Dr Appt Today Left Me Confused...?

Question

Im 38 weeks 3 days pregnant and I just got back from my drs appt today and my doctor said im still dilated to 1cm and she didnt mention anything about being effaced so i guess im not. She also said that the babies head is like right there ! She asked me when my next c-section was and i told her hopefully i wont need one. She goes "oh your VBAC'ing !" i said yes then she started doing something down there that hurt so bad !!! She told me that she normally doesn't do it but she stretched me out so maybe that will get things going. There are 2 doctors in this practice and i dont normally see this one that's why she didnt know i was a VBAC but im confused... what did she do ? Is stretching also called stripping membranes ? If so does it usually work ? Ever since i left the appt i have been getting lots of contractions. Can anyone give me some idea of what just happened with the "stretching" ?

Answer 1

It sounds to me like she probably stripped your membranes.  I had it done with my second, and I went into labor the next day.  It may help things along, it may not.  It doesn't always work.

Answer 2

Sounds to me like she stripped your membrains...and yes you could have contractions right after that. But sometimes it dosent work at all. Good Luck

Answer 3

they tried to stretch me during labor to keep from being cut didnt work and my baby was only 5lbs and 11 ozs lol also born on 9-8  four years ago. my last baby was born by c-section on 6-17-08. good luck with the vbac i know for sure a vaginal delivery is so much easier for mom. I never want another c-section again.  

Answer 4

What she did was called perennial massage. It prepares the tissue to stretch and can help prevent tearing or the need of an episiotomy.  

Answer 5

im surprised she didnt warn or ask you before she did a stretch and sweep..stretching to dilate you more and sweeping..separating the sac of water... it doesnt always work..

Answer 6

Sounds like if she stripped your membranes..

Sometimes it doesn't always work..

Did you ask what she was doing ?

I would call the doctor and tell her you stared having contractions after she did that procedure..and maybe ask what she did..

Answer 7

Whatever she did, she did it to help your body move towards labor.  

It is normal for you to have Braxton Hicks contractions for weeks before the real thing.  But they could be real contractions.  

If they become steady and less than 5 minutes apart for over 2 hours I suggest that you head to the hospital.  Otherwise  hang tight you have almost 2 weeks left according to you.  

My doctor began stretching me a couple weeks before I was due.  Then she was stretching me when I was 10 days over due and she broke my water.  I had to go immediately to the hospital. I delivered the next day after being enduced.

Hang in there~ and Congratulations!

Answer 8

What she was doing was stretching out your cervix some more which makes you dilate more......since you want to have a vaginal delivery that can make it more likely for you :) Alot of doctors do it but she probably should have asked you first. time your contractions in case what she did is making your labor start :) goodluck!