To strip or not to strip, that is the question...

[Mere]

I'm 40 weeks today, and I'm going to see the MW in 3 hours for my regularly scheduled appointment. Last week she said that if I hadn't had the baby yet (obviously that hasn't happened) and IF I was dilated, she could strip my membranes at 40 weeks if I wanted.

Well, here I am. I've been going back and forth a lot. A while ago I was dead set on not doing it, as I'd prefer to have as few interventions and vaginal checks as possible. But now I've gone the other direction and am thinking, well, why not? I'm 40 weeks, if it helps it helps and if not, no big deal. And of course, I'm a little impatient to meet the baby . But then the non-interventionist in me comes back and says, 'what's one more week?' (or two?)

WWYD???

[jbobys]

strip me, strip me now!! i had it done with both my other kids and it had no affect, but at this point ill try anything again!

[sally Z]

i had it done the first time, was uncomfortable but did get things going.
This time having a UC so not an option but i don't think i would do it again to be honest

[adoremybabe]

FWIW I had it done twice and babe still came at 42 weeks and 1 day.

[Shell_Ell]

I had mine stripped last time at 40w3d and went into labor that night. I had a really rough, long 36 hour labor. I always wonder if I would have left things alone if it would have gone differently. DS was OP when we did it.

My midwife this time doesn't do them. But even if she did I don't think I'd opt for it.

[willoLevin]

Maybe base it upon whether or not you usually find pelvic exams quite uncomfortable at this point? If you don't mind them, maybe you will be one who finds the membrane sweep non-painful as well.

Personally, even my GBS swab was quite painful a couple of weeks ago. I wouldn't do a membrane sweep for much of anything, because I am sure it would hurt me and, if it didn't work, that would bum me out.

If I want help along, I will have acupuncture first! The cohoshes are my second choice for self-induction help.

--willo

[mm72873]

Yeap, I would try acupuncture first, inserting evening primrose oil, sex, or the cohoshes...


Mir

[kblackthorne]

Unlike sweeping/stripping, none of the natural methods listed carry the risk of accidentally rupturing the membranes.

And none carry the risk of being "extremely painful" (as I've heard stripping can be, if done poorly).

So, my personal choice is no.

[LandonsMom]

I was already in very early labor when my MW stripped mine last time,...let me tell you IT WAS PAINFUL!!!! It had me crawling back onto the table in an instinctual effort to escape the pain!!! I'd have to be 43 weeks and already tried all other natural methods to allow that agian!!!!

[wombatclay]

I had my membranes stripped twice last time (once at 41 weeks, once at 42 weeks) with no noticable impact. I didn't go into labor until three days after the last membrane sweep.

I had my membranes swept again today (I'm a few days past 40 weeks) and again I don't think it had much impact...

Some mamas find it really painful, others don't. Personally I don't think it's comfortable but it also isn't much worse than the cervical "boinks" I get from my belly babe these days. But then, your care provider IS messing around with your cervix so why on earth would anyone expect it to be comfy? But that's just me.

Anyway, on the down side it does have a slight risk of AROM and infection (since you're inserting something into the vaginal passage and again, pushing against the bag of waters). On the up side it's still pretty non-medical and acts by releasing a one time hormone surge and possibly some manual dilation so if you're not "ready" to go it's not going to force the issue.

My care provider this time mentioned that there are two "types" of sweeps. Most OBs do a "finger inside the cervix" technique that lifts the bag of water off the cervix. Many midwives do a sweep that takes longer (and can be more uncomfy) where instead of putting a finger inside the cervix to lift the membranes they sort of "massage" and pull at the edge of the cervix itself. This apparently has the same basic effect (hormone surge) but is less likely to rupture the membranes or introduce infection.

I know you've already had your appointment and made your decision...but if you do decide on a sweep in the future you might ask about their technique and how often they do sweeps.

But I've been doing a ton of other natural induction stuff as well, and a sweep is something you'd probably want to "ramp up to" since it really is the more medical end of the natural induction spectrum (though personally I find the thought of castor oil or the cohoshes a heck of a lot more risky than a sweep, but that's personal opinion again)

[savvybabygrace]

I think you've already had your appointment, how'd it go and what did you decide?

My mw asked if I was interested, and I firmly said NO. Stripping my membranes with dd#1 led to a slow leak, which led to forced pitocin and rupturing my water, and immediately after that my daughter slipped down a bit more and her umbilical cord became compressed with every contraction (it was around her shoulder - hence the csection). I don't want to repeat that experience, so I'm not letting anyone near me until I'm in labor.

[mrsalf97]

I would not do it. I'll be 40 weeks Tuesday and if I get to 41 then I'll see a chiropractor and an acupuncturist.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

My mw told me that sweeping only really works on first time mom's but I did let her try it with ds. Didnt work just knocked my mucus plug loose. But then I never even felt it when she did it with ds and barly felt when the ob did it with dd. The only thing is with dd I cramped pretty bad for about a hour after. Nothing with ds.

[Mere]

Thanks for all the good advice and info mamas - I didn't do it! Must have patience, must have patience....

I talked with the MW about it though, and she said in her opinion it didn't do that much. She thought IF a woman was ready, it might make them go into labor 24-48 hours earlier, but that's it. A day or two is definitely not worth the risks to me (or the potential discomfort!).

Anyhow, I'll revisit this next week when/if I go in for my 41 week appt...somehow I do need to go into labor before 42 weeks though if I want to birth at the birth center.