Stripping the Membranes - Garden City,MI

I personally think it feels like a pap smear. It worked great for me both times when my dr did it. I had a baby both times the next day.

Like others said it is uncomfortable but there is no way that it even comes close to the pain of labor!

I wouldn't say it's more painful that the birth. Yes, it's uncomfortable, but I wouldn't say painful. It didn't help me. I still had to be induced. But if it helps to get things moving along, go for it. Good Luck!!

Well hopefully you'll not have to find out but IMHO is just let nature take it's course. Having the membranes stripped is not a garuntee that you'll go in to labor so it's really up to you. I never had it done so cannot tell you about the discomfort factor. Good luck.

HI Nancy
I had this done as well. And I have to say it's not that bad. It was uncomfortable, but no where close to worse than labor and delivery. And I did go into labor a few days later.
The perception of pain is important here as well. We have a pill for anything that bothers us, and have grown used to thinking that pain is bad. The pain of labor is not the same body message as get your hand off the stove. It's productive pain. I think the experience of labor has been medicalized. Were made to lay on our backs with our knees up to help the doc see better. But it makes labor harder for us, fights gravity and changes the position of our body.
I did have my baby at a hospital, I just told them I wasn't going to lay down all the way. And had them adjust the bed so I was sitting up as much as possible.
I wish you the best of luck, and hope your baby's birth is a beautiful experience. A. H

I had it done and it does not hurt at all. I did go into labor about eight hours later. However, I don't believe that the baby was ready yet. The doctor was ready, but she had not completely turned yet and I ended up having an emergency c-section. Allowing the doctor to do that was the BIGGEST regret I have ever had. I really should have let nature take its course. I think he rushed my labor to fit his timetable and baby wasn't ready. It caused me to have a c-section, a much longer recovery and the possibility that I can never have a vaginal birth. I recommend seriously weighing the repurcussions of the choice of stripping your membrane.

Hi Nancy,
I opted to let nature take its course after hours of research. Having your membranes stripped feels differently to different women. Some continue to feel pain for hours after the procedure and some think that it's a breeze. I would have been willing to deal with the pain if it was effective, however it is probably less than 50% effective. Many women have had to have it done several times and by then they are 40+ weeks pregnant...delivery is eminent. Make the decision that is best for you, but nature will take it's course with or without "help". Best of luck to you and your growing family.

K.

I don't want to scare you- but yes- it really hurts. Does it hurt so much that you need medication? no- but it hurts when they do it and for me, for a couple of days I was very tender.

Make sure you are 100% on board before allowing your Dr. to do this. I have a girlfriend who had this done (mind you- they did not tell her thats what they were about to do) about 10 years ago. She still cannot talk about it- she only can say it felt like getting raped. This is the absolute extream, but I can see how some people -especially if they have had a tramatic experience in the past (ie- raped)could be upset about the experience.

Me- I was so miserable and wanted the baby OUT I would've let them do just about anything. I was not upset in the least- just sore/uncomfortable.

Oh- and it did not work for either of us. I just bled for 2 days and, as I said, was sore/tender.

Now that I am older and know more- I don't think I would have done it-even if it had worked. I think, for the most part- the baby will come when the baby is ready. Then again, that's easy for me to say rigt now- we'll see next time I am 40 weeks preggers and have gained 70 lbs......

good luck!

It is not a whole lot different than a regular pelvic exam. Slightly uncomfortable - nothing more. Many times, women don't even know their doctor did it, when she is checking for dialation in the last week or 2 of pregnancy!

I had it done twice by 2 different doctors. the first time I didn't really feel anything during or after and it did not bring on labor or bring me any closer. The second time was a week later and another doctor did it and boy, what a difference! It was very uncomfortable and I was shocked since the first time I didn't feel a thing. It was so strong that I got a cramp in one side of my butt! :) Labor started hours later and my daughter was born that evening, right on her due date!

I had my membranes stripped with my second child at 39 weeks because I was dilated to 4cm. It was quite uncomfortable but not really painful. It did bring on contractions about 30 minutes after the procedure and they lasted for about four hours, seemed to be getting harder and faster, and then everything stopped and he was born a week later the day after my due date. He came when he was ready.
So personally this did not work for me but it certainly wasn't worse than labor.

