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Anyone? I hope it's not a stupid question. :)

Rachel, I think every OB has a slightly different protocol when it comes to sweeping or stripping the membranes. MY OB will do it at 37 weeks if you ask, but you have to be a cm or 2 dilated (otherwise it's hard to get through the cervix to do what he needs to do.) I've heard some OB's do it automatically when they do an internal exam.

My doctor did it at 38 weeks because I was very uncomfortable with swelling all over, and he just looked at me at my last appt. and asked if I ws ready to have the baby, and I said YES!!! So he did the sweep and I went into labor 2 days later.

Thanks guys for the responses. I have an appointment tomorrow and if she tells me that my cervix is still closed I think I'll cry!

hi i am 39 weeks and cervix is still closed head nowhere near engaged its so frustrating as i feel im not getting anywhere not due to be sweeped untill 41 weeks,have loads of discharge but no sign of the mucus plug have been having very bad back pain but other than that nothing is happening

Rachel- how did your apt. go?? My doctor told me in my second trimester that she would sweep the membranes at 38 weeks. I had my appt. yesterday (just hit 38 weeks) and she said they changed it and wont do it until 39 weeks now. So frustrating, because we were looking forward to it hoping that it would help move things along. I have been 3 cm dilated for almost 3 weeks now. ALmost fully effaced and baby fully engaged. I don't know why my doctor changed her mind. She said that they changed it because of the slight chance that they accidently break the waterbag (the sac), that they want to make sure your at 39+ weeks. Gosh, I wouldn't mind taking that chance even though its so slim. I am not looking into inducing with meds or anything else... but, I just thought this would help move things along. Now I have to wait another week.

Hey Daniella, I go for my appt this afternoon so I'll let you know. Whe are you due? I know your frustration! :)

Daniella, my appt was ok, still not dilated though. I did ask if I could be induced on my due date (May 10th) and my doctor said she didn't mind doing that as long as I have at least dilated a little by then. So I'm crossing my fingers for that. It's so depressing because it seems like all my friends were all at least dilated to 1 cm around 36 weeks and here I am at 38 weeks and nothing.

Hey Rachel- Last week at my 38 week apt. I asked the doctor to sweep my membranes (as I last posted) and she said next week. Well, I just came back from my 39 week apt. Some how they screwed up and it was with a different doctor. I didn't mind because I really like this doctor. Anyhow, he came in and first thing he said was he wanted to strip my membranes. He said he would have done it last week. I was like, "man I wish I had you last week" He actually said that he usually does it at 38 weeks, but sometimes even at 37 weeks. I think the reason why my reg. doctor does it at 39 weeks is because she is real new and young and probably doesn't want to take any risks. Well... this doctor I had today had no problems with doing it. Before he did it, I was almost 4 cm dilated and fully effaced. I was 3 cm dilated for the past 3 weeks. So, at least there was progress there. It was a little sharp pain and pulling, but nothing as bad as some women say it is. But yes, you have to be dilated for them to do it. Most doctors wont do it until you are 2 cm. Anyhow, he said that he thinks I'll go into labor within 24-48 hours. We will see!!! How are you doing?? and when is your next apt.?? I sure pray you also show some progress. :)

Hey Danielle, thanks so much for the encouragement! I go back to the doctor tomorrow and I'll let you know what they say. I'm so down about not being dilated or anything. I wish this baby would come at least by my due date. I really don't want to be pregnant a day later. And it's also hard because our parents live so far away (we're in the military) and there trying to get plane tickets and it's kinda just like "up in the air" cuz we don't know if the baby's going to come on time or not.

Rachel- where you live again?? Well, I sure wish you luck on your appt. if you haven't already had it. I am also overseas due to the military and hubby is on leave now. He would have been deployed otherwise, but we were told baby wasn't going to make it to the due date. Well, times a tick n' cuz he goes back May 10th and my parents are flying out here May 11th... So, this baby really needs to come. Its been 31 hours since I had my membranes stripped... Gosh, I hope it works soon. I feel horrible that he has wasted 2 weeks of leave with no baby. Yet, we didnt' want to take any chances of him missing the birth.

Hey Daniella- We're stationed in Georgia. It must be hard being overseas and having the baby. I sure hope your husband gets to be there for you when you have the baby. I'm due on the 10th and I'm still not dilated or anything. It's so depressing. I feel like she's never going to come. I go to the doctor today so maybe (keeping my fingers crossed) I have dilated at least. I think I'm going to try the castor oil thing next week on my due date if I haven't progressed by then. I really didn't want to at first but now I don't even care! I'm so ready to be un-pregnant and see my baby girl! I hope your pregnancy goes well. I think you will be fine since you are already 4 cm. It will be soon! Take care.

