Are internal exams necessary if you are having a c-section?

teacherjess

I would really like to avoid the unpleasantness of internal exams leading up to when the baby is born...if I am having a planned c-section this time around, is there any reason to even have them? I had them with DD so they could check progress and see if my cervix was thinning or dilating at all, but does that matter at all if I am just going straight to a c-section?

Loribelle73

I know people who said that their doctors didn't do them, but mine did.  He said he wanted to make sure I wasn't going into pre-term labor.

skio

It's your vagina. You can decline internals.

I don't know the answer to your actual question, though. 

michelle04us

I don't know if they are necessary or not but I know I actually requested them starting at my 37 week appt. I only did this because I started having contractions at week 36 and I wanted to make sure I wasnt going into labor early. I also had other signs of labor so having the internals just made me feel better.

pepomntpat

skio:

It's your vagina. You can decline internals.

I don't know the answer to your actual question, though. 

This. They are never necessary unless a problem is suspected no matter what kind of birth you are having. Just say you don't want one. 

Kie310

You can refuse them if you don't want them.

White0rchid

I did not have them with DD2 (RCS). I did have to get the GBS at 36 weeks, but I didn't get internals.

cmytutu

I knew I was going to have a c/s from day one.  I never had an internal exam until after the baby was born.

modifiedmama

I wouldn't see why an internal would be *necessary* if you'd prefer to pass on them. With my first pg (and I'm sure with this one as well), my OB did internals to make sure the chances of preterm labor were as low as they should've been/should be (I had a scheduled section with my first and will again this time around). 

RayRay007

pepomntpat:

skio:

It's your vagina. You can decline internals.

I don't know the answer to your actual question, though. 

This. They are never necessary unless a problem is suspected no matter what kind of birth you are having. Just say you don't want one. 

I never had one even though I was planning a vaginal birth.

MAprincess

I agree that you don't need them regardless of what birth you are having.  I was planning vaginal births for both (and did have one that way) and didn't get internals for either until after labor was well under way.

kimmyt09

I won't be having them done. I agree with other PP that they are pretty pointless no matter the type of birth. I had one friend that was 4cm for weeks, and still had to induced when she was late, and another that was a few cm and her water broke at 39 weeks. It really doesn't mean your labor will start anytime soon.

magdalina.h

Mine didn't. The only time I had an internal was at 29w because I was having contractions (due to panic/anxiety attack from awful OB at my practice)

nosoup4u

You have every right to decline them whether or not you're having a RCS. I didn't have any with my second pg (besides a GBS swab), tho I was planning a VBAC.

Soon2BMrsN

I had one at 36 or 37w, I forget, and that was it.  It was the same appt. where my OB did the GBS test.  So, no, I don't think they're necessary.  My OB even explained that she didn't want to "encourage" me to go into labor on my own by doing cervical checks before my RCS since I had gone into spontaneous labor the first time around.

monica92603

I had one or two w/ my daughter but I want to say it was b/c I was having ridiculous BH contractions and my OB wanted to make sure I wasn't dilating early.  Also, if you're trying for a VBAC, they might want to test you for GBS so they know if you need to be started on antibiotics when you get to the hospital.

cmrand4

I never had an internals with DS.  I knew for quite a while that I headed toward a c-section.  I never knew if I was dialated on the day of my c-section, two days before my due date and I was fine with that. GL!

HarrietNJMommy

I've never had them done after my first PG. Won't have them done this time either.

kes77

My OB doesn't begin doing internals until 38 weeks and since my c/s was scheduled for around 39 weeks I declined to have the internal.  

Jessicaanne_1@yahoo.com

My doctor did not do them. 

cassoppea

I didn't have any with my first (breech - scheduled c/s) so I don't think they are necessary.  I question really if they are even necessary with an intended vaginal delivery. Things can change very quickly so a mama could show no progress on exam and go into labor that night.  Another mama could walk around at 4cm for weeks!  I'm sure there are some situations that's require it.  

 That being said,  I've always been curious because I went into labor before my c/s and got to the hospital and hour after starting labor at 5cm. I wonder if was dilated already!  Still I think in most cases it doesn't really matter and you could decline it.