Declining Internals - how does your nurse/doctor react?

Re: Declining Internals - how does your nurse/doctor react?

• michellepeanut member

  May 2012

  I have midwives and they don't offer internals until you're in labour. It doesn't really provide any relevant information, it's just a snapshot of where you are.
  

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• PurpleSnapDragons member

  May 2012

  I declined until this week (40 weeks).  I'm super glad I did.  They don't really tell anything but can get your over excited or over disappointed.  Especially since I'm a FTM, dilation can happen so quickly or not that it's barely useful.  

   

  I'm glad I got checked this week because I wanted a membrane sweep if I was dilated enough.  Turns out I was only 1 cm.  At 40 weeks, I wasn't overly disapointed though because it gave us a platform to talk about when I will need to be induced (my midwives like to induce between 7 & 10 days after your due date) and make plans.  I will get a membrane sweep at my 41 week appointment even if I'm still a 1 and if that fails, I will have to be induced.

  
  
  

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• k8edgerton member

  May 2012

  What are your reasons for not wanting an internal?

  I personally at 38 weeks would like to know where everything stands down there. I've had them since 36 weeks and have not had any discomfort -- just mild spotting. Noting more than what a panty liner couldn't handle for a day or two after. 

  They can't make you do it but you are getting so close... They can let you know how far along you are -- To me, I am all about knowing. 
  

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• fyziksgirl member

  May 2012

  michellepeanut:

  I have midwives and they don't offer internals until you're in labour. It doesn't really provide any relevant information, it's just a snapshot of where you are.
  

  This. If I were in your shoes I would probably just accept the sheet from the nurse and leave it to the side if she's a little too full of herself. No reason to fight with another person. It's not her business anyway. :-/
  

  

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• BelleIsa member

  May 2012

  michellepeanut:

  I have midwives and they don't offer internals until you're in labour. It doesn't really provide any relevant information, it's just a snapshot of where you are.
  

  This for me too.   If anything, they just make you more anxious with thinking stuff like, "I'm 2 cm! I'm going ot have this baby soon!" and then you don't for 2 weeks. kwim?
  

  
  Eleanor Noelle - 18/05/12 Claire Elisabeth - 16/-5/10

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• noycela member

  May 2012

  k8edgerton:

  What are your reasons for not wanting an internal? 

  I don't really see any benefit to knowing.  I know it's a natural reaction, but I find it a bit silly that so many women on here say how they know it means nothing, but then get so frustrated with a lack of "progress."  Plus, there is a very small risk of infection or ruturing the membranes.  So I look at it as:  no benefit + very small risk vs. my slight curiosity. 

  Thanks for all the responses!  Thinking I'll accept the sheet from the nurse, set it aside, and just discuss with the doctor.

  http://crossfittingfortwo.blogspot.com/

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• sheilatakesabow member

  May 2012

  Personally, I accept the sheet, change, then discuss with my doctor before she proceeds.  Once we skipped it, but last time I agreed to let her try.  I'm willing to be persuaded that its worthwhile, and it saves time to have already changed if so.  If I agreed to do it but hadn't already changed, I expect she'd leave the room and head out to do something else before coming back, leaving me hanging around waiting awhile and I spend more than enough time at the doctor's already. 
  

  

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• SWBs Wifey

  May 2012

  I'm being seen by midwives only at a birthing center in a hospital.  I declined the first two exams.  I also declined today for my 38 week check.... BUT.... MW said they'd want to check me at least once this week or next because of how long our drive is and how long I've been having contrax.  DH also wanted me to be checked and he was actually with me today... so... I got checked.  Nothing exciting and I know it holds little to no weight, so... whatever.  I'm more concerned with how often I'll be checked during labor- NEXT TO NONE. 

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• TnG05

  May 2012

  I would accept the sheet and not change. If the doctor convinces you to have one then you can change.  My nurses or doctors didn't have any issues with me declining last week. 

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• lindy27 member

  May 2012

  I can tell you one advantage to internals based off my experience.  I was in denial about being in active labor, mainly because my contractions wouldn't stay every 5 minutes, 1 minute long and for an hour.  They kept spacing out to 7-8 minutes and then back to 5.  I had been to the doctor at 40 weeks and they did an internal, 2 days later my husband finally made me go to the doctor because of bleeding and they determined I was in active labor based on my prior dilation vs current dilation and told me to head to the hospital.
  

  

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• PurpleSnapDragons member

  May 2012

  wife07mom09:

  whats the big deal?

  you are seeking prenatal care so why not let your OB do what needs to be done. You are not the doctor 

  Internal exams don't need to be done.  Except in cases where they want to induce and need to know how dilated you are to pick the right method, etc.

  https://www.nurturingheartsbirthservices.com/blog/?p=50 

  
  
  

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• PurpleSnapDragons member

  May 2012

  wife07mom09:

   

  and thats what your medical school taught? again, the internet is not a substitution for a medical provider. 

   

  Agreed but not all doctors recommend them.  Clearly it's a grey area.  So you don't have to take your doctors opinion on something that's not agreed upon by so many doctors.

  
  
  

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