Membrane Sweeping

I had this done with my son. I didn't even know they did it until he all ready had. Yes, it CAN start labor, but it doesn't always happen in all women. I didn't lose my mucus plug with my daughter until they did it in the hospital.

Hi L.. My Dr did that when i was 37 weeks and my Daughter was very healthy. she was Born 2 days later. it was a lil bit uncomfortable but not that bad at all. Good luck. L.

OK, there is no correlation between dilation and imminent delivery other than you cannot deliver until dilation is complete. You can walk around for weeks 4 cm dilated, or be like me--1.5 cm dilated at the hospital and delivered 3 hours later (things progressed naturally, and quickly).

Pregnancy is supposed to take 40 weeks, so you really have 3 weeks to go. What is the rush? Instead of artificially *trying* to start labor, why don't you let Mother Nature do what she does and take care of the situation? I am shocked, amazed, and appalled at the number of rushed, and "scheduled" deliveries that end up forcing a baby out of the womb early. I wonder at what consequences this haste and "convenience" will have for the children.

If you are already feeling fear and apprehension about the procedure, your baby feels it, too. Maybe you sense it is not really the right thing you want to do. Listen to your inner voice.

Congratulations on your engagement!

I am a midwife. 37 weeks is early to have the baby, so I don't understand why they are anxious for you to go into labor. It's definitely not comfortable to have your membranes stripped, but you can always tell the doctor to stop if it's too much. It can start labor if you are really ready. Basically, it causes a release of prostaglandins which can start your labor.

L.,
I did have this done with my first child who is now 5. It was not painful, just a little uncomfortable. But what isn't when you are in that position. My water broke a couple of days later. I don't know if it was caused by the scraping or not. Good luck with the labor and congrats on getting a little girl.

I had this done with my second and third children and it doesn't hurt really, but it is a little uncomfortable. It did NOT help me either time to put me in labor. Both times actually I wound up being fully induced a week later at 41 weeks. Maybe since you are already dialated to 4 it may help, but it didn't with either of mine. Also I am a little curious as to why they are doing this before you are full term. I think you should ask your doctor why this is being done before 40 weeks. Good Luck!

I agree with another posting that doctors unnecessarily rush labor. Unless your life or your child's life are at risk why do it? Babies come when they're ready. The safest place for a baby is inside you. They are protected from illness and they can grow to full term. I was 4 cm dilated for like 2 months and then they stripped my membranes a week before my due date... it was the worst pain ever I was cramping and bleeding instantly and I had to drive myself home in that condition. And guess what? The baby still came on the exact date it was due. Don't it unless you really, really have to.

Hi LeAnn,

Any reason they want to sweep your membranes *before* 40 weeks? You'll be maybe 38 weeks pregnant when they do this... any reason for fiddling w/ Mother Nature? This procedure is an intervention, and once you get on that slope, it can be slippery (meaning more interventions to come). Babies know when they're ready to come out, if we give them the chance. :)

Here's hoping you have a wonderful, strong labor and beautiful, gentle birth!

My midwife did this when I was a week over due. I did not think it hurt as much as it was an uncomfortable pressure. The good news is, if it hurts it does not take but a minute to do. After I had a "bloody show" and started having contractions about 30min later on a Wednesday morning, but did not give birth until 12:03am Friday. This was my first child and I am sure that played a big role in how long it took me to deliver. My best advise is to know you will feel some discomfort and try to relax during the procedure as much as you can. Good Luck!

I had my membranes swept but it didn't start labor! It can but it is not 100%! I did hurt a little but it wasnt bad at all!

It doesn't hurt at all(at least mine didn't). You're a lot more dialated than I was so more than likely it will get things moving!!!

I had this done because of complications, they needed to get labor started a month early.

Did it hurt? Very much. I had to squeeze my husbands hand and screamed a couple times - they had to do it more than once. I hope you don't have the same experience. The only reason I'd share this with someone who is looking at having it done is to strongly recommend they give you a good reason to start your labor early. I had my labor induced with my second daughter because she was past her due date, but unless you're experiencing complications, I'd suggest getting some answers from my doctor as to why you'd want to deliver early.

Hi L.
I have had my membranes strip many times. No it did not hurt. I was a little uncomfortable, but it did not hurt. It is not a guarantee to start labor either. So do not get your hopes up. It may cause labor, but it did not with either of my children. I know more people where it has not caused labor to start then that it has. You could be one of the lucky ones though! Good luck!

L.,

I've never heard of that, but why are you waiting a whole year to get married?

