appointment for my 38 week check up this morning (I'm 38w1d), and he said he "stripped my membranes a little" during my cervical exam.  I have been pretty sick and crabby feeling the past few days, so I'm really hoping to go into labor soon.  I am about 2 CM dilated, been having on and off contractions for weeks, I'm completely thinned out, and my cervix is in the anterior position.  My doctor says my cervix is looking great and I should go into labor on my own some time soon (hopefully no medical induction), and that once I go into actual labor it should go pretty quickly. 

I know that the membrane sweep doesn't always work, but is more likely to work if your cervix is "ready" or "ripe".  Has anyone in a situation similar to mine had the membrane thing work and send them into labor?  So far, I've just had irregular contractions on and off and feeling extra crampy, but hoping for more! 
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Re: Membrane Sweep - did it work for anyone?

  • I had mine stripped at 40 weeks with my second and had him two days later. 


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  • Just had mine done today, 39+3. Here's hoping...
  • I had mine stripe at 40 weeks with my second, and she was born the next day. 
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  • With DS I had mine stripped at 40w2d, went into labor 40w3d, had DS early in the morning 40w4d.  I will be asking my dr to do it again at my appt on Friday.
  • My doctor swept my membranes when I went in for my 38 week appointment, but I was already 4 cm dilated. That was at noon, and I was admitted to the hospital at 6 pm and had my son by 2 am. So it seems like it did help, but there's no way to know for sure whether or not the wheels were already in motion and it would have happened anyway.
    TTC#1 since May 2011

    BFP #1 June 2011 m/c@6wks

    BFP #2 December 2011, EDD 8/21/12, born 7/21/12 at 35w4d

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    BFP #3 October 6, 2015. WHAT???

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  • Update: 10 hrs after the membrane stripping my body has had less contractions today then it has the last several. Lol!
  • Tawny87 said:
    Update: 10 hrs after the membrane stripping my body has had less contractions today then it has the last several. Lol!



    Stupid box. Your body is taking a break before the big show. That's my hope for you!
  • Thats what my SIL said too lol. Here's hoping.... It would be nice one of the really awesome Dr's I like who also assisted in my twins section is on call for thurs and fri so I totally would not be sad if it happened. Plus my hubby told me "it would be convenient if I waited til this weekend." WTH!!!
  • I went into labor a few days after a membrane sweep that took place at 40w 3d. But who's to say it was thanks to the sweep? 
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  • I wasn't dilated at all but it made no difference with my son and my OB did it a couple of times!
  • This may or may not help but my Mother had her membrane stripped (28 years ago at a military hospital because they confused her charts with another persons) twice and went into labor on her own two weeks later. To this day she doesn't think it helped. 
    Me: 30     DH:32
    Married: 12/16/12
    TTC #1: 06/15  BFP #1:07/13/15
    D&C: 08/28/15
    BFP #2: 09/26/15
    M: 06/03/16
    BFP #2: 02/12/18 
    L : 7/26/18 (SIUGR, micropreemie)






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  • dom20dom20 member
    I had mine stripped multiple times during both of my previous pregnancies.  Didn't do anything for me.  Hope you have better luck. 
    Wife to B-2008 Mom to O-2009 Secondary infertility BabyFruit Ticker BabyFetus Ticker
  • Sadly, it did not work for me at all. I had my membranes stripped maybe 5-6x between week 38 and week 42. It did trigger some cramping and contractions, but I eventually had to be induced. I do think it's worth a try!! It really does work for some people.
  • I personally don't think it's worth it.  I had it done twice last time and I went into labor naturally almost three days after the second one so I doubt that was it.  I think if your body and baby are ready to go into labor it will "work," but you probably would go into labor soon anyway.  Plus it's really uncomfortable and I don't need any unnecessary discomfort at this stage of pregnancy haha.
  • Secondary update: had my show this morning so maybe it did something? Who knows lol!
  • I had it done with  2 of my pregnancies. I had them both whit in 20-48 hrs. Good luck I hope your lo is born soon! 
  • Tawny87 said:
    Secondary update: had my show this morning so maybe it did something? Who knows lol!
    Isn't it common to have some bleeding after a sweep or stretch? Could have been that too. 
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  • Tawny87 said:
    Secondary update: had my show this morning so maybe it did something? Who knows lol!
    Isn't it common to have some bleeding after a sweep or stretch? Could have been that too. 
    I had some bleeding for a few hours after the procedure yesterday and this morning I had the plug with both light colored blood and dark left over from yesterday.
  • I had my membrane swept at 9am. Baby arrived at 7:30 this evening. I was already 4 cm but to quote my husband, "she pushed the magic button" ...
  • My midwife won't sweep membranes for 1st time mom's so I won't get to see if it works for me. 
  • my ob did a membrane sweep yesterday, at my 40 week appointment for the first time. 
    I was 3 cm dilated, 80% effaced.
    my sweep was at 9:45 am, went into full blown labor by 1ish pm, had my baby by 5 pm. 
    very successful for me! 
  • With my first, I had a sweep at 40w, 6 days and my water broke less than 12 hours later. I had been dilated to 1.5 cm since 37 weeks, so for me it seemed to finally get things moving more. I'll be asking for a sweep this time if nothing's happened after 40 weeks
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    BFP #1: 10/25/13. EDD: 06/18/14. Confirmed MC: 11/06/13.

