stretching membranes

2 wks ago i went to doc, she said 3/4 cm dialated, last week still 4 cm. Today I go, (i will be 38 weeks on friday) back and doc wants to scrap or stretch membranes  how likely is it that i will go into labor today?

[katt7]

I assume that he means he wants to break your water?  If that happens, he will probably keep you in the hospital.  Usually labor follows shortly, if not they usually try to induce labor because I beleive delivery has to take place within 24 hrs. of water breaking.  I could be very very wrong, and if I am I am so sorry, but that is what I think happens.

[nurse12hr]

No, your doctor was refering to a common procedure known as "stripping" the membranes.  Inserting a finger between the amniotic sac and cervix and loosening it from the cervix.  It is uncomfortable for some, usually you will have some light spotting, and if you are almost 4 cms, it should have a good chance of helping to put you into labor sometime in the next 48 hours.  No promises, but it often works.  Good luck!

[kjpandbaby]

thanks i am a lil freaked by the idea, but excited to finally meet this lil gal i have been debating for a wk now weather or not to let doc do this or let the little one say when to come

[JustME9]

I had my membranes stripped with all my pregnancies.  It didn't work any of the times.  With my second I had my membrane stripped twice.  From what i've been told, if you're not ready you're not ready...i dilated very early in all my pregnancies..i was 6 cm for two weeks with my second and she stripped the membranes and STILL didn't go into labor.  Finally she just broke my water and 45 minutes later he was born.  Good luck to you! =0 Enjoy! =)

[msklar]

My docotor did that to me with my last pragnancy in hopes that I would go into labor naturally. It didnt work. SHe did it a couple of times too. I ended up with induction (gestational Diabetes) I am hoping that wont happen this time (induction) but my doc routinly induces a week early with gestational diabetes even though last time I controlled my sugars perfectly. My son only weighed 6 lb 9 oz. So he wasnt big like most diabteic babies tend to be. Christie, do you kknow any ways to induce labor naturally?

[JustME9]

Inducing labor naturally...there's tons of things you can try.  they say if you have sex it's almost a natural way of "stripping the membranes"...if it gets in around there...sorry! also there's a chemical in the fluids that causes your uterus to contract...there's lots of other grose ways to try...i tried drinking some tea concoction last time...but the thing i KNOW works is sex and then nipple stimulation...my friend is a CNmidwife and she said that if you stimulate your nipples it causes uterine contractions...with my last baby i did that all the way to the hospital and i swear once i go tthere and they put me on the strip that made contractions start...i was already dilating (i always dilate early) so they decided to just break my water and let me go! =) FUN! i wish you the BEST of luck...my FAVORITE part is labor...i absolutely love it and would do it again over and over again! =)

[joce29]

someone i was chatting with on line. said there dr had stretched her membranes and that he put his fist in her I have never heard of this. Is that how they do that she said it really hurt and she was in so much pain she barely could leave the drs. please advise me on this she is scared.

[jaysqu48]

( for the ladies trying to induce labor) Some people also should know should that the baby won't come till he or she is ready. The nipple stimulation works if you close and it kinda puts things over the edge a little bit. However it is know to cause harder contractions in some women.The only thing that is know to actually work is sex. It stimulates the hormones that actually cause the real contractions. If it's your first one nothing will work till your cervix is thinned, so be patient as well, you wouldn't want something to be wrong with your baby because you got inpatient.