what does the dr. do during an internal?

Mrs.Honeybear · November 2010

i know, i'm like the last mom on this entire board to have to worry about this because i am due on NYE and you guys are probably all like "internals? phshh....that's SO last month" but i have my first one friday and i'm freaked out. i just want to know what the procedure entails because google is no help....i'd be less freaked if i was seeing one of the doctors i like in my practice...instead, i have to see my least favorite and i'm dreading it.

i've heard everything from it lasts 10 seconds and is nothing to worry about and is way less invasive than a PAP to basically that the doctor practically crawls up into my vag and shakes hands with the baby. can somebody please tell me the truth? thanks!

futureCLJ · November 2010

He crawls right on up in there and shakes hands with the baby.

jessiesnwbrd · November 2010

You're not the only one to experience this the first time this week...I get my first on Wednesday. My doctor doesn't like to do them early because it can be misleading since you can walk around for weeks being somewhat dialated.
I think it just varies doctor to doctor and patient to patient. I've heard some people say it's awful, painful and uncomfortable and others say it was no big deal. Don't worry about it too much. It will be over with before you know it

AllSmiles1210 · November 2010

It's pretty straight forward. Fingers in vag. Not sure how much further it can be explained.

smallfry18 · November 2010

I think a lot of it depends on the doctor and how high up your cervix is. I've had three so far, two of them were painful (but not agonizing pain), the other just uncomfortable. IMO it is worse than a pap because it lasts longer. Basically I think they are moving their fingers around the opening of your cervix to see if you are dilated. So by the time they find the cervix and wiggle their fingers around a few times, it probably takes about 10 seconds. The best advice is to just relax, because the tenser you are the more painful it will probably be. GL!

bosha711 · November 2010

The doctor inserts his/her fingers to feel for baby's position & what the current state of your cervix is. Yes, it takes about 10 seconds. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it doesn't.

Mrs.Honeybear · November 2010

LOL...obviously i was being sarcastic about the doctor crawling up there and shaking hands with the baby.....

i guess i was just tying to figure out what to expect. when i get a PAP, the doc is basically face to face with the goods...well, not face to FACE, but you know.....i guess i'm just trying to determine if this exam consists mostly of feeling around in there or of actually looking in there....sorry. i'm really lame, i know.

lulu3061 · November 2010

I've only had one that 'hurt' the other two were like a PAP. I still hate them though.

belizeitornot · November 2010

fmgrice:
It's pretty straight forward. Fingers in vag. Not sure how much further it can be explained.

pretty much this. if you get a pelvic at your annual visit, it's pretty much the same thing.

at my first internal i was locked up tight but it didn't hurt one bit. trying to stay relaxed is key.

Mrs.Honeybear · November 2010

thank you

jillybean800 · November 2010

I'm so glad my doctor doesn't do them until 39 weeks. Score.

JJBaby2009 · November 2010

futureCLJ:
He crawls right on up in there and shakes hands with the baby.

This. My first one last week was more than just uncomfortable, it hurt. I'm not looking forward to one this week!

JJBaby2009 · November 2010

futureCLJ:
He crawls right on up in there and shakes hands with the baby.

This. My first one last week was more than just uncomfortable, it hurt. I'm not looking forward to one this week!

ChatterboxBride09 · November 2010

zerf77:
trying to stay relaxed is key.

I fully agree. My first two I was relax and distracted talking to DH but my third I was intently waiting to hear if I'd made any progress and I think being that focused made it slightly painful and super uncomfortable.

lulu8109 · November 2010

I am in the "it hurts" camp. I had my first internal last Wednesday. It felt like the OB was shoving his hand up my vag and it hurt. It didn't last long, but it was definitely uncomfortable. He was trying to feel how dilated I was and if baby's head was down. I was only a fingertip dilated, so maybe that's why it hurt so much??

Linzee498 · November 2010

I have had 2 now and neither was painful or a big deal at all. The doc tells you to lie back and put your feet on the table and relax your knees, then its 2 fingers in and that it. She pokes around a little but honestly, the baby's head pressing hard onto my cervix/bladder hurts WAY more than the Dr did. Plus, I am always so curious to how far I have dilated (um, hardly anything so far). I am looking forward to my next one. Don't over think it! HTH.

kattnatt25 · November 2010

I had two done while in L&D due to contractions and they checked to see if i was dilated. I asked if it hurt and she made a face like yeah it can hurt and be uncomfortable. So i was kinda freaked out, but i tried to relax and get it over with. I thought it was gonna be like a pap you know with your crotch practically in their face and legs open to the world, but nope she stood next to me told me to bend knees and get my feet close to my butt and open legs. She kept the cover over me and just used her fingers to feel in there. Its uncomfortable when then are sticking their fingers way in there and it kinda hurt when she tried to feel the cervix, but it didn't hurt bad at all for me and only lasted a few seconds. I think it really does just depend on the person and the dr doing it, but it seriously was better than having a pap for me and i had no spotting at all after

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