What do you think about stripping membranes?

[greenmountainmomma]

I have my 41 week appointment tomorrow morning :, complete with an ultrasound and non-stress test. At my last apt., the midwife offered to strip my membranes. I was pretty taken aback by this offer (I'd never been offered this before) and said NO! I'm just now 40 weeks!

But, here I am coming up on 41. I went into labor with my son the evening before I was going to be induced (at 42 weeks). I took castor oil earlier that day, and I'm not sure if it was the castor oil that did it or if I would have gone into labor on my own. Either way, I will NEVER take castor oil again, no matter what. I was violently ill for about 8 hours before I went into labor and was totally drained going into it. ug.

So, I'm starting to worry about having to be induced at 42 weeks (which I really, really don't want to happen.) I'm hoping for another med-free birth, which I'm not sure I could do with Pitocin.

I'm thinking about having my membranes stripped at my apt. tomorrow, but I don't really know much about it. Is it at all effective? Does it hurt? Are there risks? Help!

[Kontessa]

Midwivs did this to me last Friday while they where checking me as they found it hard to tell with how low baby was and thin my cervix was. It hurt! When they came that night to check me, they did more and I had yucky thick mucus and dark and bright blood all the following day. It is Wednesday now and maybe thanks to my bed rest I have not yet had baby.

There are worse things in the world though and if you think you and baby are ready, I say try it.

[BarefootinBrooklyn]

I'm thinking about this too, even though I've got a couple weeks to go before I'm even 40 weeks. My doctor mentioned it to me as an option, and it does sound more pleasant than castor oil! I asked her if it brought contractions on stronger, like pitocin, and she said that it didn't, just that in 70% of her experiences, it started labor within 24 hours.

I'm only considering it because my mom is coming to visit from across the country, she'll be here 2 days before I'm due, and can really only stay for a couple weeks. I'd love to have her help, and I know she will want as much time as possible with the baby. I know that isn't a reason to "force things," but I think I'm just as antsy to meet this little one.

I guess I'll see how I feel when 40-41 weeks rolls around...

[boogiemonster]

I had it done last week. It hurt a bit...but only for about a half day. I lost my mucous plug the next day, so it did something. I'm not above begging to have it done again when I go in for my NST today.

[ComfyCozy]

Heh, I am an abnormal one. I never could feel them doing it...and I'm also one of the 30% that it didn't "work" for. However, when the membranes are stripped, prostaglandins are going to be released in a good amount. That will help ripen and ready your cervix. Even if you don't go into labor, it can help your cervix in ways you aren't seeing. If you're willing to accept the risks-- going into labor within 24 hours, not going into labor and then the resulting disappointment, possibly having your membranes rupture, or the introduction of bacteria in that area (which you accept when you have a VE anyways) -- then go for it!

[monocyte]

I so go back and forth on this one.

With DS, I was never even a fingertip dilated so they couldn't do it. But I would have.

BUT, to avoid an induction, I'd probably do it (having been down the induction road before). You still might end up on pit if your water breaks but labor doesnt start which makes me nervous, but, if your not going anywhere on your own and you feel the pressure is on (and you can't buy more time from your mw) it might be worth a try.

[kgrfcharlton]

Like some of the other mama's said. It does hurt (but not as bad as the Pit). It's still better than Caster Oil (I tried this w/my 1st & swore never to do this again, even when I was 3 weeks "overdue" w/my 2nd). My feeling is that it's worth a try. It didn't work for me w/my 1st 2 pregnancies, but we're all different.

Acupuncture helped put me into labor last time.

[DeChRi]

I have no experience with it myself. As for would I do it? Yeah, probably. My Dr is a hard core 42 week inducer, so at 41 weeks or 41.5 weeks I would probably request it vs running the risk of induction. Just my thoughts!

[A Mothers Love]

With my last pregnancy she did it twice, & it did nothing for me, except make a big mess in my pants for the next few days.

[GinaRae]

Mine was uncomfortable but not painful, no major bleeding or anything, and it worked like a charm. I am all for it over interventions like pit and castor oil, so I am biased. I think it's one of the best places to start when facing induction.

[mothragirl]

i wouldn't do it. there are too many risks (ROM, infection, looooong labor). if you don't want to be induced don't show up for an induction.

[GinaRae]

Why would labor be longer due to membrane stripping?

For me, I think the unpredictability of things like castor oil is dangerous. And no one will come near me with Pit ever ever again. I guess stripping the membranes is the least of all induction evils.

The infection rate shouldn't be any worse than regular vaginal exams when you're slightly dilated.

And ROM? Oh, oh, oh.. rupture. I wonder if that would only happen if the membranes were ready to go anyway? My labors usually begin with a rupture. Of course, if head isn't engaged, cord prolapse could be possible.

[joannalovesyou]

all i had to read was "41 weeks."

strip, strip, strip. it's a million times better than any other induction method.

[GooeyRN]

My midwife stripped my membranes with dd without telling me she was going to. (I was not even 38 weeks, what was she thinking?) She said it was to speed things up. I lost my mucus plug the next day, and 3 days after that went into labor. It was a bit painful, but only a bit worse than a regular cervical exam IMO. It was WAY LESS painful that pitocin. My labor was augmented with Pit and man, it hurt like you wouldn't believe. I would definatly go with stripping membranes before an induction.

[Monkeybutt]

Originally Posted by mothragirl

i wouldn't do it. there are too many risks (ROM, infection, looooong labor). if you don't want to be induced don't show up for an induction.

ditto!

[DeChRi]

Originally Posted by mothragirl

i wouldn't do it. there are too many risks (ROM, infection, looooong labor). if you don't want to be induced don't show up for an induction.

I agree in theory. My Dr requires a signed AMA to go past 42 weeks and my insurance will not cover if I go AMA. Almost a crime that they can do that. IMHO.

[AKmomof2+1inNov]

Originally Posted by greenmountainmomma

I have my 41 week appointment tomorrow morning :, complete with an ultrasound and non-stress test. At my last apt., the midwife offered to strip my membranes. I was pretty taken aback by this offer (I'd never been offered this before) and said NO! I'm just now 40 weeks!

But, here I am coming up on 41. I went into labor with my son the evening before I was going to be induced (at 42 weeks). I took castor oil earlier that day, and I'm not sure if it was the castor oil that did it or if I would have gone into labor on my own. Either way, I will NEVER take castor oil again, no matter what. I was violently ill for about 8 hours before I went into labor and was totally drained going into it. ug.

So, I'm starting to worry about having to be induced at 42 weeks (which I really, really don't want to happen.) I'm hoping for another med-free birth, which I'm not sure I could do with Pitocin.

I'm thinking about having my membranes stripped at my apt. tomorrow, but I don't really know much about it. Is it at all effective? Does it hurt? Are there risks? Help!

I am facing a lot this myself. I was due on the 1st and lose my home birth if I go past 42 weeks. With DS I went into labor on my own the night before induction 12 days past EDD and DD I was also 12 days past EDD. I never tried castor oil, but I did have horrible runs all night with my labor with DS, so I haven't wanted to try it. I tried membrane stripping with DS, but it hurt too bad-I think that was between 40 and 41 weeks. I don't want to go that route either. I am just hoping that this baby will come in the next week, but I am also GBS+ so I don't want to risk my water breaking before it should as I don't want abx. I am willing to do herbal labor starters starting tomorrow and maybe membrane stripping on 41.5 or 6...but it is so hard to just wait and hope that it will all work out. s