I had it done with my second child, I was hanging out a 4 cm for about a month and I was due. I also lived about 45 min from the hospital-they wanted to make sure I would be nearby. I had it done at 8:30 in the morning, was VERY uncomfortable, and by 11:30 that night we were in the hospital. My son was born at 7:30 am. Take care of yourself and all the little ones:)

Hi. I had mine done during the week of my due date (jan4-11). I was completely miserable and wasn't sleeping for the past 3 weeks and everytime she moved I was in pain, I just couldn't stretch anymore! My midwife offered to do it because of the pain I was in, pain th where I was crying all of the time, it was a friday when it was done, that sunday I was in the hospital because she had drastically slowed her movement down, they said I was in very early labor. That monday after I had lunch with my sis and mom after my mom left to go back to work I was showing my sis the final touches in Bella's room and felt something on my leg. I sat on the toilet and called by CNM they told me to go to the hospital. By the time my sis got me there (5 min away) I was soaked! My water had broken that was at 2:15 in the afternoon, by 2:13 in the morning I was holding my baby girl!

As for the pain- when my CNM offered to do it I asked what was involved, she said that if she told me I prob. wouldn't want it done- she was right! It took a couple of seconds and yes it did hurt! but it worked! I had Bella on my last due date and I was no longer miserable! When it was done I was only .5 centimeters and had been for a month.

Hello, I have had this done. When I was pregnant with my 2nd child a boy I was 38 weeks and I was 1 cm dialated. I went in and had my membranes stripped. It does hurt, I can tell you it brought tears to my eyes and I was spotting afterwards. It started labor for me. I was in labor that day. I went home and walked all around where I live at for about 2 hours( I did take breaks in between walking) and I went into labor that night around 11pm. I had my baby about 5:18 in the morning when I got to the hospital I was already 6 cm dialated. The nurse thought it was false labor and tried to make me walk to the room back in triage needless to say I bit her head off and told her this was the real thing and I couldn't walk it hurt too bad. If you have any other questions I will try to answer them. R.

I had my membranes stripped and I didn't even know the doctor did it until he told me afterward. It didn't feel any worse than a regular check up for me. Anyway, sometimes it does kick you into labor, and other times it just gives you cramping and false labor, and sometimes a little spotting. I had the cramping and a off/on mild contractions, but they didn't kick into true labor. I was dilated to a 4-4 1/2 at the time as well, and was a few days from my due date. I had my membranes stripped on a Friday, and my water broke on Monday morning at 8 A.M., and I had her at 11:41 A.M. You could go any time, so make sure you have the baby's room ready and your bag ready, and just relax. That baby will come out when he or she is ready. Good luck, and best wishes for an easy labor!

Hi LeeAna I have had that done with my first son. I was in my doctors office for a routine visit at 40 weeks when they noticed my blood pressure was very high, they sent me down the hall to labor and delivery. They stripped my memberanes and it did hurt alot for me. Their main concern was for the baby and if there was a problem with him. About an hour layer my blood pressure went down and they sent me home. About 6 hours later I was back in the hospital in labor and was 3 cent. dialited. Good luck to you and you baby. I hope all goes smooth for you!

I had it done, it was a little uncomfortable and I bled a little but I wouldn’t say it hurt. It didn’t induce labor for me though and they were sure it would because I was about 4 to 5 centimeters dilated.

LeAnna-
I had it done with my first 1 day before EDD. I was barely 1cm and as I recall I had thinned a bit. My appt was first thing (7:30/8am) Friday morning. My midwife offered to try to sweep my membranes since I was absolutely miserable (tons of water weight gain and acid reflux issues).
The membrane sweeping was very uncomfortable, but lasted only about 60 seconds. I say the experience was well worth it. I was having period-like cramping within 12 hours (7pm) and I delivered before 2pm Saturday.
-L.

LeeAnn,
I am 39+ weeks pregnant and I am dialated 2cm and have been for 3 weeks now. Last week at my visit they did the sweeping of the membranes and nothing changed. At my office visit yesterday they did it again, and i am hoping this time it works. Many woman I have talked to swear by it, but I am not too sure since it did not work the first time. The only thing it has done so far is progress my contractions, but they still are not strong enough to do anything but cause me discomfort. As far as the procedure goes, it is painful but it only takes about 30 seconds and the pain is gone afterwards. It is not bad at all. Good Luck!

When I was 40 weeks pregnant with my son, I kept going into "false" labor. I was only 1 cm dialated, so my situation is a bit different from yours. It was a bit uncomfortable during the procedure but not too bad. I had a lot of cramping afterwards and a small amount of spotting. I did not go into labor until 2 days later. However, since you are further dialated, yours may go more quickly. Hope this helps. Good luck and God bless you and your family.