

No harmful side effects to the procedure were noted.

The proportion of inductions of labour was 8.1 % in the swept group and 18.8% in the control group. Sweeping the membranes significantly reduces the subsequent duration of pregnancy, from an average of five days to two days following the procedure. Membrane sweeping is the advancement of one or two fingers through the internal cervical os to the lower uterine segment, followed by a circular sweeping movement between the amniotic membrane and. The incidence of induction of labour for post-maturity.

Subsequent duration of pregnancy to the onset of spontaneous labour. One hundred and ninety-five antenatal women with pregnancies proceeding beyond 40 weeks gestation.Ī Bishop score assessment of the cervix alone or combined with a membrane sweep, on a randomised basis. Membrane stripping is a relatively safe procedure in uncomplicated pregnancies, and study results have shown that it can increase the likelihood of spontaneous labor. The antenatal clinic of a district general hospital. Will a doctor do a membrane sweep at 38 weeks Membrane stripping takes place during the final few weeks of pregnancy, which are usually between 38 and 41 weeks of gestation. To determine whether sweeping the membranes in pregnancies of longer than 40 weeks gestation results in an accelerated onset of labour and a reduction in the incidence of induction of labour.Ī prospective randomised controlled study.
