turn down internal @ routine visit

Barbie&Kevin · October 2008

have you ever turned down an internal exam at a routine dr appt?

Im going in today for my 36 week appt - not sure if they will want to do an internal on me or not but I really dont see the point. Would it be odd if i refused it?

AMR_08 · October 2008

Like anything else in your pregnancy you just have to do what is right for you...I won't be having any internal exam done, I've talked about it with my provider and there really isn't any reason medically for them to be done.

angelynn8411 · October 2008

i intend to turn down all internals. my birth instructor told me we could, and that we shouldnt feel weird about it. if you don't see the point of one or don't want one for other reasons, refuse it. it's your body!

AJBMD915 · October 2008

I asked if I could turn down my 36 wk internal and was told no. I had no progress and it hurt. Somehow my dr forgot to do it at my 37 wk. Instead of stripping and trying to cover myself w/ that stupid sheet I just left my skirt on and took off my underwear and she didn't do the internal. I don't think it would be odd, really there's no reason for it.

peapine · October 2008

i guess its up to you, but i dont see why you would turn it down. its your body, do what you think is best. my doctor said we could not turn it down. i know people say there is no medical reason for having them, but i trust my doctor and if this is standard practice - there is a reason for them to do it.

candreco · October 2008

I'm planning to refuse if they're offered. Since you can go from no progress to active labor in one day, or walk around at 3 cm for two weeks, I don't see the point. I go to a practice that has OB/GYNs and midwives, so whether or not an internal is an option depends on who I'm seeing that day. I tend to stick with the midwives though, so it's unlikely it'll even come up unless I ask.

Amy Drinkwater · October 2008

My OB offers them but says they're optional; unless you're due that week then she really wants to check.

angelynn8411 · October 2008

to the person who said theyre dr told them they cant refuse them - what do you mean??? you can get up and walk out. simple as that. you are the patient and you hired them and pay them for their care, so you can tell them you don't want something. even at the hospital you can refuse "required" things. thats BS if people think you have to do anything. what are they gonna do, arrest you?

amber*n*scott · October 2008

It is up to you, I guess. I prefer them because I like to know what is going on.

Why are you turning them down?

Mjmksb04 · October 2008

I'm not the OP, but to answer why you would turn one down--there is more of a chance of accidentally stripping the membranes or infection when you have an internal. Also, you will likely know when you are in labor so one could argue there is no useful purpose in doing an internal to track "progress."

shady987 · October 2008

I had no idea that it wasn't necessary to do internals. I wish I would have known and saved myself a lot of painful visits.

habsoilers · October 2008

I turned down internals and my doctor was OK with it.

GirlGenius · October 2008

My mw doesn't do internals because of risk of infection - plus the psychological side effects and physical discomfort. I see an OB for the 36 week check up (this Thursday!) to be certified for a birthing center birth (a state law) and if she offers an internal I plan to turn it down.

I had an internal at 32 weeks, which was fine with me because I was having regular timeable contractions and needed to know if I was actually dilating. I wasn't and it SUCKED. So freaking painful. I plan to avoid them.

BecauseICan · October 2008

I turned them down until I was over 38 weeks. I had my first one last week. I didn't see the point until then. And I would've turned down mine today, but I'm having some other issues, so they decided to strip my membranes.

TayLynn · October 2008

angelynn8411:

to the person who said theyre dr told them they cant refuse them - what do you mean??? you can get up and walk out. simple as that. you are the patient and you hired them and pay them for their care, so you can tell them you don't want something. even at the hospital you can refuse "required" things. thats BS if people think you have to do anything. what are they gonna do, arrest you?

You do have the right to refuse any medical treatment that you don't want.

You won't get arrested, but the doctor also has the right to refuse you as a patient if you won't follow his standard of care. That's not likely to happen when push comes to shove, but it could.

Most doctors would go along with you though if you said no. They can always schedule an u/s if there's doubt about the baby's position.

BearsMrs · October 2008

You can refuse if you want, but personally I wanted to know if I was making progress. I had my first internal today & it really was no big deal!

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