Decline or just go with it? (weekly Internal exam)

Cdienst · July 2012

So I had my first internal exam yesterday at 36wks and it was pretty painful- nothing I couldn't handle if necessary but is it? It says on my Dr's website to expect weekly exams from 36 wks on.. Is it just to get an idea of how progressed you are? I mean unless it says im over like 6cm (highly unlikely) then why does it matter? Should I decline my exam next week or just go with it?

Pain + spotting for a day= worth it to know how much i've progressed?? Also, Im GBS+ and it seems like I should avoid unnecessary exams..

jillybean800 · July 2012

Ick, I would decline. Really no reason for it...my cousin walked around 3 cms dilated until she was 41 weeks. I went into the hospital when my water broke at 38 weeks, and was only 1 cm dilated. So I don't see how the info helps at all.

My Dr. doesn't do them until the 39 week appointment, so I didn't even have to get one until I got into the hospital...and it sucked. I would avoid at all costs.

rnbeth477 · July 2012

I would definitely go with it. It's important your dr knows how far along you are at this point.

fellinginlove · July 2012

jillybean800:
Ick, I would decline. Really no reason for it...my cousin walked around 3 cms dilated until she was 41 weeks. I went into the hospital when my water broke at 38 weeks, and was only 1 cm dilated. So I don't see how the info helps at all.

My Dr. doesn't do them until the 39 week appointment, so I didn't even have to get one until I got into the hospital...and it sucked. I would avoid at all costs.

Ditto above. My midwife says it's not necessary until you're in labor... unless you specify that you want them ahead of time as well, there is not a lot of purpose

phq2011 · July 2012

rnbeth477:
I would definitely go with it. It's important your dr knows how far along you are at this point.

Why is it important? If she shows no signs of preterm labor, why does it matter?

blondie42107 · July 2012

With my first, I was checked at 39 weeks only because I had been having contraction on and off and my provider and I were both okay with it. Otherwise she doesn't typically check until 40 weeks. There's really no reason for weekly ones, IMO.

Salamander87 · July 2012

My midwife doesn't start checks until 38 weeks. Honestly, even if you are dilated or effaced, I don't think its any time indication of when you could really go into labor.

Meg&Jesse · July 2012

Had my weekly appt today and I asked my doctor if she was going to check since I was also doing the strep B test. She said there really wasnt a point, since it doesnt mean much, and it would probably only worry me more. Doubt she is going to check unless I ask...which I really dont want to know.

babypaloozyvan · July 2012

phq2011:
rnbeth477:
I would definitely go with it. It's important your dr knows how far along you are at this point.
Why is it important? If she shows no signs of preterm labor, why does it matter?

This. She has the right to decline if there is no medical reason to do so. If he isn't contracting or anything, why is it needed weekly when she basically still has a month before her EDD?

babypaloozyvan · July 2012

We discussed this earlier today on th Aug board...here you go:

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/67404034.aspx

wannabigfam · July 2012

100% I would decline.

1. It doesn't provide any useful information. If you are in labor, you will know it!

2. At 36 weeks, they're not going to stop labor if you're in labor (it's safer for baby to come out than to risk the possible effects of the medications that would stall labor & other complications from stopping labor)

3. It increases risk of your water rupturing prematurely. While a 36 weeker isn't super premature, there are risks such as lung immaturity and breastfeeding / feeding difficulties (common before 38 weeks). Each time they stick anything up you, there IS a risk that it could be stripping your membranes ever so slightly or could cause water to break.

4. It increases risk of infection

5. With GBS, you want to keep everything clean down there - when they stick their fingers up you, they move the GBS further up that area, if that makes sense.

If you can, check out "The thinking woman's guide to a better birth" (book). It goes over all the reasons you should refuse ALL checks (except perhaps at hospital check in if the hospital requires it, and then right before pushing to make sure you're dilated enough)

Mrs.Reyna2008 · July 2012

wannabigfam:

100% I would decline.

1. It doesn't provide any useful information. If you are in labor, you will know it!

2. At 36 weeks, they're not going to stop labor if you're in labor (it's safer for baby to come out than to risk the possible effects of the medications that would stall labor & other complications from stopping labor)

3. It increases risk of your water rupturing prematurely. While a 36 weeker isn't super premature, there are risks such as lung immaturity and breastfeeding / feeding difficulties (common before 38 weeks). Each time they stick anything up you, there IS a risk that it could be stripping your membranes ever so slightly or could cause water to break.

4. It increases risk of infection

5. With GBS, you want to keep everything clean down there - when they stick their fingers up you, they move the GBS further up that area, if that makes sense.

If you can, check out "The thinking woman's guide to a better birth" (book). It goes over all the reasons you should refuse ALL checks (except perhaps at hospital check in if the hospital requires it, and then right before pushing to make sure you're dilated enough)

All of this EXACTLY!

juliane2004 · July 2012

phq2011:
rnbeth477:
I would definitely go with it. It's important your dr knows how far along you are at this point.
Why is it important? If she shows no signs of preterm labor, why does it matter?

I've heard of women who never feel contractions but are dilating. This is why it's important.

For me, I've been getting checked because I *AM* having regular contractions, and I want to see if they are dilating me, because if they are, they need to be stopped.

phq2011 · July 2012

juliane2004:
phq2011:
rnbeth477:
I would definitely go with it. It's important your dr knows how far along you are at this point.
Why is it important? If she shows no signs of preterm labor, why does it matter?
I've heard of women who never feel contractions but are dilating. This is why it's important.
For me, I've been getting checked because I *AM* having regular contractions, and I want to see if they are dilating me, because if they are, they need to be stopped.

For your case, isn't that a necessary check though? I am referring to OP talking about routine checks with no medical indication of their need. I had a couple of times in L&D before this for other reasons and when they wanted to check, I consented because they did need to make sure I wasn't dilating.

KayaXavier · July 2012

I decline because of risk of introducing infection. I plan to decline until I'm either feeling symptoms of labor or past due. It's *killing* me though because I'm dying to know if anything is happening!

misspunky · July 2012

I actually just talked to my OB about this today. She said unless I'm past my due date, there's really no reason to do internal exams, so I will be declining. The baby's going to come when she's ready, regardless of if I know how dilated I am.

KaylaC0514 · July 2012

Not necessary, and doesn't even give an accurate idea of how progressed you are. I haven't had one yet and probably wont unless I start having problems. Even if you are dialated it doesn't mean you will be going into labor anytime soon. If your not dialated at all, still you might go into labor within a couple days. My midwife explained this to me. You should decline your next exam but if its your OBs policy, he/she might insist.

apardy131 · July 2012

I got my first internal 2 weeks ago and had no pain or anything after. They asked at my appointment last week if I wanted to be checked and I said no I will wait until next week. I just figured it would get me excited to have any change from the week before. I plan on being checked tomorrow at my appointment.

aylafsu88 · July 2012

I would decline! You can go from little/no dilation to several cm when you start labor, so i dont really think internal exams tell you much. My Ob starts them at 38 weeks. I declined and told them I didnt want an internal till I was at 40, she did not have a problem with that. It seems like most OB are ok with declining early internal exams.

leffe1 · July 2012

My Dr. does them so I just go with it.

mary710 · July 2012

my doctor checked me at 39 weeks and i was 5 cm and had a bulging water bag which meant that i was having contractions. i couldn't feel the contractions, but they were 3 minutes apart! some of us truly DON'T realize that we are in labor. I thought that you would have to be really dumb for that to happen, but me and my cousin both had similar labor circumstances. it all just depends on your body! i had my baby the next morning...

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