When was your first internal?

BC&MM · August 2010

What week did the doctor do the first internal? Did you feel it was to early or too late?

karencz · August 2010

36 weeks when she did my GBS test. It was a little early. After that one, they will do another at either 38 or 39 weeks (we skipped 37). It doesn't mean too much that early on.

LCB34 · August 2010

35 weeks. She did it because I had contractions that weekend and also lost my MP a few days before my appointment.

I haven't had another one b/c I am having a scheduled c-section next week and there really isn't any point in knowing if I am making progress.

drewiekc · August 2010

I'll have my first one this week at 36w3d. They really dont mean anthing and arent even necessary, I'll probably just decline them after this until my 40w appt.

w2smd · August 2010

They start at 38wks for me but Im so tempted to ask tomorrow just out of sheer curiosity...

PrincessJesci · August 2010

36wks. Right on schedule.

sschwege · August 2010

My office doesn't do them at all unless they have a reason to or I request it.

drewiekc · August 2010

sylwill:
May I be the idiot and ask what's an internal? I kept thinking it was just the intra-vaginal ultrasound but that's not what this sounds like.

It's where your OB/MW checks with their fingers for dilation/effacement. Typically start around 36-ish weeks.

smbckr2 · August 2010

At 35 weeks when I got my GBS test done.

BeachM · August 2010

My practice does one at the 28 week appointment. They gave me a sheet with a breakdown of what happens at each appointment and it doesn't mention another one.

2becomes3 · August 2010

36 weeks, and I get one every week thereafter. I didn't feel it was too early or late, it's what my doctor does so I roll with it

He's the one with the degree on the wall!

DiAnne82 · August 2010

smbckr2:
At 35 weeks when I got my GBS test done.

This was what my doctor did last time around. Every appointment after that she asked if I wanted to be checked or not.

Papa Bear's Bride · August 2010

My MW doesn't do them routinely until you're in labor because it's been known to cause labor, to create infection, and to be completely unreliable. She will, however, check you if you've experienced more than the usual BH contractions or have a history of early labor and have any complications.

argonne · August 2010

My MW won't do one until 40 weeks, just to see where things are. She will do one earlier if there are reasons such as contractions, pressure, etc. She said that being dilated or effaced is no indication whether the baby will be coming soon or not. She said she had a patient who was 5cm dilated at 38 weeks, but didn't deliver until 40 weeks. She also had patients who were 0cm dilated and 0% effaced go into labor the next day.