When do vaginal exams start during routine OB appts?

Sweet30pea

I'm 32 weeks tomorrow. I know at some point my dr will start checking my cervix. What week is that normally? I want to be prepared, especially since I have some afternoon appts.

LEMSA

36/37 wks for some. My OB didn't do it till 38 wks. Just ask, each practice is different.

Lovehavinggirls

I'll get one at my appointment tomorrow which is 36 weeks.

MrsBlindLove

My midwife doesn't do them until 39 weeks.

Danielle0617

36 weeks for me- but every doctor is different.

Ahtnamas6789

My doctor wants to start at 38 weeks. From what I have heard its different for each doctor and usually anytime after 36 weeks.

Monilee1017

I am 39 weeks and haven't had one, but I am having a RCS. With DS they didn't until 39 weeks.

EmR22

Mine said they would start at 36 weeks "if I wanted it". I said no because honestly it hurts like a b$tch (for me anyway---i've heard plenty of others who say it doesn't). My practice hesitates to do it unless you are experienceing labor like symptoms because they think it can cause more problems than be helpful.

BlueJewelM

37

WashingtonQueen

I got checked at 36 weeks when they swabbed for GBS. They give you the option to check again at 39 weeks.

CaliforniaDream87

My Dr. doesn't start until 37 weeks. However, they're not mandatory. You can always refuse them.

thedash

WashingtonQueen said:

I got checked at 36 weeks when they swabbed for GBS. They give you the option to check again at 39 weeks.

This is my doctor's plan exactly. My 36 week appoitment is tomorrow. Earlier in this pregnancy I planned to refuse them but I've been having tons of BH and some quite painful so I'm actually curious to know if my cervix has changed at all yet.

JHarris8166

My doctor starts them at 38 weeks. My last appointment was 37w5d and she didnt want to do one yet. So the check will be at my appointment that is 38w5d.

Juliebird8307

Mine starts at 36 weeks. Like a PP, I've had tons of BH (since 24 weeks) and some were painful so I'm curious to see if I've dilated at all.

Jilly82

Started for me at my last appointment (35 weeks)

RedLucia

The midwives practice I am using does not routinely check until you are at the birth center in labor. 

GoyaBean913

My ob said she will start them next week at 35 weeks.

TrueBeliever925

My OB doesn't check until 40 weeks. It's not a sound way to tell when the baby could come and it's more of a hinderance (so I hear; on set of bleeding & contractions) than helpful. You can always deny checks if you aren't comfortable with them. 

soon2bcorrea

With my last pregnancy, he checked at 36 weeks. It was a Monday, lost my MP on Tuesday and my water broke Wednesday morning at 3 a.m., got admitted and had him on Thursday. I think I'll refuse them this time until 38 weeks, if possible. I don't want a repeat of last time. Sebastian had to stay in the hospital a couple of extra days because he was a little early.

MynaBird

pfftyouarenuts said:

It's not a sound way to tell when the baby could come and it's more of a hinderance (so I hear; on set of bleeding & contractions) than helpful. 

This. My OB doesn't recommend them unless there's some specific concern, although if the MTB really wants them he'll do them. I'm happy to skip them, although my MIL had the audacity to ask my husband how dilated I was last week. (She wanted us to watch her cat this week, and when my husband said he didn't feel comfortable committing to it because we could have a baby at any time, she wanted to know how dilated I was so she could "prove" I wasn't going to go into labor before my EDD.)

MrsShep613

My OB will be checking at my next appointment & I'll be 35w6d. 

Sweet30pea

Thanks for all the replies, I will ask my dr when/ if she does them at a set week at my next appt.

CutieBean79

They will start them as early as 36 weeks, but it depends on which doctor you see in my practice.