Friday, March 16, 2012

Friday, March 2, 2012

Thoughts on Membrane Stripping/Sweeping

Not that there isn't already a million places on the internet to find information and opinions on membrane stripping.  I thought I'd share my experience and thoughts on it anyway.

As I mentioned in my last post it didn't really hurt besides the pressure of being checked.  Of course being dilated to 3 probably helps.  I would guess if you are only at 1 it would be more painful.

My cramping has continued off and on since having it done, almost 48 hours ago now.  I was cramping before, but probably not as frequently, its not something I was really keeping track of.

As for contractions, I haven't had any "Real" ones.  As in the ones that start in your back and work their way around your belly until the whole thing is contracted.  What I have had is some that start in my back, go around my hips and only part way up my belly.  Which is more "real" than the ones I was having before the stripping that all started in the front.

I do believe the the stripping is what caused me to lose my mucus plug.  This never happened with Lillian and I had no idea what to expect, but when it happens, its hard to miss.  The first part came and I was like "wow, that quite the glob, but not as gross as I had expected."  Well then more came out a 2nd and 3rd time over the last 24 hours and I realized how gross that really would have been had it all came out at once.

I did call the midwife this morning because I had some red blood streaks, but she said it's normal and as long as it's not a flow I'm fine.

I've got everything but my legs crossed that things will really start progressing now!




Thursday, March 1, 2012

Ready or Not?

It's looking right now like the answer is not :(

All the way to my appointment yesterday I was preparing myself to hear that I was not dilated any more and that she wasn't going to be able to strip my membranes.  After all the customary question and answers she asked me if I wanted her to strip my membranes if she could.  My immediate answer was "Yes!".  She said "Even if it means you might have her today?"  My answer "I would learn to live with it if she arrives today!"

As she's preparing to examine me she says "Show me a 5!"  and I was like "I'm not going to get my hopes up for that."  But when she checked she said right away "We have a 3!  Are you ready?"  Boy was I ever!  It really didn't bother me at all.

After leaving I had some cramping and discomfort while eating lunch and every time I took a step while walking around all after noon I felt like I had to pee.  But other than that, there hasn't been much to speak of.  Throughout the night I woke a few times to what I thought was going to be a real contraction, starting in the back, working it's way around the front and top, but they never made it all the way around my belly.

I've done lots of reading and it pretty much seems like it only works part of the time, there doesn't seem to be any set of conditions that make it more probable than others either.  And it seems that it can take anywhere up to 48hrs for labor to even start.

I'm thinking it might not work this time because she did mention that she's a little confused on why I look like I've dropped, I'm measuring like I've dropped, and have all the "symptoms" of dropping, but the baby's head didn't feel that low when she was in there.  It has me a little concerned on the size and position of the baby, but she didn't seem too worried.