Stripping Membranes

I had it done at 41 weeks and it worked for me.  I felt totally fine before that, but was never the same after.  My water broke the next night.  I think I started having contractions within 20 mins of the strip.  I recommend it!  Only for good reason, though.  I was 41 weeks and facing induction, which I did not want.  You might as well try it, though.  But SOMEONE will be there to deliver your baby, and that's what matters.  I wouldn't evict your baby just so your doc can be there....

I was in labor at home for almost 2 weeks and then had them stripped the day my dr told me I was being induced for preeclampsia. It did nothing for me. I did have my baby 12 hours later but only because I was induced

Unfortunately everybody is different. I've seen where some it didn't do much.. but when I was pregnant with my 1st son my doctor stripped my membranes on February 19,2007 and my son was born February 20,2007.. I ended up having contractions later on in the evening after the Dr. stripped them, went to the hospital at 10pm, they of course sent me home and I woke up at 2am with horrible contractions and had him at 12:35 that afternoon.

Thanks ladies!Just to clarify - I TOTALLY understand everything about stripping membranes and I understand fully what it's intended to do, AS WELL AS the risks of it... I just wanted to know if it worked - I am anxious to have this baby!! :o)

I should have also mentioned the fact that he's leaving  on vacation isn't the ONLY reason he wants to strip my membranes - if he REALLY cared he would book me in for a full induction (and I have been begging him to because I REALLY only want HIM delivering my baby) but he unerstands that it's unneccessary and a little ridiculous to do so. He has other reasons for wanting to strip my membranes that are based on my previous labour/baby - and my husband and I totally agree with him!!

I have heard that it hurts, but have only heard that from women who had it done when they weren't dilated or effaced at all (I don't intend to let him strip my membranes if I am not dilated yet - seems kinda pointless).

As well, Michele - I hear what you're saying about "nothing making you go into labour unless you're ready" - and I do agree to a certain extent - I have had many friends who have done EVERYTHING they could to try and "speed things along" and nothing worked, they went into labour when their body/baby said so! At the same time I have had many friends who NEEDED to be induced however (for many reasons like high blood pressure/preclamsia) and when they went in for an induction, they were not dilated or effaced at all and they got the gel and the drip and they went into labour because medicine MADE them. So I could argue either way... and again, I don't intend to let him strip my membranes if I am not all ready dilated/effaced, and on my way to labour myself...

I've never had it done but I would never have it done anyway.  NOTHING is going to make you go into labor until your body and the baby are ready.  The women who have had their membranes stripped and then went into labor were already close to going into labor on their own.  IMO, it's an unnecessary intervention that could introduce an infection into your uterus (dr's finger goes through your cervix into your uterus), the dr could accidently scratch your bag and rupture it, etc.

As for your dr wanting to do it because he's going on vacation....If he's THAT abstinent about delivering his own patients then he shouldn't be going on vacations in the first place.  If I had a dr tell me he wanted me to go into labor before he left on his vacation I'd be telling him to stick and it and then finding a new dr.  The dr is YOUR employee and he/she should be working on YOUR time, not you working on their time.  Yes, I absolutely hate drs that want to speed things up just so it fits into their schedule.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

~Michele

Stripping the membranes is when the doctor inserts her finger between the bag of water and uterine wall to loosen the membranes and hopefully help to start labor. I had mine stripped three times and I ended up being induced when I was eight days overdue. It hurt, but it was bearable, mostly just a lot of pressure. It's nothing compared to childbirth, that's for sure!

my sister in law had hers stripped at 39 weeks and went into labor 3 hours later and had the baby 6 hours after that! it was her first and it went very quickly for her! good luck!