Stripping Membranes

JaneyW · May 12, 2005

I'm a second year nursing student and have not yet had L&D. I've heard from family and friends that if a doctor ever tries to strip your membranes to tell them absolutely not. What exactly is stripping membranes? Is it really bad for you? One of them said it made a hole tear in the amniotic sac and caused her baby to get pneumonia during the birthing process. Does this really happen, or is she just trying to place blame?

I would guarantee there is more to this story. I have personally had my membranes stripped and it worked like a charm--natural labor and birth three days later. It is usually done in the office when a woman is full term and will work like an induction. I went to an AWHONN meeting where a doctor told us it was the most reliable way of inducing labor. The big problem being how horribly uncomfortable it is!!

If she had been ruptured during the stripping, I would hope ahe would have gone to her doc or the hospital and asked about it. I will say that education by the docs leaves a lot to be desired and she probably wasn't fully informed of what was happening or what to expect.

jkaee · May 13, 2005

I also had my membranes stripped by my NP with my last 2 pregnancies, and while they did produce some pretty strong contractions they did not acutally get labor started on me (but I always need Pit, had it with all my deliveries). It is VERY uncomfortable, could barely even breathe while it was being done, but I don't think it's that risky of a procedure if it's done at the right time and by a skilled practicioner. A matter of opinion, I guess.

BandEmom · May 13, 2005

The only major risk that I have heard about is GBS ascending, but I think that it's unlikely.

2ndCareerRN · May 13, 2005

first, go here

then here >>>> http://www.google.com and enter stripping membranes.

which will lead you to something like this >>> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=stripping+membranes

where you can find things like this >>>> http://www.gynob.com/stripmem.htm

or >>> http://www.greenjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/76/4/678

bob

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 13, 2005

There's always a possibility of infection with any invasive procedure, but when you're 9 1/2 months pregnant and need to get the show on the road, there's nothing more likely to start labor than stripping the membranes. It's really uncomfortable, but of course it's nothing compared with being in full-blown labor :chuckle

SmilingBluEyes · May 13, 2005

Stripping membranes is like a lot of other interventions; it either works or not. It fails as much as it succeeds. It acts to cause (hopefully) the release of oxytocins and prostaglandins to initiate labor. It's nothing more than a matter of "irrititating" things to do so---e.g. "stirring it all up" in there.

For my patients, I highly recommend nipple stimulation to encourage the release of oxytocins from the pituitary gland, and perhaps start labor in a natural and non-invasive way. lady partsl intercourse can also help; semen has prostaglandins (yea those hormones people pay big bucks to have placed by hospital personnel) and may help get a labor "started" . Of course, many people don't want to even discuss that, as uncomfortable as they are late in pregnancy. But it does work often!

Personally, I would rather NOT have my membranes "stripped" ----it can be horribly uncomfortable and fail as often as it may succeed. It's as unpredictible as any other thing we try to start labor. The body tends to do it when it's good and ready. But if you are going to recommend anything, the less invasive the method, the better, is the usual best rule to go by.

Hope this helps.

allnurses Guide · May 13, 2005

Stripping membranes is like a lot of other interventions; it either works or not. It fails as much as it succeeds. It acts to cause (hopefully) the release of oxytocins and prostaglandins to initiate labor. It's nothing more than a matter of "irrititating" things to do so---e.g. "stirring it all up" in there.
For my patients, I highly recommend nipple stimulation to encourage the release of oxytocins from the pituitary gland, and perhaps start labor in a natural and non-invasive way. lady partsl intercourse can also help; semen has prostaglandins (yea those hormones people pay big bucks to have placed by hospital personnel) and may help get a labor "started" . Of course, many people don't want to even discuss that, as uncomfortable as they are late in pregnancy. But it does work often!
Personally, I would rather NOT have my membranes "stripped" ----it can be horribly uncomfortable and fail as often as it may succeed. It's as unpredictible as any other thing we try to start labor. The body tends to do it when it's good and ready. But if you are going to recommend anything, the less invasive the method, the better, is the usual best rule to go by.
Hope this helps.

I so agree with you . . . . you will go into labor when the time is right.

I realize that women get tired of being pregnant but really, this too shall pass and it will seem like your pregnancy flew by.

steph

mtnmom · May 13, 2005

I had my membranes stripped with my 2nd pregnancy in 1994. The midwife offered it as an option - I was beyond huge - eventual 9-8 baby, so I was miserable as well. At the time I was not a nurse and had never heard of the procedure...ordinarily I have always been the type to question everything and research everything before deciding, even in my pre-RN days. however, this time I was so huge and so miserable I didn't care. Anything to get this baby out! I remember it being pretty uncomfortable, but not much more than a cervical check at that stage of pregnancy.

bottom line...the membranes were stripped, and it was still another 8 days before i delivered, and then I had to be induced via rupture of amniotic bag (and yes, it was meconium stained). By that time we were past the due date and the stress test in the office had shown some decels so they sent me over for induction.

I will always wonder whether the baby was in distress from just being in the oven too long or whether the stripping had anything to do with it. Fortunately she is almost 11, is absolutely beautiful, sweet and a genius. So in the end it turned out OK.

mugwump · May 15, 2005

I only have one thing to say. "hurt like hell" one second I was fine the next I was shocked and went into labor breathing. (out of necessity) Fot induced 5 days later. I think it is an appropriate intervention. It most certainly did not cause pnuemonia.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · May 15, 2005

I have never heard of stripping membranes, I wonder if we do it in UK? Any UK midwives have you seen it or done it?

I am a midwife and have never seen it or heard of it or has it another name?

:uhoh3:

fourbirds4me · May 15, 2005

I have never heard of stripping membranes, I wonder if we do it in UK? Any UK midwives have you seen it or done it?
I am a midwife and have never seen it or heard of it or has it another name?

I did a quick search of Yahoo UK and found it referenced often. Perhaps it's called a "cervical sweep"

I think it is effective in helping to ripen the cervix even if labor is not a direct result. For some it is very uncomfortable and produces bloody show which sometimes concerns the pt. Others seem not to mind it at all. I think it is a natural alternative to induction that can be tried before other medical interventions.