So I had an internal today...

And apparently whilst I'm starting to soften, I'm still closed and not really "ready to go". Dr thinks it'll be another week maybe more before I go on my own, we've arranged another appointment for next week at 41wks and a booking for induction the day after - he hopes I don't need it as much as I do but doesn't want to go longer due to BP being a touch on the high-ish side although holding steady for now. Plus I'm rapidly approaching the point where I've had enough - being sore and not sleeping plus still puking every so often isn't helping with this.

So I guess what I'm interested in is how accurate that week estimate is? Any stories where an internal one day has shown not ready but labour has begun on it's own shortly afterwards? Need to restore my slightly dented faith in my body's ability to figure this out by itself...

I've heard it can happen, but my sil was told she wouldn't have bub connally as she was not soft or looking like she would dilate anytime soon and she didn't

Fingers crossed your internal may trigger something

I was told by an ob that my body wasn't ready to birth my second baby when I was 6 days overdue. I was booked in for an induction 3 days later. Two days after my internal (so the day before the induction was booked), I went into labour spontaneously and 7 hours later, had my baby boy naturally.

It can happen, just believe that your body can do it!

That's crap. Your cervix can and will change very quickly. It's all just guess work. All thru my pregnancy the dr kept saying I'd be 2-3cm as this was my fourth and six pregnancy. They said I'd be shot down there. An internal at 38 weeks showed high long and closed. I had her six days later

Have fairh

Me, I was told that I was no where near going into labour, my cervix was not at all favourable. 8 hours later I was in labour. My midwife told me that some times the internals can bring on labour?

I had an internal at 41 weeks, cervix was so high & tight & closed doctor could 'barely find it' (and this was baby number 4 so I figured I was at least 2-3cm). I was devastated, thought she was never going to come! She was born 3 days later.
All the best :hug:

Just a couple of weeks ago a girl friend of mine had an internal done on the Friday to see if they could do a stretch and sweep. But she was closed and firm. She went into labour on the Saturday night and bubs was born Sunday.

It's all speculative babe, your cervix can prepare weeks before hand, or minutes - everyone is different.

Not accurate at all, disregard it :)

This is why internals are considered unnecessary, because the cervix changes a lot at this end of things - women who are dilated 4cm and closed up again two days later. Internals make Obs think they know what they're doing, but internals should really only be done when absolutely medically necessary, not just 'to have a look' if there are no other indications that anything is amiss. 40 weeks is hardly medically necessary, being that post-dates is 42 weeks! Seems a bit old school to me to be doing an internal :dunno:

Thanks all those who have a positive story - it's helped a bit, just trying to relax and take things as they come.

As for the question of the validity of MY CHOICE to have one done, I'm really not interested right now. Thanks.

there was a BB member, not sure she's still on here, she was long and closed at her ob app, half anhour later bub was earthside :) best of luck

I was long and closed and 1 day later was having contractions. There is no way of them accurately guessing when u will ho into labor. It could be anytime hun :) xx


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Well, geez, CK, my mistake, though you didn't make it clear the internal was at your request :rolleyes:
A lot of Ob's these days don't do them routinely and some will even advise against them, though some are still known to do it and present it as routine, and I don't actually know anyone who's wanted one, so that formed my mistaken assumption that you hadn't asked for it.
FYI, keep in mind that you aren't the only one who might have this question about internals; someone who doesn't want one, who might be under pressure to have one, or has heard in the past they give accurate information to an Ob could be reading this. On a forum, it's not just the OP who benefits from reponses to questions. I'm glad we could clarify that YOU requested the internal. You may not want to know the drawbacks of having an internal done (though you have a thread full of them, now), and others will. I believe my response addresses the OP, at any rate. There was nothing personal in it, as I don't even know you.
Apologies for the assumption. Helps if you make it clear what you've requested and what a caregiver is telling you you need to have in the 'Birth' section, so that we know where you're coming from.
Hope it goes well.

I know how you feel CK, I'll let you know if I get any good news on Friday afternoon from my next internal. My OB has only done two, more to check on my cervix being soft becase he knows I want a natural birth if I can, and wants to see if we can induce rather than C/S becuase he knows thats not what I want. (due to medical conditions)

Definatley from what I've seen of other womens experiecnes though things can change very quickly, and that is what my OB keeps telling me to stay positive becuase it can be a matter of days and everything can change and then bubs is earthside :)

Say positive hun :hug: I'm sure it will get better soon xx

Hey Cranky Kitten, thinking of you. :hug: For a story from the other perspective, I *know* I was 3cm for at least three weeks with my DD. I had three internals, one each week before she was born (just to see, my fully informed choice). Open/closed, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything about when labour will start. :hug:

I was told on my Wednesday appointment that I was nowhere near ready, see you next week. DD was born less than 48 hours later. My cervix opening wasn't in the correct position even while I was in labour and my OB had to pull it into position.

I was refused a stretch and sweep one day due to my cervix being nowhere near ready. 2 days later the same midwife gave me a sweep and a few hours later I was in labour. It can happen :)

I'm sorry if I was a bit snappish - I wasn't particularly in a good mood and the first words of your response felt more like an attack than actually answering the request for a bit of support and help to regain a positive outlook.

Not everyone believes that obstetricians are out to force things on them or don't have reasons for suggesting certain things, I am more than capable if I had any queries about the value of a procedure of asking for an explanation at the time it was offered and accepted. If I hadn't have thought there was value in it, I wouldn't have had one - or if I wasn't sure about it and wanted opinions on whether I should or not that's what I would've asked.

Coolies - I've been on BB for 6 years, and mostly, internals have been discussed in terms of their worth and if the women posting were entitled to deny the procedure, to clarify my perspective. I don't think Ob's are the boogey man, just a lot of them do a good job of resembling one ;) As you seemed unsure and not particularly put at ease by your internal, I wondered why you had one at all. I would have questioned it for anyone, to find out what was going on and what the purpose of it was.
I don't think it's eased your mind, so just know that whatever the next one reveals doesn't mean it's a static picture or that it means anything one way or another, of itself. It could go either way.
Like I said, post-dates is officially 42 weeks, so you are in no way overdue this week or next :) Other factors will be your BP, but not dates alone (again, said partially to you, and also to others reading across this thread).
Sincerely, hope it goes well!

Heh, all good - I'm in a much better frame of mind after a snooze I can tell you that much.

Funnily enough, having the internal done actually did help a bit - not quite as on tenterhooks thinking I might burst any minute. DD was quite a quick labour for a first baby, although it was induced so not really sure how my body is likely to behave left to it's own devices - and I've had a few well meaning people winding me up lately as well.

I must've lucked out with my ob - he's always been really upfront with me about what's happening and why, as well as respecting my opinion and answering any questions I have. I can honestly say I trust him to do the right thing by me and my baby.

:hug: My ob is like that too. It's nice when Dr's are like that.