Hi there. I had it done with my son. I can't say that it was comfortable by any means, but I didn't even cry. I said ouch a few times. The best way for me to describe it is like a boyfriend who doesn't know what he is doing. It doesn't feel great, but it is over pretty quick. Good luck!

I had my membranes stripped at 39 weeks, and had no pain at all. Until I started having contractions a couple of hours later, and went into labor.

Hi Nancy!

I have 3 children and had this done for all 3 pregnancies. NO, it didn't hurt at all. I didn't feel a thing when my doctor did the procedure. Really the most uncomfortable part was the doctors hand going in, mainly because nothing had been going in there for some time (LOL).
You may experience some light some spotting afterwards. After each time I then went into labor all by myself within 1 to 1 and a half days. I did it mainly because I REALLY did not want to go in and be induced and have to hang out in the hospital any longer than I had to.
Hope this help you.

Nancy-
I had it ddone with all 3 of my pregnancies, and the first one I didn't feel a thing. The other 2 times it was just uncomfortable. It is like cramps. It was no where near as bad as labor, and it is quite fast. I would say to do it. It really helps, and it is not bad at all. The pain goes away as soon as they are done. Hope this helps and good luck with everything!!

Hi Nancy! I just had this done last June, and it took 4 days after for me to go into labor. Does it hurt? It depends on how much your doctor does. My doctor really separated everything, and it was HORRIBLE. However, the pain goes away rather quickly.
Best wishes!

I had this done with my first munchkin and was induced 2 weeks later... so i guess it didn't work for me...
It was just a little uncomfy... Sorta like when the baby is stretching and pushing up. But my dr had long fingers that helps... Some spot afterward... I didnot.
My OBGYN told me that anything they do is has a 50 50 chance of working and they really don't know for sure that anything they do will work or not... guess when the babys ready, it'll come... :-)
Good luck and hope you have an awesome delivery... I think it gets easier with each kid. :-)

hey nancy it a little unconfortabule it dose not hurt i had it done twice now now bigie i think it make for a quick labor good luck

I had it done and I was scared to death because every type of vag exam I had hurt really bad. I had a man doctor who had huge hands, but the day that I was getting my membranes stripped my doc wasn't there and I had a woman, thank god. It didn't hurt at all but it didn't do a thing for me neither. I had no contractions at all afterward. But I would say if you don't want it done tell them. To me it wasn't neccessary.

Hello N., I would have to say it all depends on your pain tolerance. I personally don't think it hurts and Ive had it done several times.(Three kids) And only one of them i had the baby the day after. It really depends on if your ready or not. I did go with my SIL when she had hers stripped and she cryed but she has no pain tolerance. I would say go for it your gonna be ready!! N.

I had it done and it was uncomfortable, but not unbearable. It was more pressure than anything like labor pains to me. It didn't do anything for me and it is my understanding that it only works if your body was ready to go into labor anyway. It just speeds it up. Most of my girlfriends that have had it done didn't go into labor right away.

Happy delivery!!

Hi Nancy! I had my membranes stripped too with my daughter, who is now 3. I don't recall it being painful at all. In fact, I had it done several times. I went 2 weeks over my due date and had to be induced. The best advice I think, is that everyones situation is definitely unique so you just never know how it will effect you. You will be just fine though...your little one is almost here!

Nancy,

Yes it does hurt when they strip your membranes. But once it's done the pain goes away. You will be tender in that area for a while and you may start cramping. I had it done with my daughter and it took three times and the final time I went into labor that night around 11 pm. I wouldn't go as far as saying the stripping hurts as bad a labor. It does hurt because that area is sensative. You will be fine after your appointment.

Best of luck!
P.

Yes I did have it done. Yes it hurt like hell. No it didn't really help. Sorry I don't really have anything positive to say about it. Ironiclly I asked my midwife to do it. She was willing but warned me that she rarly sees results from doing it.
I would just tell your OB that you don't want to do!
Blessings, K.

it is definitely uncomfortable but in my case it worked the dr did it right in his office the first time it didn't do anything the following week he did it and with in an hour of leaving his office i was having contractions and had my sont he following day. good luck

My doctor offered this to me during my first pregnancy at 40 weeks...but, he also stressed it could be pretty painful and there was no guarantee it would bring on labor any sooner. If it didn't "start" labor, I could spend the time waiting for labor to begin even more uncomfortable than I already was. It just didn't seem worth it to me, so I didn't have have the procedure done and went into labor naturally a few days later. I'm sure this was the best choice for me. Good luck to you!

