Is anyone awake to answer questions about membrane stripping?

[sunkist33]

I have an appt. with my midwife in the morning (and my due date is Thursday) so I know that's probably an option to have my membranes "sweeped" or "stripped" so I've been trying to google it & see if that's something I'd want done or not...
and there seems to be conflicting advice. Has anyone had it done before? did it get things going? Was it painful? And, most importantly, how long was your labour? I read a few things that suggested that it might prolong early labour?

I guess part of me is thinking that it's just another intervention & that I should just wait until she's ready to come on her own...but part of me thinks it might be in my best interest not to go too long because she'll just get bigger & the risks associated with that...

I would love it if she came tomorrow (my midwife's only on call on Wednesdays!) or Thursday, her due date Maybe I'll try the old tricks~ pineapple, Indian food, walking, & lots of sex

Thanks! Stacy

[trizzle]

Just read about this in a great book-- the thinking woman's guide to a better birth--and the procedure is pretty clearly contraindicated--pain, greater risk of infection, and some other risk factors I don't remember. I would say "no"-- not enough good reasons to do it, too many not to.
(This is my first baby so I am not speaking from any personal experience-- just what my own research has shown).

[amyjeans]

I had mine stripped during my first birth at the hospital- it hurt. Kind of like getting a pap spear.
I can't say it would do anything- and in my case, I couldn't tell ifit helped because I was induced, had an epidural and the whole thing was bad.
Now my 2 previous UC's I did everything I could naturally at home, food, sex castor oil...uggh! And I don't know if any of that helped- but the babies did eventually come out. One 10lbs and 1 11 lbs.
At this stage of thegame, when you have had enough being preggy, sometimes anything sounds appealing to get things going.
I personally wouldn't get them stripped just because of the discomfort.
What helped me cope with the wait was lots of warm baths, yummy fod and good red wine to relax, and talking to the baby- telling him/her it's okay to come out now!
All my best!

[TrishWSU]

Everything I've read or heard about it hasn't convinced me that it's worth it. It's one of those things that *may* help get things going, but chances are things would have started on their own without doing it. Add the risk of infection, risk of AROM, and pain factor, and it's just not something I am interested in doing. Even at 41w2d I am not thinking about getting this done.

And rest assured that your baby will not get "too big" unless maybe you have uncontrolled GD. They actually slow down with the weight gain at the very end (like 39+ weeks) so chances are your baby will only gain a few more oz.

Your baby knows the right time for her to be born, without any "help."

[anjanetteopal]

My best friend had this done late last month and still didn't deliver for over a week after that - and was induced with pitocin at that stage. I'm kind of in the "not worth it" camp too, though I'd personally choose it before pitocin or rupturing the membrane altogether.

[AlwaysByMySide]

Any cervical check for me is painful, so stripping or no stripping doesn't matter in the pain department.

I agree with Trish in that it may get things going. (That said, I've had it done and ended up with two inductions anyway, so what do I know?!)

[Beverly]

I had it done with #2 (one of those situations where the midwife just did it without asking, during a "routine" check ... grrrr). Anyway, it hurt quite a bit, and while my labor did get started within 36 hours, labor itself was more than twice as long than either of my other two labors.

I wouldn't recommend it, particularly if you're just getting to your due date.

[flapjack]

I'd say no. I had it done at 41 + weeks with Skye and it didn't hurt too much- it actually tickled, but I kicked the doctor in the head If that particular set of circumstances recurred, I'd probably do it again: 3 days before DS1's b'day, a week overdue and I wanted to increase the likelihood of getting baby out on any other day.After weeks of prodromal labour, it still didn't get labour going.

[newmommy27]

I had it done twice with my first....It hurt....HURT


and I did not go in to labor either time...I would say don't do it yet...I think if you are 42 weeks and your options are becoming limited think about it but you have plenty of time till then

[zulupetalz]

Membrane stripping is overrated as something that is a "natural" thing to do, but it really isn't as natural as people would have you think. Plus, remember that your due date is an estimate of when your baby is due, really it is plus or minus 2 weeks from that date and he or she might not be done cooking yet! Some babies cook a little longer.

Also, bear in mind that it can take a couple of days for membrane stripping to be effective, and then you might not even end up with your midwife like you are hoping!

[sunkist33]

Thanks everyone!

Just checking the responses before I leave for my appt. (thank goodness I finally got through to the discussion forums, ugh!)...
I've decided NOT to do it Does not seem worth it.
I think she'll be coming soon enough on her own & I'm not that uncomfortable, really. Plus, I still have to set up the co-sleeper & install the car seat...

Thanks for all the quick responses!
Stacy

[True Blue]

I just wanted to add to all the great advice above that the average pregnancy for first time moms, when left alone, is 41 weeks 1 day...so you haven't even hit the average yet.

[Nature]

I've had this done three times. It didn't hurt me personally at all. In two cases labor started that same day. In this case, it didn't start it. I'm not against it as long as its something you're aware of. (The first time I had it done my OB did not tell me she wanted to do it, she just did it.. and that was a bit of a surprise and didn't feel right to me.)

[operamommy]

I had it done with my first pregnancy (13 years ago). I don't recall it hurting, and labor began the next day. It didn't seem to affect/prolong my labor any; it was only 6 hours total.

That being said, I don't think I would do it again just because babe is close to due/"overdue." However, I am considering it for other reasons this time 'round - distance from hospital, history of rapid labor, etc.

[sunkist33]

Originally Posted by True Blue

I just wanted to add to all the great advice above that the average pregnancy for first time moms, when left alone, is 41 weeks 1 day...so you haven't even hit the average yet.

Except this is #2 for me
DD #1 was exactly 41 weeks, I am still thinking this one will come earlier than that