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Internal Exams

pinkpigeonpinkpigeon member
in 3rd Trimester
So, we moved to a new city and with the new city I found a new OB.  I miss my old OB TREMENDOUSLY but the new OB is nice enough.  However they do things differently so I kinda feel like an idiot in asking these questions, but I have never had these experiences.  After an internal exam, is it normal to:

1.  Spot for days after, to the point of using 2 pantyliners a day?  I usually stop bleeding after the 3rd or 4th day (which means I'm only a few days away from seeing her again).

2.  Have cramping for a while after.  I'm on my second day and I am still feeling achy cramps.  Nothing close to labor pains or BH (because I am getting BH too), but just flat out cramps to go along with the bleeding.

And finally has anyone experienced "manipulation of the cervix, without the mother's permission"?  I saw this phrase on another board when I googled the bleeding, and wasn't sure what that meant.  I thought the Dr. was just checking to see how dilated I am, but can they actually manipulate the cervix to induce labor or something?

FYI, I am dilated and effaced (2cm, 70%) -- does this have to do with the bleeding?

Sorry for the dumb questions.  I never had bleeding or cramping with my first OB and DD1, so this is all new to me this time around!
Bria - Born 7/20/2011 - 2 yrs old

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Re: Internal Exams

  • ncbellencbelle member
    They can "strip your membranes" which  will cause more bleeding and cramping than just a cervical check (which could cause irritation but shouldn't cause that much and shouldn't hurt - a strip hurts).  Stripping can induce labor - if your body just needs a nudge.

    I'd be super pissed if my membranes were stripped without my permission - that should never happen!!  Hopefully not what happened in your case as I'd have a hard time trusting that provider.  Although your ticker says you are only 34 weeks - that's early for a cervical check and certainly WAY too early to have membranes stripped.  I'd be asking lots of questions at your next appointment as to why they wanted to start so early (which would really only be needed if you'd had signs of pre-term labor).

    You also don't have to have internal checks (unless there are pre-term labor signs).  They really provide no useful information (your current status means basically nothing about when baby will come).  I don't do them at all and I've never been to a practice that did them unless the mother requested them.




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  • pinkpigeonpinkpigeon member
    ncbelle said:

    They can "strip your membranes" which  will cause more bleeding and cramping than just a cervical check (which could cause irritation but shouldn't cause that much and shouldn't hurt - a strip hurts).  Stripping can induce labor - if your body just needs a nudge.


    I'd be super pissed if my membranes were stripped without my permission - that should never happen!!  Hopefully not what happened in your case as I'd have a hard time trusting that provider.  Although your ticker says you are only 34 weeks - that's early for a cervical check and certainly WAY too early to have membranes stripped.  I'd be asking lots of questions at your next appointment as to why they wanted to start so early (which would really only be needed if you'd had signs of pre-term labor).

    You also don't have to have internal checks (unless there are pre-term labor signs).  They really provide no useful information (your current status means basically nothing about when baby will come).  I don't do them at all and I've never been to a practice that did them unless the mother requested them.


    Thanks so much for the insight. I am actually 36 weeks (3d) so a little closer to the due date. But yes -- if that is what happened, I am gonna be ticked. We aren't trying to have the baby early. Again, I appreciate the insight. :/

    Bria - Born 7/20/2011 - 2 yrs old

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  • pinkpigeonpinkpigeon member
    just an update:  i called my dr's office to ask about my situation.  really wanted to know if she did a membrane sweep, which could be the reason for all these issues, or if there is something i should be concerned about.  again, not having to deal with any of this in the past i am in unfamiliar territory.  i didn't get a straight answer from the dr/her nurse but i was told to go to L&D.

    i really didn't mean to get all panicky and in the mode of delivery.  i am not having contractions.  but i am leaking some fluid, having some bloody show, and i guess w everything else combined they want to make sure i'm not in labor? oy vey
    Bria - Born 7/20/2011 - 2 yrs old

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  • PrimRoseMamaPrimRoseMama member
    A normal cervix check can cause spotting & cramping. They are uncomfortable, but nothing like a membrane sweep.

