Striping Membranes

I had my membranes stripped on a Friday afternoon and my baby was born at 6am on Monday morning. Seemed to work for me!

A.,
I had my membranes stripped and went into labor the next day, but the meds they gave me at the hospital stopped my labor (I can't remember what they were called). At my next appointment (one week later) she did it again, and I went straight into the hospital from the appointment.

All that happened to me was lots of bleeding and contractions...was stripped at 38 weeks and my baby had to be induced the day after my due date.

Hi, I am a douls, childbirth coach and have supported almost 300 pregnant couples at the birth of their baby. My experience is that stripping the membranes does not necesarily put you in labor. There are several factors that make labor begin naturally One of them is when the babies lungs are ripe, there is a chemical reaction in the amniotic fluid that triggers labor, another is when the water breaks the hormone levels increase, there are a few unknown factors, but it is always when your body and your baby is ready. That can be different for every woman. Because stripping the membranes is usually done when you are past your due date it often coincides with other factors, so it might look like it puts you in labor. Often I see that women get a couple of hours of contractions, maybe a bit of discharge, but not necesarily dialation. Sometimes unnecessary trips to the hospital, stress, etc.
I say let it happen by itself. Specially with a second baby.
Take care
G.
certified doula
www.superdoula.com

I had my membranes stripped at about 39 weeks, then again at 40 weeks. Nothing happened. No bleeding or cramping. I was induced at 41 weeks. I know it is different for everyone. Good luck!

Didn't work for me and it was uncomfortable, but didn't really hurt. good luck.

Every woman is different. I'm wondering why you would have your membranes stripped so early -- are you having complications? I had mine stripped with my first child when I was 40 weeks only because I was showing absolutely no signs of being ready to have a baby (zero effaced/dialated). Nothing happened to me -- and I mean nothing when I had my membranes stripped. I was put on an induction list and I was 41 weeks and 3 days when I was finally induced ( I was still zero effaced/dialeted!). My suggestion is to be patient -- let your body do it's thing. Your body is unique and you may or may not go into labor after having this done. Try not to "expect" things to happen as you just never know what your body is going to do. Hang in there! Your baby will be here before you know it! :-) Congratulations!

A.

Hello A.,
Yes I had mine stripped @ 37 weeks and yes it can cause some women to go into labor. I like to think of it as a natural form of induction. It causes a release of a hormone which causes the uterus to contract and go in to labor.
Now for me it did not work. However it did cause me to lose my mucous plug over a period of days to follow. It is nothing to be worried about. Either it works or it doesn't. Your beautiful bundle of joy will come when they are ready as did mine 3 weeks later on my due date. Well actually my water broke on my due date and he was born one day later.
If you want some suggestions for natural ways like herbal teas and stuff I could give you some pointers that worked for me as well.
Best of luck and God bless,
S.

This is just my understanding and experience. I had my membranes stripped to try and get me into labor with my first child and was at 40 weeks. It didn't work. I was induced 48 hours later . I was later told that stripping membranes will only work if you are with in 24-48 hours of going into labor naturally. I think the idea is that stimulating the membranes releases some kind of chemical that once there is enough your body goes into labor. Don't expect too much but a little cramping , if something does happen That's awesome.
Good luck. Enjoy every minute.

HI,

My doctor stripped my membranes 9 days before the due date with my second baby and I started having contractions within hours and delivered in less than 24 hrs. It was little uncomfortable when she did it, and said that it might start the labor or it might do nothing. Well, it worked for me and my husband barely made it to the hospital (he works out of town). Good luck.

I had my done with my first pregnancy. My membranes were stripped on a Monday afternoon. At 9 pm that night my back was bothering me and by morning, I was in early labor, contractions were irregular but all was starting! I had my son Wednesday at 11:00 am - Less than 48 hours later.

Good Luck!!!!!

Frankly, I cannot BELIEVE your doctor did that to you! You are not even overdue!!! Unnecessary induction does no good for you and baby. I'm sure she had her reasons (ask her!), but I would really, really, really recommend that you do some serious research into what you want to allow in your birth, because it looks like your doc heavily favors interventions.

Unless there are serious problems, your baby will come when SHE is ready - there's no need to hurry her along (unless, as I said, something's really wrong and she needs to come sooner).

It's different for everyone, I had my membranes striped twice within 2 weeks. This was my first baby and the time, it was really uncomfortable and just made me bleed, which scared me. They did warn me that would happen though and then the second time I went in for the one week appointment the dr did it again and it was ok and I went into labor 3 days later. Good luck!!!

Hi A.,
I had my membranes striped at 38 weeks because I had been 3 cm dialated for 2 weeks prior & was told the same thing you were, that I could go into labor within 24 hours... well nothing happened expect that I was unfortable from the striping for about 24 hours. I ended up being induced at 39 weeks. That was just my expierence; yours may be different! Good luck!

Hi A. - good luck to you!!! With any luck, you are already holding your little one, so this is too late.

If not...

I had my membranes stripped I think on my due date and a couple of times after that. Maybe it helped, but I didn't go into labor til 13.5 days after my due date. I think babies come when they are ready no matter what we do to influence the date.

Good luck!!!
C.

I was stripped several times with both of my boys but it did not help. They were both nearly 2 weeks late. Hope it works for you!

Hi,
I had my membranes striped at 38 weeks (my second pregnancy) and I didn't go into labor until one day before my due date. Good luck. I know how hard it is that last month. My daughter just turned one month old.

