? Internal exams?

[blueflower]

I am now 36 weeks and wondering if when the OB starts internal exams? Is it just in labour that he will check or should i expect the next couple of apppointmens to have them.
I just want to be prepared IFYKIM?

[Tracey]

Hee hee....

I have never had an internal with any of my pregnancies other than once at hospital & in established labour when they check for dialation!!!


Others I know have internals at almost every appt, THANK the lord I dont go see their Dr's!!!

[widdly]

The first internal i had was when i was induced. I had 5 different doctors last pg and none of themdid internals, if any doctors ask to do internals next pg i think i will change doctors, i don't believe internals are a necessary thing if all is going well. Hopefully u won't have an internal til ur in labour! Goodluck with it all

[Rachel]

I had an internal at 39 weeks but that's because I asked for a stretch and sweep if it was possible (it wasn't), so I then had one at 40+3 weeks to see if we had better luck this time (which we did). Other than that I had 2 internals done whilst I was in labour - the first to see how far along I was and the second 6 hours later to again see how I was doing. That's it - I had no problem with this (also, I'm the sort of person that has to know what is going on, so knowing how far dilated I was helped me with the labour).

[Mother Goose]

I had one on my EDD and then when my waters broke 5 days later and then a couple of times during labour...

[~Raven~]

I never had any except for once I went overdue so he could check if I was dilated. My OB says they are unnecessary.

[Beach Mama]

I had one on my EDD and a stretch and sweep, then at a week over and then when induced I had 10 or more over a 36 hour period before my c/s...!!

[teepee2]

I had one this morning and thats only because I was due yesterday and my OB wanted to check whether my cervix was ready (which it isnt ) I dont expect to have another one till I'm induced on Sunday or in labour.

[~Kim~]

I didn't have one until I rocked up to my Ob appt in labour....

[Yael]

I had one when i was 1 week overdue (already had a scan to show that we needed to hurry things along, so i think he was just checking.. and i was already 3cm which was good)

I had another when he broke my waters a few days later when i was induced. I had 2 more during labour.

My obs wouldn't do one until i was a week overdue.. I was worried at the time, but so happy now... i found that they hurt, or were at the least uncomfortable, and i don't think you gain much from having somebody stick their hand up there unless they are actually doing something, rather than routine.

[MumofLewis]

Can I ask a silly question? Do they literally have to put their hand up there, or just fingers?
I'm having one on Thursday for the first time.

[Adnil]

I'm glad someone asked this, because I have wondered about it. I actually wouldn't mind close to the end, just to know if anything is going on IYKWIM....

[Smoke Jaguar]

I never had one - and it was in my birth plan that I was not to have one unless it was absolutely medically necessary, and not just out of medical curiosity or routine. Internals increase risk, so if you don't need one, don't let them do it. Find out in which situations you would be expected to have an internal, so that if someone suggests it during crunch time, you have the foreknowledge not to be flustered about it and just say no if it doesn't fit into a 'medically necessary' scenario...and word up your birth partner!
Have a great time and enjoy your birth experience!! I did

[Karina]

I didnt have any internals at all until I was at the hospital and in labour (I had two, I think). It wasnt really that painful, but it was definately uncomfrortable.

sarah, its all a bit hazy now.. but I think all my midwife did was 'open' me up with the speculum thingy and have a good old look in there. I dont remember hands going in, but then, I really couldnt see what she was doing.

[Alan]

Hi Twoyearwait
We use 2 fingers. By putting one finger at one side of your cervix and the other finger at the other side of your cervix we are able to measure how far dilated you are.

IK
I never do routine internals they usually tell you nothing and it can be quite embarrassing for the woman to have to go through that. In fact most of the births I have attended I have not performed an internal at all. Most of the time a midwife can tell what is going on just by watching the woman and looking for the little signs that you all give.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Alan - glad to hear it! I have faith in the midwives at my local BC because they, too, told me that they discouraged internals (for various reasons) and that they could tell, with experience and knowledge, from how a woman is behaving, what stage she's at. My midwife was magic - we were with her for not even 10 minutes when she started running the bath, knowing that we were well into my birth plan by then! I really was one of the 'lucky' ones who had a fantastic first birth experience, but I prepared for it.

[Alan]

Hi IK
Obviously I can not know what an internal feels like to you girls I can only imagine that a stranger putting his/her fingers in places where only you and your partner should go can not be a pleasant experience. When I assist a woman with her birth I want it to be the most beautiful and memorable experience that she has ever had. I am sure that poking around in secret places will not enhance this experience.

[Smoke Jaguar]

There needs to be more of your kind, Alan