    I don't know how on earth you could have experienced a membrane sweep & not know it. It's completely different from a normal internal.

    Also, you can decline internal checks until after labor. They don't tell you anything anyway.


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  • NoodleMNoodleM member
    I could tell when they swept my membranes because it's incredibly uncomfortable. I think you would notice if they had done it during an internal check.
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  • enpowersenpowers member
    In my experience the cervical checks themselves are extremely uncomfortable alone. My dr likes to let me know when he is poking on the head.....real funny. But I've never experienced bleeding, only mild cramping.
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  • ashanshelashanshel member
    Do you think that doing internal exams help to make labor start sooner? At my OB you have to ask to have them done, and Im just curious what some reasons would be to not have them done? Personally I kinda want them to do internal exams because in my mind it seems like it would speed things up also im dying to know if my body is in any way doing what it should be doing. Im almost 38 weeks.
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  • MizooMizoo member
    I had my first check on Friday.  I was still so high that my midwife had to have me prop my butt up and fold down my legs into a diamond shape and she literally climbed one knee onto the table just to reach it.  It was terribly uncomfortable.  I'm glad I've refused checks up to this point!  My office does them optionally starting at your 36 week appointment.

    Also, my midwife definitely asked me before attempting to sweep my membranes.  I would be pretty irate if she did so without my permission!
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  • Pepper6Pepper6 member
    I've had two cervical checks already and spotted after both and I know for certain that she did not do a membrane sweep.  A check does irritate the cervix a bit and since you have a lot of extra blood vessels there, it can cause minor spotting/cramping, but it shouldn't induce labor.  




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  • MrsGeekyPantsMrsGeekyPants member
    I had my first when i was in the ER two days ago 34w it was no worse than a pap smear stretch pain and was really quick. No pain after no bleeding nothing.. Not worried about being checked in the future
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  • Justabean3Justabean3 member
    You would for sure know if they did a sweep.

    No OB would likely do one anywhere near 36 weeks.

    Cervix checks in general are like they are crawling in there for a look especially if your cervix is posterior.
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  • PrimRoseMamaPrimRoseMama member
    ashanshel said:

    Do you think that doing internal exams help to make labor start sooner?
    no

    Im just curious what some reasons would be to not have them done? it is possible to introduce bacteria & irritate the cervix with an internal.

    An internal can't speed up labor.


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  • ElTrain5ElTrain5 member
    ashanshel said:

    Do you think that doing internal exams help to make labor start sooner? At my OB you have to ask to have them done, and Im just curious what some reasons would be to not have them done? Personally I kinda want them to do internal exams because in my mind it seems like it would speed things up also im dying to know if my body is in any way doing what it should be doing. Im almost 38 weeks.

    My midwives don't do them unless something is wrong. The reason being that for an uncomplicated pregnancy, prior to full term, it really does not provide any useful information.

    It does, however, lead to anxiety. i.e. "I can't believe I'm not dilated at 39 weeks! I'm going to be pregnant forever!" (When you could easily go into labor the next day even without dilation) or "OMG I'm 3 cm dilated I'm totally having this baby this week!!" ...and then your pregnant for another two weeks.

    I'll be honest, I thought about asking for one just because I'm so damn curious (read: impatient) but I know I would immediately fall into one of the two categories above and it would just drive me nuts either way.



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  • scarlettepixisscarlettepixis member
    I had my first cervical check at my 39 week appointment yesterday. It didn't hurt just felt really really uncomfortable. She said I was 1cm dilated, which means pretty much nothing to me. I didn't have any spotting afterward, I did feel little aches down there for maybe an hour or so after but it wasn't so bad. I was hoping it would bring on labour or at least help me get further along but I don't think it did anything.
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