P.S.
don't let the hospital send you home if your contractions slow down when you are resting. they sent me home and I almost had my daughter in the hospital parking lot in my car. (Thunderbird Hospital)

Hi A.,
Yea, they did that to me with my second. I went into labor the next day! It's funny because I didn't even realize at the time because I was so uncomfortable from the procedure. Anyway, it will happen soon!

Hi! I had mine stripped with my first, it really hurt! But I had her withing 7 days of doing it. I ended up losing my plug like 2 days later, then 5 days later, a day after my due date had my daughter! I don't know if it was because of it or what, but it happened. Good luck!

I had mine done with both of my pregnancies. With my oldest I had lots of contractions and thought I was in labor but they stopped when I got to the hospital. With my second I immediately began having contractions. I ended up in the hospital that night, they sent me home where I labored for hours and then barely made it to the hospital. You never know if it'll work, each pregnancy is different. Best of luck to you!

ETA mine were done at 38 and 37 weeks. I have very large babies for my size so we didn't want to go full term. Besides I was like 80% effaced and 2-3 cm dilated. And my placenta was bulging out with each BH contraction.

I had my membranes stripped with my second child. The Dr. did it twice and nothing happened. I was later induced and had a successful VBAC.

I had mine stripped 1 day before my due date (Wed) and I went into labor on Friday morning. Having them stripped is supposed to help labor start, but its not guaranteed. Good luck!

Hi! I had my membranes stripped on Feb 6th and had my daughter Feb. 8th. I was exactly 38 weeks and 5 days. Now, I can't say that I had her just because of the procedure. I had also been doing the pressure points on my ankles, walking like crazy, and a few other things. It was right when I came to accept the fact that I may not be having my daughter anytime soon when my water broke Friday Feb. 8th at 6:25 a.m. Who is your doctor? Mine told me the exact same thing! So maybe it's true? Who knows! Good luck to you!!! Your baby will come very soon!!! :)

My sister had this done, her water broke within hours and she had the baby the next day.

I had this done and still had to be induced a few days later.

HI! I had my baby about 2mths ago, 1 week before my due date. I had my membranes stripped 2 times. Once @ 38 wks with no results then again @ 39 wks & went into labor the very next morning. Not sure if the stripping had anything to do with it but boy was I happy to go into labor a little early!! I guess I should mention I was already 80% effaced & dilated to a 3 when I was stripped the first time & then at 4cm the 2nd time. By the time I got to hospital the next morning I was at 10cm & ready to push! Good Luck & congrats on the little one you are expecting.

My mom had it done with both my sister and I (a long time ago) and she did go into labor within 24 hours.....however, I know other people who have had contractions afterward, but no real labor and end up just being in pain for several days. Good luck :) I hope it works for you!

Hurts like heck, don't it?? I had that done with my first child, trying to speed things up a little, because my ENTIRE family came out from Tennessee for the birth, and I wanted to try to do everything I could to make it happen by his due date. I had the procedure on July 2nd, and his due date was on the 5th. WELL, after a couple of false alarms and 3 days BEYOND the due date, we had a baby on July 8th.

So, there's no guarantees - and my doctor did tell me this before hand.

I too had that done. I went into labor the next day! I lost my mucus plug first, then my water leaked throughout the day, went to the hospital in the evening. I recommend if at all possible....calling your doctor once you start going into labor. They always recommend you wait until the contractions get close together before going to the hospital. If that's the case take a warm bath (unless your water breaks in which case off to the hospital..if not sure go to the hospital anyway or call your doctor so they can advise or have you go in) that usually helps speed up the process since it relaxes you. Wish you all the best in your delivery!!! Congratulations!!!! Girls are so wonderful! You are blessed.

I had my membranes stripped with both of my last two pregnancies. With my 2nd child it worked fairly soon and I went into labor early the next morning. With my third child it did not work the first time. They tried again 2 weeks later and it worked within 6 hours. It was worth the hassle, I at least felt that they tried to relieve my anxiety and tiredness of being pregnant!
With both times, I had cramping and slight spotting before the labor actually started. It just gradually increased until it was time. Good luck!

I had this procedure done with my second son. The doctor called it a cervical scrape. She did it because my amniotic fluid was low and she wanted me to deliver soon. Within an hour I was having contractions. That was all great, but I was in labor for 36 hours before I finally had him, and I did it all naturally. :( Uugghhh! Since I did actually go into labor, I just thought that it always happened. It is interesting to read from the other responses that that isn't the case. Hope everything goes well for you when labor finally does come!

My doctor did this with both babies, nothing happened...

I had it done a few months ago but to no avail... we decided on induction a week later.

My membranes were striped for my first child and I did go into labor about 24 hours after. My water broke and then about 1 hour later came the labor pains. I was glad that my doctor did it because she was the doctor on call so she was actually able to delivery the baby. It worked out really well for me. Good luck to you.

I had it done both pregnancies and it didn't seem to do anything. But as you see from some of the mamasource moms it has worked! I think the baby comes when the baby feels like it! That's what my mom always said.

Good Luck.

:)

Yes, I did have my membranes stripped with both my kids and they were both born within 24 hours. I was a little closer to my due date. (2 days late with the first and 1 or 2 days early with the second). With both I started "cramping" within about 12-18 hours. The rest of my labor was pretty quick, but that probably has nothing to do with stripping the membranes... Let me know if you have any specific questions. Congrats!

I had that done as well- with my daughter 6 years ago and went into labor the next day actually in the middle of the night:)
Best Wishes!
D.