dumbest question I've asked in a while...

HUrquiza · December 2010

What *exactly* happens when you get an internal?

I see people disagreeing with them, and saying they're painful, or people are spotting after having them...

...does the OBGYN cram their whole hand up there or something? I mean, your cervix is pretty far up there, right? or is it lower because the baby's crowding everything?

I'm all worried now because I have my first one next Tuesday... Embarrassed

I'm sorry if this is really dumb, but I had to ask. lol.

lilbit923 · December 2010

That's not a dumb question. Yes, the OB puts her hand inside to check the dilation of the cervix. Also the OB will check for effacing. Once the internals start you'll get one done each week to show progress for labor. It might be a little uncomfortable but mine weren't painful.

Your cervix will shorten the closer you get to going into labor. So if the OB starts to check and can't find it then yep...pretty much the whole hand goes up and the other hand on your belly to try and locate it and then measure.

yourmom5309 · December 2010

Mine uses one or two fingers to feel the height and thickness of the cervix, as well as to check if I am dialated. This is my second baby and I have never gotten the fist. However, I am sure each doctor is different.

HUrquiza · December 2010

lilbit923:
That's not a dumb question. Yes, the OB puts her hand inside to check the dilation of the cervix. Also the OB will check for effacing. Once the internals start you'll get one done each week to show progress for labor. It might be a little uncomfortable but mine weren't painful.

Your cervix will shorten the closer you get to going into labor. So if the OB starts to check and can't find it then yep...pretty much the whole hand goes up and the other hand on your belly to try and locate it and then measure.

I gotta be honest, I'm not excited about this! My OB is male, and he's a big guy... lol, he has pretty big hands!!

Robs, I hope my OB goes with your OB's method!

bisabelm · December 2010

Ditto to what the others have already said. I was actually surprised during my internal exams- I was terrified of them because I kept hearing from others how painful they are but it honestly was not that bad. They are quick and easy but maybe I just have a really good doctor with small hands. In my opinion the yearly pap/gyno test is worse.

ETA: I have not had any spotting after my internals (have had 2 so far).

EmjayTheHunted · December 2010

Almost always, only 2 fingers. Well-lubed.

The reason for that is one fingertip is considered 1 cm, 2 fingertips on top of each other is 2 cm, 2 fingers next to each other is 4 cm and so on... they use those as a guide.

HUrquiza · December 2010

EmjayTheHunted:
Almost always, only 2 fingers. Well-lubed.

*phew* good to know... all I kept picturing is when farmers artificially inseminate cows with that arm-glove thing and lube. lol.

yourmom5309 · December 2010

EmjayTheHunted:

Almost always, only 2 fingers. Well-lubed.

The reason for that is one fingertip is considered 1 cm, 2 fingertips on top of each other is 2 cm, 2 fingers next to each other is 4 cm and so on... they use those as a guide.

You are so smart. First, the tip on trimming bc doctors have to push the bush to the side and now this. Love ya!

EmjayTheHunted · December 2010

robs867:
EmjayTheHunted:

Almost always, only 2 fingers. Well-lubed.

The reason for that is one fingertip is considered 1 cm, 2 fingertips on top of each other is 2 cm, 2 fingers next to each other is 4 cm and so on... they use those as a guide.

You are so smart. First, the tip on trimming bc doctors have to push the bush to the side and now this. Love ya!

HUrquiza:
EmjayTheHunted:
Almost always, only 2 fingers. Well-lubed.
*phew* good to know... all I kept picturing is when farmers artificially inseminate cows with that arm-glove thing and lube. lol.

They're checking your cervical opening silly, not giving you a tonsillectomy!!! No need to go in that high! The reason it's usually uncomfortable is you have the baby causing pressure downward and things are engorging, and something (fingers) going up there, at the same time so it's not exactly foreplay, ya know!! HAHA

But it's over quick.

EmjayTheHunted · December 2010

By the way... found an article online that explains it a little. What I explained above is pretty much what my instructor said in nursing school. This articles says the same thing but goes a little more in depth as it also goes into effacement and station also.

It even has a picture at the bottom for HUriquza... No cow glove in sight!! :-D

https://www.askdramy.com/Chap15.html

alatham · December 2010

My doc used one or two fingers. There was a little pressure, but nothing more. I didn't find it painful, just more uncomfortable.

JerkStore213 · December 2010

What the what??? I don't wanna get fisted! I was actually thinking of the cow thing too, that comment cracked me up. If internals are no indication of anything why do doctors bother to do them?

HUrquiza · December 2010

EmjayTheHunted:
By the way... found an article online that explains it a little. What I explained above is pretty much what my instructor said in nursing school. This articles says the same thing but goes a little more in depth as it also goes into effacement and station also.
It even has a picture at the bottom for HUriquza... No cow glove in sight!! :-D

https://www.askdramy.com/Chap15.html

haha, thanks Emjay (or the girl with a similar name...I'm going to start calling you "the artist formerly known as Emjay")! very reassuring!

harper80 · December 2010

My doctor gave me an internal at 20 weeks because of some weird cramping I had. It took like two seconds and felt just a little worse than a pelvic exam. No fists involved.

EmjayTheHunted · December 2010

katefres:
What the what??? I don't wanna get fisted! I was actually thinking of the cow thing too, that comment cracked me up. If internals are no indication of anything why do doctors bother to do them?

They are an indication of cervical dilation.

Angeldcf · December 2010

I've had 2 now. Male doc with big hands. They've been very uncomfortable to somewhat painful though part of that was it had been probably 2 months since we had sex. So 8-10 weeks of nothing stretching my vagina then fat fingers with lube jammed up to poke the cervix isn't fun.

ETA: All that said, I haven't had any spotting afterwards (though this is normal).

LadybugPicnic2011 · December 2010

With my first, Dr had HUGE hands and short fingers... This made for miserable internals- almost like he was scraping my membranes each time as he struggled to reach.

With my second, the Dr. had nice long fingers and very delicate hands... It didn't hurt but for a mild cramp as she reached up to check.

Mrs.JBowman@gmail.com · December 2010

What everyone else said is true, but I have to say that it depends on who does it as to how bad it is. My dr is also a man with very large hands and it hurts pretty bad. However, when the midwife would check, hers weren't that bad at all, just uncomfortable. I start mine at my next visit and am not looking forward to it either! I would like to know if there's any progress though since I feel like LO is trying to push his way out!

beautifulsin90 · December 2010

they usually just use 2 fingers. I have never bleed after one but I have always ended up with a infection afterward. Sad

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