Annual Pap at 29 weeks?

Sweetest116

My OB mentioned that she will be doing my annual pap exam at my prenatal appt next week.  I don't know how I feel about this.  I'm afraid it'll do more harm than good (cramping, spotting, etc) and it'll hurt like crazy with the speculum in there!

Has anyone had one this late in pregnancy?  Are my fears unfounded?  Can I refuse?

fyrefairie

I highly doubt she would do it if it weren't safe....as for the speculum your gonna have internal exams later in pregnnacy anyway, and I hear they are uncomfrotable...start mine soon!

 

BoB-BrideOnBgt

Hmm, guess it varies doc to doc. I am due for mine now too but at my last appt my OB said they would do it after the baby is born and I am healed. 

Qmommy

I think it's odd that she wants to do it so late in the game but it's not going to harm you or cause you to go into labor.  I had a pap done in first tri with both pregnancies.   You can certainly decline and opt for it postpartum.  Just a warning though - it could hurt a lot more at the postpartum appointment if you tear during delivery.  

Qmommy

fyrefairie:

I highly doubt she would do it if it weren't safe....as for the speculum your gonna have internal exams later in pregnnacy anyway, and I hear they are uncomfrotable...start mine soon!

 

They wont use a speculum for internal exams.  They just stick their fingers up there to feel around. 

Linnea503

I'm sure it is safe, but I would still decline and wait until after the baby was born.

AliW220

Sweetest116:

My OB mentioned that she will be doing my annual pap exam at my prenatal appt next week.  I don't know how I feel about this.  I'm afraid it'll do more harm than good (cramping, spotting, etc) and it'll hurt like crazy with the speculum in there!

Has anyone had one this late in pregnancy?  Are my fears unfounded?  Can I refuse?

Why would a speculum hurt any worse during pregnancy?

I can imagine you could refuse and delay after deliver, but as PP said, it might be more unpleasent after baby is born.  Might as well just get it over with.

fyrefairie

Qmommy:

fyrefairie:

I highly doubt she would do it if it weren't safe....as for the speculum your gonna have internal exams later in pregnnacy anyway, and I hear they are uncomfrotable...start mine soon!

 

They wont use a speculum for internal exams.  They just stick their fingers up there to feel around. 

  I know not for the internal but i hear they aren't much more comfortable

wolverine8

You can wait until your 6 week pp apt. My annual feel during the time I was pregnant and my OB just said he'd do it after baby.

Lisa9926

They usually do them in the first trimester or at your 6 week check-up after the baby is born.  Too much risk of infection and pain any other time.  I would say no to it and opt to wait until your 6 week check-up or after it.  You have to be your own medical advocate and of course you can refuse if you want to.

When they check you in a few weeks for dilation, they do not use a speculum. 

Bella61811

I had mine done at my 24 week appointment and it honestly wasn't that bad. I didn't cramp or spot at all.

elizxu

Yes, you can refuse & request that it be done after the baby arrives and you heal (6 week appointment). Also, someone mentioned internal checks...I plan on foregoing those as well. They don't really "predict" when labor will happen and, if you've had a healthy pregnancy, seem very unnecessary.

Sweetest116

AliW220:

Sweetest116:

My OB mentioned that she will be doing my annual pap exam at my prenatal appt next week.  I don't know how I feel about this.  I'm afraid it'll do more harm than good (cramping, spotting, etc) and it'll hurt like crazy with the speculum in there!

Has anyone had one this late in pregnancy?  Are my fears unfounded?  Can I refuse?

Why would a speculum hurt any worse during pregnancy?

I can imagine you could refuse and delay after deliver, but as PP said, it might be more unpleasent after baby is born.  Might as well just get it over with.

A speculum and internal exams hurt much worse during pregnant due to the increased blood flow - according to the L&D doc that did my last internal exam.  I've had two internal exams (due to accidents) during pregnancy and they have hurt quite a bit!

Sweetest116

Thanks for all of the advice!  Like a PP said, I have to be my own health advocate.  So, I will probably communicate my fears to the OB and if she gives me the postpartum exam as an alternative time to do it then I will go for it.  If not, I hope my experience is as good as PP, Bella, said.

Thanks again!

Ivana_Stolichnaya

AliW220:

Sweetest116:

My OB mentioned that she will be doing my annual pap exam at my prenatal appt next week.  I don't know how I feel about this.  I'm afraid it'll do more harm than good (cramping, spotting, etc) and it'll hurt like crazy with the speculum in there!

Has anyone had one this late in pregnancy?  Are my fears unfounded?  Can I refuse?

Why would a speculum hurt any worse during pregnancy?

I can imagine you could refuse and delay after deliver, but as PP said, it might be more unpleasent after baby is born.  Might as well just get it over with.

 

I got a speculum at 12 weeks, and it did hurt more than normal, it stung when it was cranked open and stung even more when I got the scraping done. 

I had an internal exam with my OB.  She tested for a couple STD's and then walked into another room and got the NT scan done with another Dr.  I thought it was weird since I wasn't expecting it, I was there with my husband too, we've been married for 5 years, I don't have multiple partners.  I had my annual PAP back in May, a month before I got knocked up and my results were clean then.  I also got a breast exam done.

I guess it's more for knowing if there should be any extra precautions taken when the baby is born.  Who knows.

alicorl

AliW220:

Sweetest116:

My OB mentioned that she will be doing my annual pap exam at my prenatal appt next week.  I don't know how I feel about this.  I'm afraid it'll do more harm than good (cramping, spotting, etc) and it'll hurt like crazy with the speculum in there!

Has anyone had one this late in pregnancy?  Are my fears unfounded?  Can I refuse?

Why would a speculum hurt any worse during pregnancy?

I can imagine you could refuse and delay after deliver, but as PP said, it might be more unpleasent after baby is born.  Might as well just get it over with.

I don't know why it hurts worse it does IMO.

NiniJ55

My doctor said I can decline if I wanted to - it was not brought up this time around (at least I don't remember having it -- I think I was due in October).  Anyway - I do remember having my annual pap when pregnant with my son.  No cramping, spotting and it did not hurt at all.  Felt just as uncomfortable as it would have felt had I not been pregnant.

hblack10

I had my annual PAP at 30 weeks. Speculum was used, too. Uncomfortable? Yup. Caused spotting? ...not really. I've never spotted after a PAP or any of my internals now, though. It is uncomfortable...but I have no family history so I didn't want to take the chance of developing something during pregnancy that would be missed. It never crossed my mind to question her...I trust my OB fully.

 

GL! 

Kmalissa08

I had mine done at 28 weeks and it was uncomfortable but fine.