What is "having your membranes stripped/swept"?

[camille76]

I always thought that meant breaking the 'bag of waters'.... but I just read a post that mentioned having that done at a routine appt. And i think I remember reading that before also. If this is the same as breaking the bag of waters, ... do people really do this at appts??? If so, I had NO idea. I thought it was something they might do during labor but not during a routine appt.

[sarahn4639]

No it's not the same thing. It's when someone uses a finger to separate the bag of waters from the cervix. They basically insert a finger into the cervix and "sweep" it around. It agitates/irritates the cervix and can cause contractions to start. There are a lot of feelins on the topic, there is a thread here about having it done that lists some of the benefits and risks (breaking the bag is a risk of stripping the membranes). HTH

[gerlassie]

My OB did that during my first pregnancy and said that this should get things moving...I was just about 36 weeks at the time and my son was born the next day. I didn't know what she was doing because it was done at the smae time as my GBS test. Fortunately, my Midwife doesn't believe in doing the same. She actually wants her patients to make it to 40 weeks and not deliver when it's convienent for her.

gerlassie

[sarahn4639]

36 weeks!? holy crap!

[miss_honeyb]

My midwife offered to do a stretch/sweep at my appointment next week (I'll be 39w 6d) if I wanted to. I've been having "warm-up" signs, i.e. strong, irregular contractions, cramping, dull lower back ache, etc for about a week now. Any thoughts? I am GBS+ and will be getting antibiotics in labor (at home, with a "butterfly push" and not a drip bag and IV line, if anyone knows what that means or cares). So obviously with GBS you don't want to have your bag ruptured for too long before delivery. Anyway, I think I'll decline, but was interested in any one else's thoughts on it.

[miss_honeyb]

Any other induction stories?

[perditafoster]

My ob stripped my membranes on Monday at 2 PM and ds was born Tuesday morning at 1! I was already in early labor, with the back pains, cramps, just generally feeling pukey...so I don't know if I can attribute ds's birth to the stripping or whether it would have happened anyway. I pretty much think that he would have been born then anyway. After the ob did it, I bled and cramped and passed the mucus plug for the rest of the day. Awesome! Never been so excited to see blood and mucus in my life

Do I recommend it? Sure, why not? Can't hurt, might help...

[the elyse]

except it might hurt, if your caregiver accidently breaks your waters in the process...

[eilonwy]

My sister only allowed her membranes to be stripped when she was pushing 43 weeks with BizzyBug; She was born about seven hours later.

At 36 weeks... honestly, that doctor should have been smacked. : It's a lot like evening primrose oil, only slightly more likely to move things along-- if you're not ready, it won't change things too much. If your cervix is still thick, long, and closed, it won't even be possible-- You'll have to be soft, at the very least. If, however, you're 38/39/40/40+ weeks and your cervix is ready to go, and you're eager to get things moving...

I have to say that I'd STRONGLY advise against it if a) you are GBS+, b) you have a history of making 'weak' amniotic sacs or c) you're not 38 weeks along. You should also know that if, by some chance, your water should break... most women find that labor after the waters have broken is FAR more painful than before, and more difficult for any number of reasons. It's an entirely personal decision, though.

[miss_honeyb]

Interesting thoughts. I agree that it seems to "work" only when you're already showing signs that you're close to ready. I think with my GBS+ status I will pass. I'll go into labor at some point, right? I mean, I've already waited almost 40 weeks, I think another couple days will be fine!