When did you start internals?

Mrs.AshAsh

Im 32w tomorrow and my OB wants to start internals. I am fine with it, especially because of the (what I hope are BH) contractions Ive been having lately...especially today. However, when I mentioned this to another MoM she was shocked that they were starting them so early and said that her doctors didnt want to because they felt it could induce labor. Now, Im worried that this internal is going to cause an "angry beaver", lol sorry, and set me into PTL. Anybody else start internals at this point or were your doctors hesitant to do any this early because of a risk of PTL?

Rachel Goldstein

I got my first at 33w when I complained of BH (which was early labor). I'm glad she did it because I was actually dilated to 4cm and 80% effaced and needed to be put on bedrest. If you're having contractions, timeable or not it'd be safer imo to be checked JIC.

MrsCali_Bride

My OB started them at 32 weeks.

Mrs.AshAsh

Rachel, Thats what I was thinking, as well. Did you stop dialating after being put on bed rest or did you go into labor shortly there after?

Mrs.AshAsh

MrsCali_Bride said:

My OB started them at 32 weeks.

This helps put my mind at ease a bit more. Thank you for your reply.

yinyang124

I was only checked when I was having symptoms of PTL, which started at 23 weeks. I can't even recall how many I had. Too many.

eandk18

I know I will be in a minority here but I started them at 20 weeks and got them every 2 weeks.  It's standard practice at my OB.  That being said, I'm 37 weeks 1 day today and my cervix is only 50% effaced and not dialated at all.  So, it did not send me into PTL or affect my cervix.  

SWA80

Started last week at 29 weeks because NST was showing some contractions even though I can't feel them. The first time, I bled a lot but I think the Dr was just rough because I was checked again yesterday and no bleeding. Still closed up tight so I'm hoping they won't do checks every week.

Ruthie04

My MFM told my OB to start performing them after my 32w NST revealed 9 contractions in 50 minutes. I had weekly checks until my water broke two hours after my 36w appt.

PurrCrasher

I had one at 34 weeks due to contractions and when it showed I was still long and closed they didn't do any more until I went into labor at 36w6d because they didn't want to upset anything.

ShopperKristi

I thought it was weird but my OB was in the camp of not doing them later in the pregnancy because they can sometimes cause you to go into labor. I did have one at 35 weeks in the later afternoon and my water broke at 3am that next morning....can't say that's what caused it but it was a weird coincidence!

kgs0505

i only had like 2 my whole pregnancy. one at 16 weeks or so because i was complaining of cramping, which i know now were bh's. and one at the hospital around 26w when i was being monitored and started having a bunch of contractions. i delivered at 35w66d, and never had an internal in the weeks leading up to that date.

KimCousino

yinyang124 said:

I was only checked when I was having symptoms of PTL, which started at 23 weeks. I can't even recall how many I had. Too many.

I started them around the same time & get them weekly due to previous PTL. My cervix has been around 1.5 - 1.
I have not experienced PTL because of them and I'm 30 weeks.

megs2011

My OB started at 34 weeks. I was closed up tight. Hurt like crazy. I ended up having my girls 3 days later via emergency c/s. So needless to say, I only had one.

MrsCali_Bride

Mrs.AshAsh said:

My OB started them at 32 weeks.

This helps put my mind at ease a bit more. Thank you for your reply.

My OB was pretty gentle with the internals while one of her female colleagues was a bit rougher and I was sore afterwards. I made it to 37w2d with no signs of PTL. At my appt. at 36w4d my OB said that I was sealed up tight and even though she didn't think I'd make it to my scheduled c-section (which I didn't - it was scheduled for 37w5d but my girl had other plans) she told me that I was a rock star and that she was sure that we would have "take home" babies, which we did.

Mrs.AshAsh

I ended up having one done today. I saw the female ob in the practice and she wanted to do it because of the contactions Ive been having (similar to what some of you have said). I have my NST tomorrow and they want to make my appointments weekly. Im feeling okay today...and am going to try to take it as easy as I can for the next few days. Im still high and tight so hopefully that doesnt change. I may ask to skip next weeks internal as long as the contractions stay consistent (in that they dont increase in duration or strength). Thanks again for all of your input. I appreciate it!