If anything is abnormal on the examination, the membrane sweep will not be performed. The healthcare provider will perform an abdominal exam to make sure the head is down and will hear the fetus' heart rate. You should empty your bladder before the procedure to make it more comfortable. This is also a good time to ask about the membrane sweep success rate.

You need to be completely aware of the risks and benefits of having a membrane sweep before going through with it. Prior to doing the procedure, the obstetrician or midwife will tell you about what they are about to do and ask for your consent. In such cases, a formal induction with Pitocin will be carried out instead. The membrane sweep success rate is usually pretty good after 37 weeks with twins.Ī membrane sweep will not be performed if there is any indication of an ongoing vaginal infection or if you have already ruptured your membranes. Once you get past 37 weeks, you often get tired out and would do well to have the babies. If you are having twins and a vaginal delivery is anticipated.If the fetal growth is not as good as the doctors are expecting and it would be better to have the baby out.You are suffering from a pregnancy-related medical condition, including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, obstetric cholestasis or dysfunction of the pubic symphysis.There are other reasons you may need to have a membrane sweep, including the following: When Is a Membrane Sweep Necessary?Ī membrane sweep is usually required once you officially become overdue, which is about 41 weeks' gestation. If the procedure is done and a woman does not go into labor, the doctor or midwife may perform an artificial rupture of membranes and begin the patient on a Pitocin IV infusion. Some midwives and obstetricians will do a membrane sweep at every prenatal visit beginning at 38 weeks gestation however, it can be a risky procedure and is not a medically necessary thing to do. With the membrane sweep success rate being 24%, doctors may repeat the procedure in 36 hours if the woman hasn't gone into labor after the first time having the procedure done. Almost all women will have their baby within a week of having a membrane sweep performed. The success rate is about 24% in 48 hours if labor is not induced succesfully, more measures will be taken after 36 hours.Īccording to statistics, about 24 percent of people who get a membrane sweep will go into labor within 48 hours after having the procedure. But how effective is the technique? Is it safe? Read on to find out. It is a technique most often performed by obstetricians or midwives to help a woman go into labor without having an induction with oxytocin because it stimulates prostaglandins in the cervix, causing contractions and further cervical dilatation. Membrane sweeping, sometimes called “stripping the membranes” or “stretch and sweep of the cervical membranes”, is a technique used to stimulate labor.

Membrane sweep at 39 weeks