Have You Gotten Your Membranes Stripped/swept?

I had this done and OUCH. Didn't help one bit. That baby will come when it's ready. I had to be induced TWICE (3 days apart between tries) with my 2nd. If they're not ready, they're not ready.

Hi there.

I had it done with my first and third pregnancy...first time she tried it a few times and it NEVER worked. The third time, it TOTALLY worked! She did it one day and then the next day I had the baby...It's soooo not comfortable, but over with quick enough!

Good luck!
-M

I'm a doula and I've have heard that getting your membranes stripped can sometimes get labor moving, but your body is going to tell you what's right for you. There are many things that you can do to get labor started. (Depending on your situation and the doctor's advise) Taking long walks, having sex, and 'nesting' are some great things that can be done safely without too much outside interference. Sometimes the body is not ready for labor, and remember a "due date" is an estimate and is not set in stone. I know that you just want to have your baby in your arms and that pregnancy at the end can be miserable, but keep you chin up. Practice your breathing and make some easily reheated meals that you can make when you get home with your little one. Sometime just getting prepared can make things start up. BUT always ask your doctor what you should or should not do before trying anything outlandish. AND remember it's your body and your baby and no one else should make your decisions. Best Wishes!

You are not over due. You are right on time. There is no such thing as a due date, it is a due month. Your baby knows when it should be born. Don't rush it. I am a former NICU Respiratory Therapist and now a midwife.The baby's lung send out a chemical to let the mother's body know to start labor. Before this happens the baby is not 100% ready. Let your baby decide when it is ready. I know it is hard the last few days but it is only a matter of days at this point. Stripping the membranes is very uncomfortable, does not always work and can increase your risk of infection, and if the care provider is not careful it can accidently rupture the amniotic sac.

Had my membranes stripped with my last two (wasn't dilated any with my first one before the water broke). Not so sure it helped any with the second kid because he ended up scaring the nurses watching the monitors while doing a non-stress test and so we were sent to L&D the same day. But that labor was only 4 hours compared to 9-10 hours with my first one.

With my third one, it was still a couple of days before my water broke and contractions started after the membranes were stripped.

I say go ahead and do it. if works for some and not for others. I will warn you that it does hurt for the half minute that its being done and possibly some mild cramping after. At least that's what i remember. Just warning you.

Not for me-I had mine stripped I went into labor 3 days later. I had a lot of mini contractions after having this done.

It worked for my friend she had hers done in the afternoon went into labor at 6am and had her baby at 10am.

Go for it- either way you'll see your baby :) I know towards the end the days are LONG!!

Good Luck Mommy.

I got mine stripped at 39 weeks and it did nothing at all. I ended up being induced at 40 weeks and having a baby girl 6.15oz

I had this done with my first. I went into labor the same night. It was not that painful for me.

I had it done when I was a few days past due and I was in labour less than 24 hrs later. It definitely wasnt the most comfortable thing I have ever experienced but in my opinion I am so happy that I did it because I would have much rathered that then having to be induced. Like I said its not comfortable but its like 30 secs of discomfort and hey if it works great but if not then its not the end of the world. Good Luck and heres hoping it works for you

I had it done with my first, two days before my due date. It was surprisingly painful while it was happening (would have been nice for Doc to tell me so I could prepare myself). Once it was over, I was fine. Went into labor about 36 hours later. My understanding is that it works if your body is ready.

Best wishes and happy laboring!

With my first baby I had this done at 38 weeks. It was about 3:00pm and by 6:30pm I was in labor. It worked for me. My OBGYN at the time said if your ready to go into labor it will help if your not it wont.

GOOD LUCK!

I got my membranes stripped with my third and went into labor that night. No pain for me when done.

I had this done with my first child, I was in such much pain and discomfort had severe cyiatic (so?) nerve pain, constipation the list goes on.
I went in for my reg appt and the dr discussed it with me a few earlier that it was an option and my choice and that after having it done it depended on my body and the baby of when I would go. Could be an hour or could be a few days.
I had it done at around 1 and that night around midnight I went into labor.. There was a slight discomfort when he did it and that was it. He told there would be some bleeding and minor and cramps.
Ultimately it's your choice of what you want to do and as long a you research your decision and are well informed you can then feel confident on your decision. For me I couldn't even function I was very uncomfortable but if you aren't in any severe pain other then the normal discomfort and obvious ready to have the baby like we all are in that last month I would let it happen naturally. Good luck!

baby what

I had it done and was in labor less than 24 hours later! The procedure was a little uncomfortable but definitely worth it. Good luck!

I had it done..I was being induced bc I was @ 41 weeks. I arrived @ the hospital around 230 am, prob around 330-4ish had my membranes stripped and water broke. Had baby around 2 pm. so labor was quick! i'd say go for it!!

I had it done with my first child and was in labor in less than 24 hours, and my last child I had it done again and I was in labor just under 48 hours later... we didn't do it with my middle two since I tested positive for group b strep. Good luck!!

If you are ready, then it might work, but if not, it won't...just like everything else. Some women get induced with pit and it doesn't work, since the baby isn't ready, so they end up in a c-section with FTP (failure to progress).

I was 3 days early with #1, 4.5 WEEKS late with #2 and 12 days late with #3. Had great labors, but I let them run their courses. Never induced.

Good luck!

Got my membranes stripped...and don't think I went into labor for...I think it was 9 days later. (So fail for me)

I got mine stripped at 38, 39, and 40 weeks. At 40 weeks, my doctor tried to induce my labor with picotin. That failed, so they sent me home after 10 hours of 'fake' labor. (I was soo disapointed.. I thought I would be going home with a baby, and all I got was a flower basket from a nurse who felt bad for me. lol) I made it to 40 weeks, 5 days. DD was 9lbs 12oz! I thought I would never give birth! lol.

For me it wasn't really painful, just uncomfortable. But it was quick, and afterward there wasn't any lingering pain.

I had this done several months ago when pregnant with my 3rd child. It was only a slight discomfort for me, but I know others who have said it was very painful for them. That made me nervous to have it done myself but in the end it really wasn't bad for me. I had it done around 3pm, woke up around midnight starting to have contractions. On the other hand I've several friends that supposedly had their membranes scraped more than once and still labor did not start for them. Everyone's body is different. Good luck no matter what you decide.