Stripping Membranes with Zero Dilation/Effacement

[louisianagirl]

Can you have your membranes stripped if you are not having any impending signs of labor? My doctor did something to me this morning to 'stir things up'. It was very uncomfortable and a bit painful. I wasn't sure of what he did and I didn't ask, I just said that hurt! From my research, it doesn't look like membranes are stripped if you're not favorable for labor. Thoughts anyone? TIA

 

[mummyflanagan]

could have been a sweep? xx where he runs his finger around the inside of your cervix in hope to stimulate a hormone to come on x

 

[Cuffy]

Sounds like a stretch and sweep to me, they are pretty uncomfortable and I had some bleeding after mine

 

[luvmyfam]

Hmm. My doctor said she won't be able to do a sweep unless I am over 1 cm. I'm not sure.

 

[yourstruly10]

To do a sweep you have to be somewhat dilated as the membranes are inside the cervix. If its closed the doctor wont be able to get to them. It could have been a bit of a stretch though. If your cervix was soft enough the doctor could have tried to stretch out the cervix a bit to get it to start dilating.

 

[Animaniacs]

I had that done with my son the morning he was born (went to the doctor in the am and he was born after midnight). I think I was already 1-2cm dialated, though, but it's been a while. Honestly, it all hurts from here on out. Try walking outside to help things along; if you start getting tightening in your stomach, that's a good thing and keep going. Once the tightening gets faster, you'll have to rest, take breaks, your lower back will ache. Try to eat something. Soon, you won't be able to talk at those times and then once the contractions get closer you can call and or go in. I labored mostly at home with my kids, checking in at 7-8cm with my daughter and 6-7cm with my son. Good luck!

 

[Chelsea.ann1]

My Dr. said that you have to be fully dilated to at least 1 cm to strip your membranes...
Because he has to be able to reach all the way through in order to do it.

However he could agrivate your cervix and perform "somewhat" of a stretch... where they literally stretch your cervix a little bit, I had that done when I was "nearly" 1 cm but not fully...