Would you or not?

Honeyb416 · September 2013

I have my 40 week appointment tomorrow and am debating on whether to get a pelvic exam or not. I've declined them so far but I am curious now that it's my due date even though I know it doesn't mean much re: when I will deliver. I have not lost my mucous plug yet (that I know of).

Some of my reservations:

- I'm GBS positive

- OB I've never met before

So WWYD?

elm005 · September 2013

I would, just because I would want to know if I was making any progress at all. It would drive me crazy to not know. I have been checked a couple times now and it makes me feel better to know my body is making SOME progress. I am currently 2-3 and thinned. I also know it is not a good indicator of when labor happens but I still find comfort in it.

You will know when you lose your mucus plug. Unless it just drops in the toilet I guess. I have been losing mine for the last few days and it is pretty disgusting. I am also GBS+ and my Dr. assured me that until my water was ruptured, that LO was not at risk. Best of luck to you!

babybird12 · September 2013

I'm also GBS + and am refusing all cervix checks...not worth the risk to me...I'm going in for my 39 week today and I would LOVE to know if there is any progress but really knowing doesn't change when that baby comes....they come when they are ready

staebells · September 2013

I would. But, curiosity gets the best of me. I have my 40 week tomorrow and they checked last week. I was a "good 1 1/2 cm dilated." I will ask tomorrow just to see if i've made progress and if my contractions are doing anything. I know it means nothing for when i'll go into labor, but i'm getting antsy!

MegStark · September 2013

I would, but that's just because I'd want to know if things were happening or not. I know it doesn't really mean anything, but I still like to know.

magdalina.h · September 2013

I would but I got checked twice before my rcs to see if my body knew what to do.

Brooke81 · September 2013

I wouldn't. It tells you absolutly nothing over when you will go into labor! The same thing with the MP. For what iti is worth my midwife was asking me if I had lost mine last week and if I was having BH and it made me just want to roll my eyes at her because a)neither can predict when the baby will arrive as she well knows and b) I can't remember loosing my MP or really having BH with either previous birth and they both made it out.

If you are the type of person that just is too curious go for it but I sense that if you haven't been checked yet you are not and if you are not comfortable with who is doing it and that it is being done it could be painful. Maybe at 41 weeks but not now IMO.

olga1311 · September 2013

I would. I couldn't stand not knowing

janelleashu · September 2013

My 40 week appointment is tomorrow too--I'll be 40w3d--and I will be checked for reasons similar to 12002pooh. We will start talking about natural induction methods and what to do if baby seems to be pretty comfy cozy in there. I am at a birth center practice, so there is the additional purpose of seeing if my body is making any progress on its own so we'll know how seriously we need to be talking/thinking about the possibility of delivering at the hospital via non-natural induction. I can't deliver at the center past 42 weeks. I haven't had any internal exams so far. Good luck regardless of your choice! The waiting game is SO TOUGH!

Arielle27 · September 2013

You have to decide how you'll feel if the OB tells you that you HAVENT progressed at all... will you be horribly disappointed? If so, maybe skip it!

Curiosity got the best of me at 37 weeks (after 6 weeks of false labor following a preterm labor scare at 31 weeks when I had dilated, then closed back up), so I accepted the internal. This week (38) I declined. I think I'll decline until I go into labor because I don't want to have false hopes or feel disappointed, when it really doesn't mean anything...

I didn't have any internals with my first two except for when I went into preterm labor with my second. I was 100% effaced and 3cm. The doctor literally told me he didn't think I'd make it home and back to the hospital in time if they didn't induce me then and there and I spent the next week and a half walking on eggshells. Not fun!

If I'm 3cm now, I really don't want to know!

AppleMuffins · September 2013

I personally want to know. Too curious. I know it means nothing, but the way I look at it, however much dilated I already am is less I have to go once labor does start. Not that it means it'll be shorter or longer or anything, but just like, one down, 9 to go kind of thing.

msronzio · September 2013

I wouldn't. I haven't yet because I don't want it to induce cramping, contractions, etc. I'm not curious enough that I can't wait until I get admitted to find out!

coraggiosa · September 2013

I honestly would avoid it. It can be painful, and the resultant cramping and contractions that don't go anywhere are really uncomfortable.

The only reason I got a cervical check was to see if conditions were favorable for an induction, and I don't think I'd get checked for any other reason.

TKtravels · September 2013

I've lost count for how many cervical checks I've had with this pregnancy. I started having contractions and other PTL signs back in July.

I'm thinking of asking my MW for another check tomorrow just because I'm curious to see how things are going, even though I know they don't tell you anything about when you will go into labor, and that personally, I'll be somewhat disappointed if I haven't effaced and dilated beyond where I was at my last check (two weeks ago).

Unless something is going on (or you request it), she doesn't perform routine checks.

Jamilla9 · September 2013

I got checked at 40 weeks and hadnt progressed at all and was really disappointed.

cjelkin · September 2013

I had my 40 week appointment today and declined a cervical check and membrane sweep. I felt fine with that decision because the doctor today (I pretty much see a different one every time) said there was plenty of amniotic fluid so there is no reason to be thinking about induction anytime soon. As a result, I don't really have an interest in knowing how dilated I am because we aren't at the point yet where it would be helpful to know where I am so that we can have an idea what sort of induction methods would be necessary. I think I am going to go for it if I make it to my 41 week appointment, though.
(I am surprised I am not curious about my dilation like others are- I think every other little thing that "could be a sign but probably isn't and really doesn't mean anything" is really exciting, haha. Like I know losing my mucus plug doesn't mean anything, but I still got excited. I think the difference might be that I imagine a cervical check for dilation would be really, really uncomfortable for me, and not really worth the pain at this point.)

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