Dumb questions but...sweeping membranes?

[Anonymous]

I've seen it mentioned a number of times, including people saying they've had it done more than once. Can someone enlighten me about what this is and why its done?

TIA!

[Anonymous]

A practitioner will insert a finger through a partially dilated cervix and "sweep" their finger between the amniotic sac and the uterine wall, separating the two. It is supposed to induce labor but I think it is a bunk practice. And it is painful.

[Anonymous]

From: http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/childbirth/excf5.htm -

"Stripping the membranes" is done by inserting a finger between the membranes and the wall of the uterus to loosen the membranes from the wall. Sometimes, this stimulation of the uterine wall can help to start labor. Sometimes, the loosening of the membranes allows more water to collect in front of the baby which puts more pressure on the cervix and perhaps labor is stimulated that way. The procedure can be a little uncomfortable for some women. If the woman is truly near delivery, she often gets a contraction as a result of the procedure.


It's done to encourage labor. But as with many of such "encouragements", it is said that it won't work unless your body is close to labor anyway. The downside, other than the fact that it can hurt, is that the doctor can end up accidentally breaking the bag of waters, which with most doctors these days means you are "on the clock" to deliver in 24 hours.

[Anonymous]

Well, bunk or not, I had it done when I was a week past due and my blood perssue was starting to creep up. I had a homebirth with CNMs, just for reference. I was in for an appointment and was 80% effaced and 2cm, and due to the bp, they wanted to get things going. The midwife did a stretch and sweep, and they put some evening primrose oil up there, too, and told me to go for a walk. I walked out at 3 cm and went into labor that afternoon. The sweep was a little uncomfortable, but not unbearable. Would I have gone into labor anyway? No idea.

[Anonymous]

"pressure"...blood "pressure"

[Anonymous]

Supposedly the procedure encourages the production of natural prostaglandins, which prepare the cervix for labor. I had it done, and within an hour had cramping followed by regular contractions and labor 12 hours later.

It was quite uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as my previous labor, which was induced with pitocin.

[Anonymous]

had it done when I was exactly at 40 weeks

did nothing other than give me pain and spotting

I was induced that very week. Pitocin is just as bad as the membrane sweep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:had it done when I was exactly at 40 weeks

did nothing other than give me pain and spotting

I was induced that very week. Pitocin is just as bad as the membrane sweep.

Swept CNM lady here. I don't disagree that the discomfort could be comparable (and I have never had pit), but I think one of the reasons folks opt for this over or before pitocin is that if someone is shooting for less intervention, they often try this first as you have to be monitered with pit. Please call me on it if I have this wrong, but this is what I remember.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:had it done when I was exactly at 40 weeks

did nothing other than give me pain and spotting

I was induced that very week. Pitocin is just as bad as the membrane sweep.

Swept CNM lady here. I don't disagree that the discomfort could be comparable (and I have never had pit), but I think one of the reasons folks opt for this over or before pitocin is that if someone is shooting for less intervention, they often try this first as you have to be monitered with pit. Please call me on it if I have this wrong, but this is what I remember.

PP here

You're very right. They do it to avoid induction, but unfortunately (as in my case) it doesn't always work. (They wanted to do it TWICE! I said no.) My first would have stayed in the womb for another month, I'm sure! So if it works, it's worth it b/c pitocin is not the friendliest way to have a baby.

[Anonymous]

I had it done my last two appointments (at 39 and 40 weeks). I was participating in a clinical trial and part of the intervention group. Did not find it particularly uncomfortable - not more so than any other kind of v. exam. I did go into labor within 24 hours of the second sweep, but I was also 1 day past due, so perhaps would have gone into labor anyway. Most of the clinical studies I reviewed on pubmed showed it to be a wash either way, though maybe one or two did find that those in the sweep group were more likely to go into labor sooner. There is concern that it introduces bacteria into the uterus, which is reasonable, though studies so far have not found negative effects, or I wouldn't have agreed to participate.