i think the gist of the thread is about internals conducted outside of labour. it is becoming increasingly common for ppl to get internals done in the final weeks of pg as an indicator of progress. so for example if a woman feels that she has been having heaps of pre-labour and is feeling really exhausted and frustrated because of it (totally normal!) then she may request an internal to see if there has been any change to her cervix that may indicate progress (ie effacement and/or dialation).

some issues that can (CAN) stem from this is that before labour is established the cervix can undergo heaps of changes (you can have an internal done one day to see that you are 1cm dialated, then at the next appt have 0cm dialation). and this is okay...you're not in labour yet and your body is still prepping itself. the only problem there is with this information may the psychological/emotional one. the woman MAY feel let down (by her body, by the exhaustion etc) and become demoralised or increasingly stressed. BUT on the other hand, if a woman feels that she can cope with the knowlege that things may not look favourable 'down there' then i dont really see it as being an issue to request an internal. that said, i dont really think that it is necessary to have an internal as par for the course (ie if it is a standard policy by the OB). it is a woman's choice to have/not have one.

as for internals in labour: once in labour the nature of internals is different. it can be an effective tool (if a labouring woman wishes) to guage how her labour is progressing. of course, it can also be used as a demoralising moment when you have laboured for 4 hours and 'only' dialated 1cm (for example). HOWEVER, again, if you are OKAY with the knowlege that things may not have progressed as fast/smoothly then i dont really see having an internal as a big issue (UNLESS of course you know that the time of labour has been put 'on the clock' by the hospital/OB...then i would delaying for as long as possible LOL!).

I for one had 2 internals in labour. one about an hour in (i was 4cms dialated) and then again about 6 hours later (and i was 6.5cms). i found this a good gauge for me and i wasnt at all bothered that in that time i had 'only' dialated a smallish amount. labour was established the contractions were good and strong. and an hour later i was fully dialated (didnt need an internal to know that...bubba had def started her descent! LOL).

the only thing that really threw me as a first-timer was the realisation of HOW MUCH internals in labour HURT. it was so going against the forces of nature to have someone's hand shoved UP while everything was wanting to come DOWN. especially mid contraction...OUCH lol! but like all things you can get through it...or tell them to get lost and get out LOL!

HTH