Natural Birth
Ready2006
member
Who has requested no internals? How did that discussion go?
Ready2006
member
I personally don't feel the need--between the discomfort, the frustration at no progress, or the anticipation that goes with progress (despite the fuzzy meaning) I'd like to skip them. I'm not really sure the best way to approach it with my doc, though--while she's very open to natural and recommended hypnobirthing as a method, I feel like it might be an odd request.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Who has requested no internals? How did that discussion go?
Your body, your decision. They really are totally unnecessary, so I can't imagine she would have a good argument for having them.
You might as well get used to saying no now- it will be good practice for all the interventions offered to you during labor.
BTW- My MW doesn't do them unless requested. I think she only did 3 during my whole 40 hour labor and one of them was at my request.
We have a checklist of what happens at every appointment and the last few all say "cervix check if desired." I think it's completely reasonable to let her know you don't want one, for whatever reason.
Another compromise (if you're interested in compromising,) would be for her to do them, but not tell you the results.
Its not at all odd. I have a theory that an early pelvic exam w my 1st contributed to my PROM during wk 36, which ended in a CS after no progress. I switched MWs for this baby & when I discussed my concerns w her and asked how to avoid a similar situation this time, she said there is no need to do pelvics if I'm not comfortable with them, simple as that. I didn't have one done this time until I hit my due date, and that 1 was at my request.
Don't feel uncomfortable making your wishes known. It's your body and your doc is basically a contractor you've hired to do a job for you. Just because it involves a degree doesn't mean you should ever feel like you aren't the one entitled to call the shots!
9 angels in heaven-3 in my arms and 1 in the NICU
Mono/di twin girls: Josephine born to heaven and Evangeline born Earthside at 25w
I had a midwife group, and they did not mind that I did not want any internals. They offered at each appt starting at 36 weeks, and each time I said "no thanks" and they simply said "OK."
I had 3 internals at the hospital while I was in active labor, the first one was not until about 12 hours into my labor, the 2nd one was when I was about 8-9cm dialated, and the 3rd one was when I was 10cm and it was determined I was ready to push.
I asked for no internals with DD. My OBs insisted on doing them starting at 39 weeks. I simply asked them not to tell me the "stats," so I didn't get frustrated at my lack of progress or overly excited about meaningless progress. They were fine with that. I still think it was stupid that they made me get them at all, but it wasn't worth fighting over.
With DS, not getting internals was just the standard. I didn't have a single internal my entire pregnancy, including during labor.
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
I just did this today and was relieved and pleased that it was nothing at all. When the tech said that today was the day to get one, I just said very nicely, "Oh, I'm actually not planning to get an internal." And that was it! She said she totally understood (I had gone on to say that I didn't want to know progress or the lack thereof) and the Dr. said nothing at all about it when he got to the room and proceeded just as he always had.
GL! I know it can be awkward to speak up but it really is okay to. :-) Like the others said, it's your body.
You're not an oddball. Birth has just become so full of interventions that the idea of what is necessary and normal has become completely skewed. My birth center routinely does internals at the first appt and then at the very end if you want one. I declined the first one, but admit that I wanted one at my 39 week appt. It showed zero progress. I won't be asking for one this time around. During labor, I think they did three internals. During two of them my mw actually stretched my cervix because it was taking so long for me to dilate. Although it hurt like he!!, I'm glad she did it because I am not sure I could have gone on any longer than I did (21 hours of active labor), and I'd rather have her do that than transfer me to a hospital.
That said, if my next labor seems to be progressing quicker, I will probably not want any internals.
Screw internals! I think they're pointless, and just make the end of pregnancy even harder to deal with...It is nerve-wracking to say no to something, but I'm guessing they'll be nice about it - just be polite and firm, even if they give you a hard time.
I declined them at the end of my pg with DS, and my midwife never had a problem with me saying no. But I did get bullied into one when I was admitted in the hospital (I had said no bc I was still in early labor, but the midwife wouldn't let it go. grrrr). I think I had maybe two other internals during my labor? This time I think I'll only let them do one when I'm admitted, and then say no to the rest.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
[url=http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=UBB&utm_campaign=tickers][img]http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1a1ae8.aspx[/img][/url]