If I'm def. having a c-section, will I get to avoid internals?

na24

Or is there a reason why I'd need one anyway? ?

MarcieCasavant

Unfortunately you won't be able to avoid it as the doc will want to see if you are dilating or not. Say you were dilating a bit and didn't know it and there was a medical reason you couldn't deliver vaginally. They would want to avoid that. Sorry!

blairsgirl

I know I am having a c-section and I have been having them for many weeks now to check and see if my cervix has dilated.

jooliagoolia2

I never had one. ?I wouldn't have wanted one anyway. ?Who cares if you're dilating? ?I had internal u/s done every 4 weeks to check my cervix, but never by the dr.

Temp159135562506975

i'm 37.5w and have not had an internal- my OB doesn't do them unless there is reason for concern (like PTL, etc).... so no- you don't necessarily need an internal - vaginal or c/s.... if you don't want to do them- tell your OB. There really is no reason for them b/c you can be dilated for weeks.  Unless you are really preterm and they are worried- there's no need to know about "progress" b/c it doesn't tell you anything later on in pg.

macchiatto

Ditto Goldielocks (dang I find myself saying that a lot! ). Internal exams are a little controversial; they introduce the chance of infection and some would argue the info you get from them is not worth the risk. So like pp's said, you can always just say you don't want one. It's your choice.

pea-kay

i had one internal, at 32 weeks, and that was it. there was never any question about having a c/s, with triplets, it's almost automatic. otherwise, i had u/s to determine my cervical length.

beefsbride

I knew all along I was having a c/s, but I did end up with a couple of internal exams b/c I was on strict bedrest for a shortened cervix and they checked to see if I was dilated at all (not a fun experience!). 

wndrwmn1998

I knew I was having a C-section and I never once had an internal.

mrsc_6504

I never did. The doc said that there wasn't really any need to do it since I knew I was having a c-section (both breech) and they are quite uncomfortable.

groovygrl

This is gonna be long, but...........?

I'm always the lone dissenter on this (well, not really dissenter just an OB with a different approach), but I have had several discussions w/ my OB about internal exams. My OB is much more comfortable with his assessment skills in doing manual exams over the ultrasound, as he feels that he is able to pick up subtle changes in the softness of the cervix, bulging or ballooning of uterus into the vagina & of course dilation in a way that suits his clinical practice moreso than depending solely on ultrasound. Therefore, I get internal exams at every visit & he does this with all his multiples. He has a wonderful reputation in my area for getting multiples to term & is not hesitant to put women on bedrest at the first sign of a change. As far as introducing infection, if the cervix is closed, this is generally not a huge issue, and I personally feel that sex would introduce a lot more risk for infection than a gloved finger but people do that throughout pregnancy....

I'm only 28 weeks and while they're not comfortable, I don't really find them that horrible, but I have never had major issues with pelvic exams in general.

While I know many women on here are probably gasping at this concept , I feel very comfortable with my provider & his skills and I also like the comfort of hearing that my cervix is closed at each visit. He was also able to pick up a new finding last week of the ballooning of my uterus around the cervix after I had some regular contractions which put me on bedrest, and after being on bedrest, my next exam showed that the ballooning had gone down, which was reassuring to me.

My point is, I feel that different providers have different comfort levels & reasons for why they do or don't do these things (and some might just come down to how they were trained/who they were trained by- my OB was a long time military dr & had to rely on assessment skills without technology), but it is up to the patient to talk to them about the pros/cons and how she feels about different exams. I happen to work in healthcare, so I asked a lot of questions, did my homework & made my decision without necessarily asking around if that is what 'every' dr does, because I know every dr. practices differently.

As for why you'd need one if you have a planned c-section, it depends on how far along you are, but some providers might still want to check & be sure that you're not going into PTL prior to your CS date, I would think.?

GL! ?

MeuAmor24

Have to say... I agree with the last post. Every practioner will work differently. I had my first internal at around 24 weeks in conjunction with a U/S Since then I had U/S every week. After having a U/S with my MFM last week and them determining that I was having reg. contractions during my cervical lengths (which shortened with each contraction) I was given Brethine X 2 and also had an internal. Which determined I was dilating. All of which placed me on bedrest for PTL. Just this past Monday I had another U/S and internal to confirm dilation and that my cervix was still soft and not effacing. Every OB will take different approaches. Things happen and some are more adamant than others to get all there physical assessment skills mnaually vs. technologically. Good luck to you all!