How much does "stripping the membranes" hurt?

[Sillygirl]

Title says it all. I'm tired of being pregnant, but I'm also a big wuss. Your experiences?

[youngmommy]

I think I remember that they did this for me when I was about a week and a half over-due and I was still refusing pitocin. I remember it being uncomfortable, but "nothing compared to labor" as they say. Fortunately I went into labor naturally a few days later. I would have done pretty much anything to avoid pitocin, including caster oil, had nothing else worked.

[elliput]

I don't remember it hurting at all. However, it was just over two years ago when DD was born and with my new mommy brain I can barely remember what I ate for dinner let alone recall many details of DD's birth.

[ribbit1019]

Depends on how "rough" they are. The one midwife, a little more than reg exam discomfort. The other I was practically scooting up off the top of the table, lol. In her defense though I had J less than 48 hours later and started having actual contractions (though far apart)when I left the office.

The mild discomfort one was 1 day PDD with DD and did nothing, she was born 8 days later.

Christy
Wife to Richard
My Waterbabies
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[Momof3Labs]

Only mildly uncomfortable.

[JulesinChicago]

Not much more than when they do an internal check. A little uncomfortable, but not a big deal. (and I am a wuss, who hates getting blood drawn, shots, etc)

And I went into labor the next morning :)

Jules

[trumansmom]

It's not fun, but it's fast. Unfortunately, it didn't do anything to help me either time. :(

Come out little groundhog!!!

Jeanne
Mom to Truman 11/01 and Eleanor 4/04

[goodnightmoon]

Like a PP, I had 2. The first was mildly uncomfortable and didn't do anything. The second was almost a week later and was painful. It was nothing compared to childbirth, of course, but it was definitely painful. I went into labor the next day. :)

Laura
DD Feb 2005

[psophia17]

It hurt like crazy, but I went into labor that night.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Depends on your cervix. If it is unfavorable (posterior/ up high and tilted back) it will probably hurt.

For me it didn't hurt at all. Just felt like an exam. I was midline or anterior, 2cm and 80%. Now, my water did break a few days later and I will always wonder if I was one of the 5% that has that as a possible side effect. I hated that my labor started with ROM. If I had my say I would keep that water in tact till I was pushing. :) well, probably.

I read somewhere that it works about 20-40% of the time. Depends on favorability, proximity to EDD (odds are much higher it will work at 41 weeks than 39 weeks). It can also take 72 hours to work so don't be discouraged if it doesn't work sooner. Can cause cramping which can get confused with contractions. And it can kick up discharge that can get your hopes up that it is bloody show or your mucus plug.

If you are GBS+ be sure and discuss whether this is a safe option.

Sorry to ramble! Good luck making the choice.

Beth

[kaylinsmommy2]

Not more than childbirth. ;)

It wasn't that bad - similar to a pap smear. But if you want your groundhog day baby, I guess it's worth a shot. Or else you will have to wait until Valentine's Day!!

Caroline
mommy to Kaylin 6/5/04

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and one on the way, due 2/26/07

[sdoyle]

It's pretty uncomfortable and feels a bit like a rough "check". It's pretty quick though, so do-able if you are as ready to go as I was!!

Stacy

[spanannie]

I didn't think it was a big deal. It feels like a rougher version of a pelvic exam.

I didn't have it done with DD, but, with DS, I left the doctor's office, walked in my house, and my water broke. He was born a few hours later.

[lizajane]

like i got kicked in the business with a steel toed boot.

[Globetrotter]

It was pretty painful but not so horrible compared to labor and it's over and done with pretty fast. I had it done at 41 weeks and I never did go into labor but instead had a repeat c/s a week later :(

ETA: Not so horrible compared to labor.
Kris

[KrisM]

It didn't hurt too much and only takes 5-10 minutes, so not bad overall.

[bunnisa]

Didn't hurt me at all. I was so glad!

...blessed wife and mama to two!

"And children are always a good thing, devoutly to be wished for and fiercely to be fought for."
-Justin Torres

[MommyAllison]

LOL! Um, yeah, it hurt a lot. However, I think it was partly due to the fact that I had a very new OB (as in, newly hired, recently finished school) doing it. My other OB is much more gentle. I had a lot of cramping that night, and went into labor about 36 hours after they were stripped. I hope that any future DC come out earlier so I don't have to do that again :) Come out little baby!!

Allison

[Wife_and_mommy]

My mw did that with dd. It was after a srom and hardly any labor. It didn't help.



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I love them most when they are sleeping.--Me
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[omgrown]

I think I remember it being uncomfortable, but so worth it as I went into labor later that night (lost my mucous plug within a couple of hours, then started contracting a hour or so later). I was 4 days past due date when it was done with DS. I'm due in 2 weeks now with #2 and planning to have acupuncture done to get things going starting this week. That might be an option for you too.

[pb&j]

I think it depends on how vigorously it's done. Mine just felt like a super-sized pap smear - kind of weird and crampyish, but not bad. I was afraid that the doc might leave his wristwatch behind, though. ;)


-Ry,
mom to Max the one year old
and my girl in heaven

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[KBecks]

I thnk it depends on your body. I haven't had it done, but my SIL went on and on and on and on about how awful it was.

[SpaceGal]

My OB did this to me when I didn't have DS on my due date. She stripped them then told me that hopefully that will work and I won't need to be induced. So for us, she stripped the membranes on a Friday and DS was born on Monday...I was supposed to be induced on Tuesday.

Not painful at all...maybe the same degree of uncomfort as a pap smear if that...I barely remember anything happening when she did it.

[dawell0]

Not painful to me and I had an unfavorable cervix at 41 1/2 weeks. Felt like a pap smear. It didn't work either--had to be induced a few days later.

[Sillygirl]

Thank you to everyone who shared your experiences - it really helped me so much! The correct answer ( ;) for me at least) is: not much more than the regular cervical check. A little sharper is all.