    BFP #2: 3/31/14. EDD: 12/2/14 Born: 12/9/14

    BFP #3: 10/5/15 EDD: 6/10/16 Born: 6/13/16

    BFP #4: 8/20/15 EDD: 4/26/18
  • Had one on Friday (2 cm dilated, 70% effaced). Still pregnant. 
  • My first one never worked last week at 39+3, I'm going to ask her to do another at my appt tomorrow at 40+3. If it doesn't work then I will be induced Friday.
  • edited June 2016
    I'm 1 cm 80% effaced and they did a membrane sweep today (40w5d) at 12 pm. So far I've had some light cramping and spotting. They told me to come home, have sex and then lay down for a long time. Did all of the above and nothing major, ugh...
  • Had one done at my appt today. 38+1, 3cm dialated, 80% effaced, -1. She suggested I go home and try nipple stimulation, 15 min on each breast for an hour total, up to 3x per day. We shall see!
    DH + Me 12/2011
    DD 3/2012
    Baby on the way June 2016 :)

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  • I haven't made any progress since my appt last week (39w1d today) so I asked my dr if there is anything we could be doing, all she said was "Orgasms!" I had to laugh, sure doc, we'll give it the ole college try :p
  • Got got back from my 41 week appt and she did a sweep.  Honestly not as bad as I thought.  I was only 1 cm but it was enough for her to do her thing. Hopefully this works.
  • I haven't made any progress since my appt last week (39w1d today) so I asked my dr if there is anything we could be doing, all she said was "Orgasms!" I had to laugh, sure doc, we'll give it the ole college try :p
    Are all orgasms created equal? I was just reading about sperm and how they contain something that helps bring on contractions. But I'd also heard female orgasms are good because your body naturally contracts when you orgasm. Sooooo do I HAVE to have sex, is solo gonna work, or should I just grab my husband when we both get home from work and get it done?
  • I'm always self conscious about still having residual sperm when I go for doctor appointments. Anyone else?
    DD1: June '16 DD2: March ‘19 :::: Married since 2011 :::: USN Wife ::::
  • I am 38+3 and have been 1cm dilated for the past 3 weeks. My doctor says if no change by next week she can "stretch the cervix" but it would be painful. I'm not sure if this is the same as the membrane sweep though. Anyone have any experience?
  • adiaz132003adiaz132003 member
    edited June 2016
    yoshi1230 said:
    I am 38+3 and have been 1cm dilated for the past 3 weeks. My doctor says if no change by next week she can "stretch the cervix" but it would be painful. I'm not sure if this is the same as the membrane sweep though. Anyone have any experience?
    I think it's similar.  I was only 1 cm today and the only part that hurt for me was her pushing against me to try and reach all the way back to the cervix.  But when she started stretching and sweeping it just felt like pressure. Every person is different though.

    Eta:. She also told me it would "be uncomfortable" and she was surprised when I said the strech itself didn't hurt.  She was happy though, they don't want us to hurt of course. Lol 
  • @adiaz132003 perfect explanation! Exactly what I have read other places. So both solo and co-effort it is. Sounds much more enjoyable than walking 3 miles a day.  :-P
  • @adiaz132003 perfect explanation! Exactly what I have read other places. So both solo and co-effort it is. Sounds much more enjoyable than walking 3 miles a day.  :-P

    Omg right?  I'd much rather lay there and let hubby do all the work than trying to go for walks when I feel like a bowling ball is hanging out of my hoo-ha.  
  • yoshi1230 said:
    I am 38+3 and have been 1cm dilated for the past 3 weeks. My doctor says if no change by next week she can "stretch the cervix" but it would be painful. I'm not sure if this is the same as the membrane sweep though. Anyone have any experience?
    Sweeping the membranes is generally done inside the cervix where the waters are lifted away from the side of the uterus slightly decreasing support and encouraging engagement.

    Stretching the cervix is usually done by gently applying pressure in the dilation area (feels like a rubber band) to encourage it to widen. They may do this if your bag isn't low enough to reach for a sweep. So slightly different but similar outcomes and you may even have both.
  • 8 hrs after my second membrane sweeping and nothing to report. 
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