Stripping membranes?

[becoming]

I want to hear everything you know about stripping membranes. First-hand experiences, stories, rumors, whatever. How painful is it supposed to be? How effective? Any serious risks associated with it?

I'm thinking of asking my perinatologist to do this today, so I need all the info I can get. I'm leaving for the appointment in a little over an hour.

Thanks in advance!

[~Demeter~]

I had it done with my first and I will say it's quite painful/uncomfortable. It didn't start labor with him at all. My doctor this time around recommends having it done for 3 consecutive days... he feels that doing it once isn't always enough to jumpstart things. Not sure if that answers your question.

Oh.. I think one of the risks would be introducing an infection.

[Shelsi]

I know one of the risks is that it could accidently rupture your membranes which of course would not be a good thing since it puts you on the clock and could get the baby stuck in a bad position.

Did you do the GBS test? I honestly would definitely NOT do it if I were GBS positive because like Nic said it can introduce infection.

I've heard it's very uncomfortable but I've never had it done. Maybe try all the other natural induction techniques first? Just like membrane stripping it's not going to work unless the baby is ready.

[beanbean]

My FP did this (she applied EPO while she did it) and I delivered my baby about 3 hours later. The membrane sweep was not at all uncomfortable, to my surprise. The labor was FAST and INTENSE and pretty overwhelming. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I was uncomfortable and "overdue".

At the time I was 41 wks and dilated to about a 3-4.

If the practitioner is careful it's a relatively "safe" way to induce labor -- but it won't do anything if your body simply isn't ready.

[bbrandonsmom]

My mw said they like to do this around mid 40wk, but pending dilation, effacement, baby position etc. But it's up to the mom, so I prob won't have her do it unless we get to 41wks-right before we have to make the appt with the ob.

[elvishlucky]

Originally Posted by Mumof3Nic

I had it done with my first and I will say it's quite painful/uncomfortable. It didn't start labor with him at all. My doctor this time around recommends having it done for 3 consecutive days... he feels that doing it once isn't always enough to jumpstart things. Not sure if that answers your question.

Oh.. I think one of the risks would be introducing an infection.

Three days in a row?!? Yikes!

[becoming]

I didn't go through with it. I read some descriptions of it online, and I think I'd rather just be pregnant for a couple more weeks!

[party_of_seven]

My sOB stripped my membranes withOUT my permission with my first baby. He smiled at me with a bloody glove on and said he would see me that night ......like he had just done me some kind of favor.

It ended up irritating my body into labor that I don't think I was quite ready for. I ended up in labor for 30 exhausting hours.

I'm positive that things would have gone faster if he had just left me alone.

FWIW, it didn't hurt....and I wasn't aware of what the ob had done until several months after my baby was born.

[phathui5]

My sOB stripped my membranes withOUT my permission with my first baby. He smiled at me with a bloody glove on and said he would see me that night ......like he had just done me some kind of favor.

That's terrible. He didn't ask you at all?

[Shelsi]

Originally Posted by phathui5

That's terrible. He didn't ask you at all?

Unfortunately I've seen from the mainstream board I am also a part of that this happens A LOT. I don't know how many posts I've seen where these women just think of it as routine or they come on and ask if that's what everybody thinks their OB did. Their OBs don't even tell them afterwards, it's sick, and of course everyone just thinks it's totally normal. :

[pwit]

my first was born at 42 and a half weeks (I think my date though actually was a little off and she was really born at 41 and a half weeks). Anyway, I had my membranes swept 4 times I think that pregnancy. 2 times by my OB and it wasn't that uncomfortable a pretty quick sweep. 2 times by my midwife and it was a fairly uncomfortable but bearable. She also worked on stretching my cervix at the same time. I'd probably have them swept again if I got to 41 weeks. I'm not sure I'd have it done before then, it didn't seem to help me go into labor anyways.

[jee'smom]

My OB did it to me without telling me (with ds). I did not even know he did it. He did a VE, and it really hurt. At the next appt., another OB (who I liked) went to do a VE, and I was like "Dr. X really hurt me last week, could you please try to be more gentle." She answered, "Oh, he probably stripped your membranes, he does that all of the time around 38 wks, to all of the patients." I was SO PI$$ED!!! How freakin' dare he?!!!!! A$$HOLE.

[bdavis337]

OW. I just don't think I could opt for that as an induction choice. OUCH.

But, it's suddenly very, very real to me that I might have this baby when Every Single Support Person in my life is unavailable (between July 16 and 25). Even my freakin' OB is on vacation that week.

[party_of_seven]

Originally Posted by phathui5

That's terrible. He didn't ask you at all?

Nope....it was just a routine VE at my 40wk check-up. I was not overly anxious to have the baby. I expressed no interest in induction techniques. I feel that he did it out of his own convience because he was on call that night at the hospital.

[jessjgh1]

Originally Posted by becoming

I didn't go through with it. I read some descriptions of it online, and I think I'd rather just be pregnant for a couple more weeks!

Glad to hear that, it gives me the shivers just thinking about it. And it sounds like you found some of the same type of persoal accounts that I read, but I'd also rather not include the risk of infection...

That baby will come when s/he wants to, and that's the best time: , but I know it isn't easy to wait.

Jessica