How does a Dr strip your membranes?
I recall my doctor stripping my membranes at a Dr visit when I was 37 wks but I dont remember what they did it with. Do they use a tool or just their hand? Im thinking of requesting it with this pregnancy to jump start my labor (Im mid 38 wks) but I just couldnt recall what exactally happened and thought Id get a recap. Thx!
Update:I have been 3 cm dialated, effacing, and am carrying the baby "very low" (direct quote from my Dr) with baby #3 so Im sure he will do it if requested.
He keeps saying, wow, how have you not go into labor yet? The other two had to be induced at 37/38 wks. My kids are stubborn. =)
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They just use their finger and move the bag of waters off the cervix and hopefully it should start labor.
But remember your baby has to cooperate also!
What your doctor is talking about is essentially just an aggressive pelvic exam in which he will feel around just inside your cervix where the membranes ("bag of water") are attached to its rim. By running an examining finger around the inside of your cervix, he can separate the amniotic sac from where it's stuck there. Theoretically, this will allow the bridging molecules that stick the membranes to the inside rim of the cervix to break--all at a molecular level, mind you--and so be released and then converted into prostaglandins, which are powerful stimulants of labor.
You would think that one time and wham! labor! But it doesn't actually work that faithfully after only one time. Usually it'll help irritate things just a bit so that an induction will "take" better. Repeated "strippings" may end up being performed before spontaneous labor develops, but then no one knows whether this is a coincidence or the result of finally enough stripping.
Obstetricians in private practice have come full circle in their thinking about stripping membranes. Once a favorite trick in training programs so that the patient would come back in labor when someone else was on call--a plot which didn't work--it fell into disfavor because of its meddling nature. Also, it was felt that such an invasive exam might introduce infection.
http://www.gynob.com/stripmem.htm
http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/childbirth/excf5.h...
To strip the membranes, your doctor will do a kind of pelvic exam in which she will feel around just inside your cervix where the membranes of the amniotic sac are attached. With her finger, she will push the amniotic sac away from where it has attached to the cervix. This process breaks the bridging molecules, which stick the membranes to the inside rim of the cervix. These bridging molecules are then converted into prostaglandins, which stimulate labor.
http://smartmomma.com/Pregnancy/strip_the_membrane...
With gloves on. Gently,of course, with his finger ( s) The OB Dr will not do it upon your request; but of course may do so when it is time.
they just sweep your membranes with their fingers,didnt work for me though i had to be induced 2 weeks later
With their hand. A better way is by having sex.