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September 2012 Moms
katiedollaz
member
FTM Question-What to expect from first internal exam?
katiedollaz
member
I am sure every Dr. does things differently but my Dr. didn't really tell me what to expect at the internal exams. She mentioned they would start doing them at my next appt. (36 weeks). Obviously, I know they check you inside but do they use a hand or a tool. Just would like to know what to expect when I walk in the exam room. She's also checking for Strep B. Never had that done.
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Re: FTM Question-What to expect from first internal exam?
The dr will use his/her hand to mesure if you're dilated or not, there will be some pressure while the dr's doing the exam and possible some cramping afterwards. There isn't anything to worry about it's pretty much over with in seconds!
Um... ouch? I assume if it is not dilated at all there will be no going into?!? I may be super naive about the female body at this moment.
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Right! They checked my cervix at every appt to look for shortening since I was having twins. If there's no dilation it's just like the internal part of an annual appt. I was terrified for my first real internal. I ended up not having one until I was in labor since my sac was ruptured. So when they were getting ready to do it in L&D I was freaking out. But I barely felt it!
7/30/12 - B/G twins born at 33w4d due to PPROM
i think so, too, because mine swapped inside my vag, as well as right around my "little brown starfish" (who was it that said that in a thread earlier this week?).
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Just to chime in here (because I didn't see this mentioned), my internals with #1HURT.
I'm talking rythmic breathing, tears in your eyes hurt.
I think all doctors and patients are different, but something to be forewarned about. It surprised me at the time.
This is exactly why I posted about my first internal the other day. I didn't want to seem AWish--but knew that I had been stalking the boards for some kind of info on them before I went into my appt so I was hoping my addition would help others.
Honestly mine didn't hurt AT ALL. I was terrified and asked the doc if it would hurt right before she did it (because of all the stories I'd heard here). She said "No, just some pressure." It didn't hurt me at all and it was over before I knew it. Then again I am 70% effaced, so perhaps that's why it wasn't painful.
Either way, good luck. Doc told me just to focus on breathing while she did it and I think that helped with my nerves.
DS-9/2012
DD-7/2015
This was my experience with dd#1 and dd#2. I found the internals very painful until after my epidural.
My doctor just did both this week....the strep B was a swab of my vagina and rectum....the vagina part was more uncomfortable than the rectum.
The internal exam she put two fingers in to feel for cervix dilation (it was closed) and thinning (it's starting to) and she also was able to feel baby's head, so she knew for sure he is head down. That part was uncomfortable for me and I was sore for an hour or two after....no bleeding or anything (which I was worried about).