Shall I OK Stripping of membranes?

[sandrajoon]

Whats the word on stripping of membranes? I am 36+ weeks with #2, hoping to VBAC after CPD with #1, and my OB wants to strip membranes next week. I am leary. Went into spontaneous labour at 39 weeks with DD, so expect to do the same or so with this new babe. Why fiddle? What are the risks and benefits?
TIA for any info you can share...
Sandra

[Marsupialmom]

I agree with you, at this point I would not fiddle. There is no medical indication on why you should try stripping your membranes. My third child came 13 days past my due date and we were considering it if I did not go into labor spontaneously. At this point there does not seem like any reason for you to try to move it along.

Stripping the membranes can introduce germs to the area. If you are strep positive you should be more leery of this (and all vaginal exams).

If there is medical indications, high blood pressure, eclampsia, no/low amniotic fluid, et then it should be "considered" for first attempt to get labor going.

Another risk is possible breaking the waters.

Again weighing individual risk and medical issues is important.

I know in my situation with my third child the risk of stripping membranes could have been worth it to avoid pit and/or other more intrusive induction procedures. It was the least invassive. Also, if I would of had it done it would of been at the doctors office and I would go home after.

[DreamsInDigital]

There are practically no benefits of stripping the membranes, and at this point you are risking a rupture before you're ready, or the possibility of an infection. I'd say no if I were you.

[Quirky]

I definitely would not do it at your point. I agreed to 3 strip and sweeps over the course of a week....but I was 42 weeks and about to be kicked out of my birth center if I didn't get labor going. In my case, it was the least invasive method when other very gentle techniques hadn't worked, but my alternative was a hospital induction.

If your waters rupture, or it works and labor starts, you are looking at delivering a 37 week baby....and that baby may not be ready to be born! It's basically an induction by any other name.

Does your doctor want to induce now because he thinks that the head might be too big since you had CPD last time? Do heads really grow that much in the last 3 weeks? How did you labor last time, and how did you get a diagnosis of CPD?

[Rachelsmom]

I had a hospital VBAC on 2-6-03 (almost one year!). My midwife did strip my membranes. I was already in early labor (about 3cm) and that kind of moved things along. I wouldn't recomend it because it was really uncomfortable, if not painful but I believe she wanted it done because I was her first VBAC and pretty much the hospital's first and she wanted this just as much as me. She didn't want any interference with the OB or the hospital staff. I did have quite a few interventions (that is why my next will be HBAC) but all in all I had a wonderful birth. But I would NOT recommend it ESPECIALLY if you are not already in labor.

[applejuice]

NO!

[pamamidwife]

Wow, you're only 36 weeks and they're already suggesting this?

Too risky with a baby that age, I would think.