QuestionMy due date is Dec. 16. My baby has been "dropped" for a few weeks, but I had yet to dialate. Yesterday, the doctor stripped my membranes.(Very painful) Since, I believe I lost my mucus plug this morning. How effective is that process, and how much longer should I expect? By the way, I am 24 years old and this is my first child. Thank you!
AnswerWhen we strip the membranes, a finger is placed between the cervix and the membranes and, by separating the membranes from the cervix, there is a release of prostaglandins, which may stimulate you to go into labor. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not work. If you lost your mucus plug ("bloody show"), you may go into labor within a few days or a few weeks. When you start to get contractions at the level of your belly button, that occur every 3 minutes (from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next contraction) and each contraction lasts for at least 45 seconds to 1 minute, and all of this continues for a full hour, we consider you to be in labor. When you are more than 3 cm dilated, you will be admitted into the hospital. If this is your first baby, we can wait until two weeks after your due date before induction will be necessary. You can go iabor at any time now.
