I did with my last pregnancy and didn't think anything of it but now I know it increases your risk for infection, etc so I'm debating whether to bother. Just wondering what others are thinking of doing.
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Re: EF Green beans - are you having internals?
No way! Didn't with my last, either as a matter of course.
Here is an example of why they are useless. The day before my due date, I had an app. with my midwife. I had a ton of discharge and she wanted to make sure it wasn't leaking amniotic fluid. So, she did the test strip and while she was up there, she said "Do you want me to check you since I'm here?" I was like, "Well, it doesnt' really matter, does it?" She agreed it didn't matter, but we figured what the heck.
So, she checked. (This was the only internal of the entire pregnancy) She said, "well, your cervix is thick and high and not even close to being anywhere dilated. So, I would say you have a little while, but who knows?"
I had Ethan less than 24 hours later. After only a little less than 3 hours of labor, start to finish.
Anyway, all sorts of stuff can happen quickly or slowly, and the cervical dilation just doesn't tell a whole lot on its own. My MW would have never even bothered if she wasn't doing the amnio test strip, and we both agreed it was meaningless.
This time (different MW) we aren't doing any either.
EVERYTHING is optional. Its YOUR body and YOUR baby. More women need to realize this!!!
I don't know about a specific place to research whys and why nots, but you can see that the why nots are that they increase your risk of infection and don't tell you much about the progression of labor.
As for the why's, I guess I'd say just so the doc can feel in control? I don't know any other reason to do it.