This weeks appointment was a little painful. First of all, Kailey is a sleeper in the afternoon. Right when I was put on the monitor she had a few movements and then zonked out. Dr. Fitzgibbon came in and tried to wake her up by putting a vibrating massager on my belly. She gave a few kicks although I couldn't feel or see them. She then checked to see if I have dilated. Nope. But as she was checking me, she got Kailey's heartbeat up when she poked her in the head.
Dr told me she was going to strip my membranes. I had no clue what she was talking about and my look have must have said it. She explained the process. Here is what the Internet says so I don't screw it up....
As you probably know, the bag of waters is inside the uterus, and the bag is composed of membranes. The membranes tend to cling to the wall of the uterus until after the baby is born and the placenta is expelled. As the cervix begins to soften and open (dilate) at the end of pregnancy, the part of the membranes that was over the cervical opening can be felt through the opening when a vaginal exam is done. "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 hurt like hell! She said I will probably experience some bleeding and cramping and hopefully that cramping continues on. She also said that if I don't deliver by my due date then between Week 40-41 they would induce me.
She estimates that I am having a 7.5-8 pound baby from how I am measuring although she said you never really know. I will probably be closer to the 8lbs side if I go to next week.
So hold tight everyone - we may have a baby this week (or tomorrow!!)
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3 comments:
Just so you know, the morning after I had mine stripped -BAM!- out Cameron came :)
Crossing my fingers for you!
:)
Good luck Dominique, you and Kailey are in my prayers!
Yes, I do believe that is one thing they did not do to me. Hoping for a Kailey soon, Alex is kicking me like crazy all afternoon, he says "hi"
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