Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
Membrane Sweep in Spanish: Barrido de Membranas
Barrido de Membranas · noun phrase (masculine) · bah-RREE-doh deh mem-BRAH-nahs
A membrane sweep in Spanish is barrido de membranas or despegamiento de membranas, a procedure performed in late pregnancy to encourage labor. Healthcare professionals may also call it maniobra de Hamilton. The term is used in obstetric consultations when discussing labor induction options.
Say bah-RREE-doh deh mem-BRAH-nahs. Barrido has a rolled rr and the stress falls on RREE. Membranas is stressed on BRAH.
El doctor me hizo un barrido de membranas en la semana 39.
The doctor did a membrane sweep at week 39.
Membrane Sweep in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for membrane sweep, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| barrido de membranas | membrane sweep | bah-RREE-doh deh mem-BRAH-nahs | Default, widely understood |
| despegamiento de membranas | membrane sweep | medical term — used in obstetric contexts across Latin America | |
| maniobra de Hamilton | membrane sweep | clinical name — used by healthcare professionals |
How Native Speakers Use Barrido de Membranas
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
At the obstetrician's office
La doctora me ofreció un despegamiento de membranas para intentar adelantar el parto.
The doctor offered me a membrane sweep to try to move the labor along.
Despegamiento de membranas is the most widely understood term in medical settings across Latin America.
Discussing with a partner
Me programaron el barrido de membranas para la próxima consulta prenatal.
They scheduled the membrane sweep for the next prenatal appointment.
Barrido de membranas is the common term patients use when describing the procedure informally.
Explaining the procedure
La maniobra de Hamilton consiste en separar las membranas del cuello uterino con el dedo.
The Hamilton maneuver consists of separating the membranes from the cervix with a finger.
Maniobra de Hamilton is the clinical term that doctors and nurses use in chart notes.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Barrido de Membranas
Translating sweep literally as barrer
Incorrect: El doctor me barrió las membranas.
Correct: El doctor me hizo un barrido de membranas.
Barrer means to sweep a floor. The medical procedure uses the noun form barrido, not the verb barrer, and requires the full phrase barrido de membranas or despegamiento de membranas.
Saying membrana sweep as a hybrid
Incorrect: Me van a hacer un membrana sweep mañana.
Correct: Me van a hacer un barrido de membranas mañana.
Mixing English and Spanish medical terms can cause confusion. Use the full Spanish phrase to be clearly understood by healthcare providers.
Lock in Membrane Sweep Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
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See Barrido de Membranas used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Membrane Sweep in Spanish
- How do you say membrane sweep in Spanish?
- Membrane sweep in Spanish is barrido de membranas or despegamiento de membranas. Both terms are understood in obstetric settings across Spanish-speaking countries. Healthcare professionals may also use the clinical term maniobra de Hamilton.
- What is the medical term for membrane sweep in Spanish?
- The clinical term is maniobra de Hamilton, named after the physician who described the technique. In patient-facing conversations, despegamiento de membranas is the most common phrasing.
- When is barrido de membranas performed?
- A barrido de membranas is typically offered at 39 or 40 weeks of pregnancy when a doctor wants to encourage natural labor without medication. The procedure involves gently separating the amniotic membranes from the cervix.