Are internals not done normally during the last few weeks? With my girls, I was checked from about 37 weeks on, or so. That was with a GP. This time, I have a midwife, and I have no idea what she'll be doing. I just assumed that internals were standard during the last few weeks of pregnancy, and I could refuse if I wanted, but that they would be done otherwise. It sounds weird, I guess, but I kind of looked forward to it, (not the naked part ) but knowing if things were progressing down there!
As far as effacing and dilating goes - I think I was 1-2 cm dilated, and 50% effaced when I went in to labour with both girls.