stripping membranes : Natural Childbirth

Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:02 am

Hey girls.
I've had 2 natural births but I am more determined then ever to not rush things even with what some still consider "natural" means like caster oil, cohosh tea, and even AROM... I want the baby out... but I don't want to do anything that could effect either of us physically other than with labor (like the sickness/mechonium issues that some of these do or supposedly have involved)...
I want to only use natural remedies that do not start something that isn't there yet. But MORE IMPORTANTLY I don't want to use anything that has even "suspected" risks (hence no cohosh or caster oil this time)...
My question is... are there any "risks" or side effects even suspected with stripping membranes? Is it koshor for even the very most non-interventionist type goal? I want baby out. I don't want anything I don't normally eat or drink to be in our systems, and I definitely don't want pokings and proddings done to my body that will make things happen TOO much (like AROM)... but is membrane stripping better and okay? does it stress either of us or cause damage to that tissue? anything like that? or is it perfectly fine?
Sorry.. I'm preggo brained and rambly... I hope my questions make sense

Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:57 am

Britts wrote:My question is... are there any "risks" or side effects even suspected with stripping membranes? Is it koshor for even the very most non-interventionist type goal? I want baby out. I don't want anything I don't normally eat or drink to be in our systems, and I definitely don't want pokings and proddings done to my body that will make things happen TOO much (like AROM)... but is membrane stripping better and okay? does it stress either of us or cause damage to that tissue? anything like that? or is it perfectly fine?

The risk with ALL vaginal exams and sweeping/stripping the membranes is that the bag of water can accidentally be ruptured and then they're you are ruptured, with no contractions patterns for labor. In a hospital this is a 'perfect storm' for pit-epidural-c-sect style birth. Then you risk potential infection, blah, blah, blah, blah, whatever. It is considered a method of labor induction.

Some women have spotting after sweeps/stripping, some women cramp, some women have strong braxton hicks and nothing else, and some go into labor. It may do nothing. It may do what you hope. It's not a sure fire thing.

Now, I believe you have CNM's (I can't remember, but thats the impression in my memory) so you'd need to ask the what if questions; after how long of being ruptured do they transfer for intervention (i.e. pitocin)?

*PERSONALLY* I had my membranes stripped at 41 weeks. I was eating through my vacation time and was already being threatened by the company I worked for that if I didn't return in 3 weeks I would be terminated. I was under a lot of pressure from outside forces, so for me the benefits outweighed the risks to start working through some induction methods. (FWIW, I had a baby in arm 36 hours later)

Have patience my dear. When baby is ready, they'll make their way into your arms. I really don't encourage messing with things until you're reaching the end of normal gestation (41-42 weeks)

Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:50 pm

*Brie+3* wrote:

Have patience my dear. When baby is ready, they'll make their way into your arms. I really don't encourage messing with things until you're reaching the end of normal gestation (41-42 weeks)

I have CPM's (I think I put those letters in the right order?!) they are homebirth midwives.
And no, I'm not looking to do anything soon. I'd love for baby to come today... but I'm not looking into goading things at all yet. I do tend to go late though and I'm trying to sort out what I'm willing to do and what I'm NOT willing to do when/if the time comes that I'm 41-42 weeks and want to get things going and avoid a hospital birth. In the meantime I don't even plan to get checked at mynext apt on Thursday (only 5 days before my edd)... I just want to get some ideas on what is healthiest for me and baby if I decide a little prodding is neccessary if I start to get close to the day where my midwives would have to turn me over to the hospital (yuck!)

Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:44 pm

Hey Britts,
I think if you waited till week 41 or so, then stripping the membranes is a good option for you. It is rare to have it rupture the bag of waters as long as the dr/midwife knows what they're doing - and it can help labor start about 70% of the time from what I've read (this is as long as the person has waited and they have favorable circumstances - i.e. they are most likely ready for labor anyway).
I'm getting mine stripped tomorrow for a couple reasons:
1. I think my due date of 11/3 is late...I always have and my childbirth instructor and chiropractor agree and even my dr has mentioned it, but didn't want to change the date since she didn't want to induce early by any means (which I appreciate) and
2. Due to my surgical history they had already offered a c/sec route, which of course I'm trying to avoid. The baby is already seeming to be big and still growing, so she can't get too big or they won't let me deliver vaginally.
I would rather risk rupturing the bag of waters and still have her naturally than let it go too long and back myself into a corner where c/sec is pressed on me more and more.

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow - I hope it goes well and just eases me into labor by the end of the week!

Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:41 pm

I had my membranes stripped with my last pregnancy and it did nothing for me. No contractions at all. I will not do it again as I worry about the membranes rupturing and really want the baby to come naturally this time. I could see doing it though if you are nearing the time that you would have to switch to a hospital birth. Do your midwives have to transfer your care right at 42wks? We have until 43weeks here.

Tue Oct 27, 2009 4:43 pm

SelenaJean wrote:I had my membranes stripped with my last pregnancy and it did nothing for me. No contractions at all. I will not do it again as I worry about the membranes rupturing and really want the baby to come naturally this time. I could see doing it though if you are nearing the time that you would have to switch to a hospital birth. Do your midwives have to transfer your care right at 42wks? We have until 43weeks here.

Yes, they have to, by law, transfer me to my CNM/OB back up if I pass 42 weeks from what I understand. I have been wondering things like well, what if I call them at 42w 1 day and tell them I refuse to go to the hospital and they should come help me... would they abandon me? lol... hopefully that would never happen... but I wonder. I'm pretty sure they are restricted to 42 weeks by law though. Though they said they've never had to do it. They've always been able to goad things along by that day.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:57 pm

No idea for you that you probably havent already heard. I just wanted to say hang in there girl and I hope little one makes it here soon so you dont have to have a hospital birth.

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