Not necessarily Ali! I had 4 babies without an obs fingers on my cervix!!! It can be done and it is done every day!!!!
2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
Cos it fricken hurts! lol!
And what everyone else said too LOL. I had an internal while in labour, and not only did it hurt BIG TIME but I was that disappointed by my 'failure to pregress' that I ended up hysterical.
Unless theres a medical reason, I wouldn't have one, as its real unnecessary. And well, you might feel really let down that these pains havn't lead to anything, which is more than likely true.
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omg they do really hurt don't they. I had one when I was induced with Ash and OMG the paaaaain. I was in tears
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Internals *can* be useful during labour but another thing that hasn't been touched on here is that they are quite subjective. What is 3cm to one person may feel more like 5 to another.
For anyone who didn't read my birth story of Thomas, I had a funny experience with internals during his labour. I don't think the midwife thought I was actually in labour because the contractions fled every time she came near me (her grouchies must have scared them off) so she wanted to do an internal after I'd been there for a few hours. She did one and said "only 1cm, I think you should go home". We argued over that for a bit because the OB the day before had said I was about 3 and the baby was well down and everything was ready to go. So she got the OB to come and examine me... who found me to be 8cm, and just about ready to push! (Not that I needed to push - with #6 I guess my uterus was kind of going to do it without me. But I digress.) Heaven knows what the midwife was feeling.
That highlights two things: an internal can tell you if you are favourable for an induction (which is why I had the original internal, and for a s&s), and an internal can return highly dodgy information either way. Incidentally, I didn't find the internals during labour painful at all, in fact they were much easier than I normally find them. Strange.
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This is a great discussion
I guess, from what I know and have experienced, even internals during labour aren't necessary for a skilled caregiver who is used to normal labour and birth - they just KNOW what stage you're at by observation and asking you questions. The middy at my first birth knew I was in transition as soon as I arrived...I didn't, I was telling her it was taking ages and that I was further behind than I actually was! Then, she knew when I was ready to breathe the kid out and had the bath filling in time with my progress. I've spoken to midwives since who have talked about the way a woman moves, what she'll say, etc, and this comes from continuity of care, too, but not always (the one at my birth was the only midwife at the FBC I hadn't met before that day!).
So, in terms of internals during labour, a midwifery team that isn't reliant on monitors, machines that go beep and text books won't need to do internals to know where you're at and whether you're ready or too late for pain relief.
Issues about internals done outside of labour have been canvassed really well here! Particularly the difference between DTD and an internal - well explained, thanks
None of us here, that I've noticed, have taken the tack of 'Obs v midwives', and I don't - for me it comes down to experience with uninterrupted pregnancy and labour, and there ARE Obs out there who still believe in this! And there are middies in the system who don't, by the same token.
Mayaness you are absolutely right (I have to spread the love sorry...)
Woman in labour when you tune in you can sense where a Woman is... You don't need to poke your fingers up her hoo haa - that's a sacred space and should only be violated if absolutely necessary!
To add my personal experience - I requested a measurement during my 4th labour (M/w) and she said you are 7 cms. With the next contraction and my baby was born! I said after I found out: "I just have to do this on my own don't I"??? When my head came into my heart and I aligned myself with my Wisdom my body opened.
I inow this is different the OP was talking of cervix check prior to labour - however, again prelabour is telling you your body is fabulous! It's Wisdom is working. Your job is to align your head and your heart and tune into the Wise Woman energy...
You don't need his fingers to measure your progress to do that...
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yeah I totally forgot, not only did I feel violated from my internal when I was only 38wks....the only time I yelled when in labour was when the doc did an internal. Something along the lines of "get your f*****n hand out of there"
eeeek such big hands too.
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Hey Taurean, how did you go? Did you end up going for the internal check? We are due the same day and I have been having pre-labor and wondering what it is doing to my cervix too. I have decided not too as I dont want to be disappointing - also I know its getting my baby and body ready for birth and that is enough to know.
Just wondering how you are...
Rachel
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Hi Rachel! Well my OB decided not to bother with one - LOL! He said there just was no need so I was happy with that. He did say he will probably take a squiz, if I want to (I LOVE my OB!) at my next appointment on Monday. I'll be 39 weeks then. I must say, I'm still tempted to have a look as I'm just such a researcher and a 'need to know' kind of girl that either way I'll find it interesting. I honestly don't think I'll be disappointed as I know bubs will be here at some stage in the next few weeks. Will let you know how I goHey Taurean, how did you go? Did you end up going for the internal check? We are due the same day and I have been having pre-labor and wondering what it is doing to my cervix too. I have decided not too as I dont want to be disappointing - also I know its getting my baby and body ready for birth and that is enough to know.
Just wondering how you are...
Rachel
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