Membrane Stripping?

[cristineschilling]

Hi,
My husband and I are doing an unassisted home birth. My due date, although inaccurate, is March 3rd. So at 38 weeks and 4 days pregnant with my second child, I am 3 1/2 cm, 70% effaced and have been having contractions that start and stop for a few days/nights. SO...yesterday a midwife stripped my membranes. I am wondering what the effectiveness of this procedure is, in bringing on labor, and when it usually starts? Any stories?

Thanks
Cristine

[amberskyfire]

Membrane stripping will only have an effect if you are ready to go into labor, so really it isn't necessary and can sometimes be harmful. I don't mean to scare you, just info for future reference. It doesn't really cause you to go into labor, but can sometimes speed things up.

Just get plenty of rest, don't stress yourself, and wait for baby to come when he or she is ready

[chase_mommy]

My OB did mine when I was pregnant with my first. I was dilated 3cm and 80% effaced too. I didn't go into labor until one week later. I agree with PP, baby will come when ready.

[pumpkinhead]

I had mine stripped twice and neither did anything at all except give me cramping and bleeding. I also blame it for the post partum uterine infection I suffered through, but I have no direct evidence of that.

I was 4 cm dialated and 75-80% effaced for more than 3 weeks. No one could believe I didn't just go into labour, but I didn't. My ds1 was born at 42 weeks + 6 days.

[KristaDJ]

IMO ineffective and very risky. Babies come when they are ready for a reason, hurrying it along can cause cord issues and malposition. You're not even 39wks, mama, baby may need several more weeks in there.

[mwright]

I would avoid membrane stripping, especially before baby's due date. I was uninformed and had my midwife start stripping my membranes at 37 weeks (actually, she offered and suggested I do it). At 40 weeks, I had it done again, caused lots of bleeding and the next morning my waters broke. Dd was in a bad position and to make a long story short, I ended up transfering and a c-section. I regret that choice for the rest of my life.

[jessica_anne010]

Originally Posted by cristineschilling

have been having contractions that start and stop for a few days/nights.

I'd be willing to bet that the reason why you are having so much prodomal labor is because your baby is NOT in a good position for labor and your uterus is trying to turn him or her. Take it from me I've had 4 malpositioned babies, 1 ended in horrible back labor and 2 ended in c-sections. My VBAC baby was breech oblique (confirmed by u/s) at 40 weeks, had been having all kinds of contractions for 2-3 weeks. Continued to have all kinds of contractions for the next 2 weeks until I actually went into labor. She ended up in a perfect position. Try hands and knees stuff, check out spinningbabies.com to get some ideas about what position your baby might be in and how to help him or her get into a better one. Inducing at this point would be a very bad idea.

Good luck!

[AustinMom]

It doesn't sound like you are getting too many supporters on membrane stripping, but I wanted to let you know, I did go into labor a few hrs after mine were stripped, but that was with a MW tincture, and breast pumping. I also had bouts of labor here and there, was dilated to 4, and effaced to 80%. I believe the stripping of the membranes is what caused baby's head to turn acynclitic, so that was a pain in the....well everywhere, and we ended up with a cesarean.

Make sure, make sure, make sure, if you labor is stalled, prolonged, or whatever to do all the baby rotating things you can. Pelvic floor release, lunging, stair stepping, figure eights with your hips, other belly dance moves, belly lifting, hands and knees with someone rubbing your belly/baby to turn, change positions frequently, etc.

Happy Birthing, I do hope the membrane stripping did help your labor, and not cause any of the "side effects" it can have.

[cathicog]

If you were 38.4 on a pregnancy wheel, then you are actually only 36.4 gestationally, since the wheel counts the two weeks before you ovulate as part of the pregnancy. fwiw, I would leave well enough alone, don't do stripping anymore(can cause infection) and just wait the extra 2-4 weeks until bubs gets there....it will give your body a chance to get baby in a better position, and will probably avoid a long wonky labor. I second the suggestions of spinningbabies.com, excellent stuff...If you are worried about a big baby, I have seen 12 lbers born at home, no problems...but its better if they are smaller, like around 9 or less...

[SoCaliMommy]

It will only work if your body is ready for labor.

I had it done with my son and a few days later went into labor, prior to the stripping i was already starting to loose my mucus plug.

[KristaDJ]

That is not true. It can cause premature rupture of membranes and when that is done by something inside the vagina that puts you on a time table as to when you need to get baby out. Also whether or not your body is ready for labor is pretty irrelevant, your baby will start labor when his/her body is ready and that is what really matters for a safe delivery and healthy baby.

[MsBlack]

Originally Posted by cathicog

If you were 38.4 on a pregnancy wheel, then you are actually only 36.4 gestationally, since the wheel counts the two weeks before you ovulate as part of the pregnancy.

Yes, this is true enough--however: the '40 wks calendar' of pregnancy (10 Moons) is designed with this in mind. Pregnancy is understood as 40wks from start of last cycle to birth (with a 3wk or so variation on either side, of course); this means that the 'average length of gestation' is in fact 38wks from conception.

Just to say that while your statement is true, Cathicog, it is not exactly relevant. The OP would still be considered 38+ wks pregnant.

hope this makes sense

[cathicog]

Originally Posted by MsBlack

Yes, this is true enough--however: the '40 wks calendar' of pregnancy (10 Moons) is designed with this in mind. Pregnancy is understood as 40wks from start of last cycle to birth (with a 3wk or so variation on either side, of course); this means that the 'average length of gestation' is in fact 38wks from conception.

Just to say that while your statement is true, Cathicog, it is not exactly relevant. The OP would still be considered 38+ wks pregnant.

hope this makes sense

Oh, OK. I wasn't sure that was taken into consideration when the wheels were created(just figured it was some OB's way of convincing most women to induce... ). Thanks, MsBlack, I learn tons from your posts!

[McMandy]

I feel membrane stripping is very risky- allow me to explain.

Some will say it is ineffective, but this is not always the case.

With my first two babies, my membranes were stripped and I went into labor sooner than I would have had it not happened. (It can take up to a week sometimes for this to really "take effect".. but sometimes it only takes a day.)

This jump starts "labor", but sometimes not in a good way. I truly believe that, in most cases (except extreme cases, of course) we need to just allow our body to birth when it is ready. The body has a delicate domino effect of hormones- and by trying to speed that up unnaturally can cause other issues.

At the very least, it can make for a longer, more uncomfortable labor because your water has broken too soon and is gushing out because the baby has not moved down far enough.

I learned with our 3rd child that it is OKAY to go over 39 weeks. SO many people are in a hurry to have their babies- or the doctors and midwives are in a hurry- and they begin trying to induce labor in some form or another at 37, 38, or 39 weeks. I went over 41 weeks by a few days, and my labor was so quick and easy- it was absolutely wonderful.

I wish I would have known then what I know now- it would have saved me some long and exhausting labors I suspect.

Just my own point of view.