Nancy,
My Dr. Did this with my Daughter at 38 weeks because I was not showing any signs of heading towards delivery (I stayed at a 1.5 from 34 weeks on.) It was a little uncomfertable, but nothing like labor pains. My dr. just told me to take deep breaths while she did it, it took her all of 10 seconds, and it wasn't that bad. When she was done it no longer hurt. It did not work for me, but nothing did, at one point in the hospital they trippled my petosin and that did not help, I ultimetly had a c-section.
Good luck!
A.

Nancy ~
I'm an L&D nurse...most patients that come in when their doctor stripped their membranes say that it was an exam that was a bit more uncomfortable than usual, and that they may have had a bloody show afterwards. It's not a guarantee to put you into labor, but since you've had one baby and you're full-term, it might be enough to do it. You'll probably have some cramping and that could turn into contractions, but it may not.
good luck
D.

I had this done a few years ago with my first and I don't remember it hurting at all. Good luck to you!

Yes, it hurts. And, yes, it's totally worth it! I was miserable, ready to have the baby. My midwife stripped my membranes and our sweet little girl was there the next morning. I will ASK to have it done with the next baby!

It definitely does NOT hurt more than labor! It is a tiny bit uncomfortable, but is completely worth the two minutes of discomfort. I went into labor 12 hours later (as did my friend who had her membranes stripped the same day as I did...we had our babies on the same day in the same hospital). I would highly recommend it to get that baby out quickly and safely (and naturally). It is similar to a pap. Go for it! So much better than waiting during your 40th week... =) Good luck!

Worse than labor??!?!? What is she talking about?!?! No -- it's NOTHING -- the doctor will do it in her office, and it's similar to just a regular pelvic exam. NO. BIG. DEAL. Good luck with the delivery!

I hurts....but not as much as labor! It is very uncomfortable and I had some bleeding. Not sure if it helped becuase I ended up needing to be induced when my son went a week past his due date.
Good luck.

Hi Nancy,

I've had my water broke by my doctor with every delivery I had. With my twins they broke one and then the other broke by it self. It doesn't hurt. It's just like an exam but then they stick like a long orange peeler and pop the bag. It's not very comfurtable, but it's not painful. I wouldn't worry about it to much. Good luck.

I had it done with my first child, and even though the doctor told me she was going to do it (I was being induced the next day) I didn't feel a thing. I did loose the mucus plug the next day. It seems like my cousin also had it done, and it did move her labor along.

I disagree with the whole thing. That is doctors messing with mother nature. I have read that it also can expose you to getting an infection. Let your body naturally work the way it is supposed to. My second baby, they wanted to strip them, I said no way. Went into labor naturally at 40 weeks and 4 days. Third baby, wanted to strip again, I said no way. I went to 42 weeks and gave birth to a 7 lb. 5 oz. girl. Let your body do things on its own. An infection could be detrimental to the baby's health.

It is no big deal..

It is just a like a rough pelvic exam.. Lots of pushing and pressure..

Pretty quick actually.

My dr did it on friday - i had some contractions that night and some on the weekend.. but monday I was back at the dr office.. no baby... soI was sent to be induced..

If your body is ready to have the baby it just might make you go into labor.. but if you are not ready it wont do much..

First of all, it is uncomfortable to have done but is NOTHING like labor!!!! I had it done 5 times and it did nothing for me :( But, I do know that several people told me that they had the baby within 24 hours of having it done.
Good Luck!

Boy, I don't know. I have never had this done. I sure hope it doesn' hurt too much. Good luck if you have it done.

I had the membranes stripped with my daughter several times. At he worst it was uncomfortable. I did deep breathing for fear of pain so I was very relaxed. I believe pain is mostly about your thoughts and the Dr.s skill. Good Luck! Remember it only takes a few seconds.