Rachel- well good luck at your appt. Gosh, I wish I was in GA. Any chance you know where lake oconee is?? My family lives off that lake and I was there for the 4th of July last year. Had a blast!! I sure hope that you have dilated at least to 1 also... my best advice is s_x s_x and more s_x. The hormone in s____n help soften the cervix.. not to mention if you have an orgasm, it can contract the uterus and help to open it. hehe... So, if you are dilated, they are going to sweep your membranes?? Good luck!!! Hubby and I live in Japan and not much choice of where we can go, etc. Can't be too picky when your over here. I really wanted a water birth, but obviously can't have that. I am going for the all natural birth though with no meds, etc. Also, don't worry too much if you aren't dilated or if you are and not much... I have been dilated since 32 weeks and I am 39 weeks now. I have known so many women that werent' anything at all.. and then had their baby that day. It happened so fast. I kinda wish it would happen real fast for me, then this agonizing and dreading stages... they said I would never make it full-term and here I am. So, you never know!! I am not sure about the castor oil thing... I think that it contracts most stomach and not uterus, yet it looks like real contractions on the scan at the hospital and so they induce you with meds. because it looks like your not progressing and when that doesn't work, you end up with a c-section. If you do it, let me know what happens. I heard it only works if your in the early parts of labor (starting to dilated, efface, baby engaged) to progress. That it wont work if your not ready. Yet, who knows!! I have thought about it also since I am stuck in this positon, like I am so close yet so far away... but, they don't sell the stuff at the px here. LOL (yes, I've looked. haha)

Daniella, I'm not sure where that lake is. I'm not originally from Georgia. I was born and raised in Tennessee. Are you from Georgia? I don't really want to do the castor oil but I also don't want to go past my due date (big babies run in my family). I'm really hoping I get to be induced on the 10th, but like I said, the only way my doctor said she would do that is if I'm dilated today when I go to my appt. I think she will strip my membrane if I'm dilated today. I'm walking a lot too. Yesterday I walked 2 miles, but I do that normally anyways (like twice a week) so I heard it only works if you are not used to walking a whole lot. On friday (the 5th) I volunteered for Relay for Life and signed up to walk for an hour so I hoping that will.... yeah. Well, let me know how your doing. I'll let you know what the doctor says this afternoon! Take care.

Hey, good luck with that. I walk (well, walked now since we just bought a car) at least 3 miles everyday. We live off base and wasn't going to buy a car here in Japan. They drive on the opposite side of the road and the wheel is on the other side. No biggie though, we just didn't want to buy a car since we don't have a problem commuting. Yet, since we are going to have a baby, we decided its best. Anyhow, its about a 2-3 mile walk each way (with a train in between) to and from base. So, I was doing that pregnant no problem. Even with a car, we walk so much. Heck, until recently I was still running and swimming. Perhaps that is why I have been dilated since 32 weeks, but who knows. Anyhow, good luck at your apt. I really hope you get some good news!!! Let me know what they say. Oh, I am not from Ga. just have family there and heard that lake and area is pretty popular so I thought I would ask. Anyhow, I am originally from Chicago, and hubby is from Ohio. My sister lives in Crossplains, TN. if you know where that is. Well.... I wish you the best of luck!!!

Hey Daniella, My appt was not good. Still no dilation. She really didn't say about effacement. She scheduled me to come back next Thursday (the 11th) which is one day after my due date. I don't know why she did that??? She said she wouldn't let me go a week over my due date so that's good to know. At least I know I will have her by the 17th. I'm really depressed about this. Why can't I dilate????? It's so frustrating. I just wanted to cry on the way home yesterday. But anyways, I'm not sure where Crossplains is. I live near a Crossroads, TN. I work with a guy that's from Chicago so that's cool. I been through there once when I was like 9 years old. It was huge! But then again I from a small town. Well, let me know how your next appt goes... or when the baby goes????? LOL. You'll probably get there before me. It was good to hear from you! Take care... and I'll continue to walk, walk, walk. Oh, and I'm having second thoughts about the castor oil. I really don't want to do it, so maybe I won't. But what if it works? AIGH! Let me stop. Ok, I'll talk to you later girl! :)