How much should internal exams hurt?

Poppy523

I was telling someone how my internal exam was so incredibly painful I almost cried.  It felt like my MW was really pushing and stretching while she was up there, and it took her a little while.  I have had spotting, which I know is expected, but (TMI alert) it has been like flaky spotting with tiny clumps in it.  Someone suggested that maybe she stretched my cervix while she was up there, but I feel like she would have told me if she did that, right?  They are worried about my blood pressure, so they would really like me to go into labor sooner rather than later, normally they don't do internal exams at all, but they wanted to know what we were dealing with before talking about induction.  Internals cause also cause a lot of cramping, right?  I am asking because I have really felt pretty miserable since the whole experience.  Lots of cramping and discomfort, then last night I was all achey and thirsty all night along with terrible cramping.  Is this expected from these and do you think she just checked or do you think she did some stretching?  I do know my cervis was still pretty thick and closed up at the very top.

holly321

The fact your cervix was high could have caused the pain

I never had my membranes swept. But it sounds like that may have happened.

also, my internals got more painful the more dilated I was, and I would have every intense cramping for about the next 48 hours. 

WinterBenson

I have a really hard to find cervix, because its really far to the front. She has to really reach and shove down on my belly to feel it at all. I also have a septum and she ALWAYS snags it and that hurts like a bugger too. I just try and breathe through it until its over. 

After all that, I bleed like crazy afterwards for a couple days, and feel like crap.

I've had my cervix checked every week since 35 weeks. Yay.  

Tulips114

I think everything you are describing is in the range of what can be normal.  It's different for everyone.

Other than the very first one, my internal exams with DD never caused me pain or bleeding.  Even when she did sweep my membranes I did not have cramps or bleeding.  This time around I have been crampy and had spotting after each one.  It is a different Dr since we moved during this pregnancy, so I don't know if that is why or if its just different for each pregnancy.

I really doubt she would have done any stretching or sweeping without your knowledge.  Especially since you said she is the type that doesn't even normally do internals.  But if you're concerned with the amount of pain you're in and bleeding you're having, I'd give her a call.

carpntrgrl

Yeah, it's really not a fun experience. I had it done for the first time on Wednesday, youch. I bet your cervix is just hard to get to/reach, like a pp said. I'm sorry it was SO uncomfortable. One of the many awkward parts of pregnancy, huh?

Runaway22

WinterBenson:

I have a really hard to find cervix, because its really far to the front. She has to really reach and shove down on my belly to feel it at all. I also have a septum and she ALWAYS snags it and that hurts like a bugger too. I just try and breathe through it until its over. 

After all that, I bleed like crazy afterwards for a couple days, and feel like crap.

I've had my cervix checked every week since 35 weeks. Yay.  

Ooh, girl, unless there was some medically necessary reason to have them, I would SO be declining if I were you! (I think... I've been having them since week 36 because I'm curious lol) That sounds awful!

OP, I know some spotting and cramping is normal after internals. My OB and her nurse tend to warn me of that before each visit. Also, maybe the "flakiness" or "clumps" are part of your mucus plug? I don't know. I am totally new at this...  

WinterBenson

Runaway22:

WinterBenson:

I have a really hard to find cervix, because its really far to the front. She has to really reach and shove down on my belly to feel it at all. I also have a septum and she ALWAYS snags it and that hurts like a bugger too. I just try and breathe through it until its over. 

After all that, I bleed like crazy afterwards for a couple days, and feel like crap.

I've had my cervix checked every week since 35 weeks. Yay.  

Ooh, girl, unless there was some medically necessary reason to have them, I would SO be declining if I were you! (I think... I've been having them since week 36 because I'm curious lol) That sounds awful!

OP, I know some spotting and cramping is normal after internals. My OB and her nurse tend to warn me of that before each visit. Also, maybe the "flakiness" or "clumps" are part of your mucus plug? I don't know. I am totally new at this...  

 

i am getting them because of where I live, if I have made any kind of progress at all, I would stay off the island and in the city since its soooo far away and isolated. I know i can still go into labour at any time but it gives me piece of mind somewhat. I'll be leaving the island by Monday to stay until the baby is born, but it sucks because I have 4 fur babies and I take care of my mom....and dh can't come until its go time.