Forum Index
»
Expectant and Postpartum Moms
Internal exams?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
I'm just curious as I will need to make the decision to have exams at some point or to decline them, is this your opinion or is it fact? I am just wondering why doctors do them at all if they have no relevance. |
Anonymous
|
Opinions vary by doctor. I got a lot of attitude from one doc for declining an exam at the beginning of the second trimester. When I saw my regular one at the next visit, she said it wasn't necessary and no one has asked since.
You should be able to find plenty of medical articles about this via google. You can read up and make your decision from there. Some women want their membranes stripped and want to know if there is any effacement or dilation. I'm not one of the PPs, but I plan on declining the exams in the last few weeks. |
Anonymous
|
I'm the pp who asked why you declined. Thanks for your answers - makes sense. For pg #1, I really wanted to know what was going on because I was estimated to have a 10lb baby if going full term and at from 36wks on they said they woudln't stop labor since baby was ready. They were also checking for signs of any activity because of a scheduled induction.
My water broke the day before my induction and I went on to have a 10lb baby after 30hrs of labor. So, I never thought about declining the exams. Not sure what I will do this time, but your posts are food for thought. |
Anonymous
|
As PP's have mentioned, the status of your cervix does not mean anything at all in relation to how 'ready' you are, or how close to labor you are. If the news is good (ie, you are dilated or effaced) it provides a false sense that something is happening. If the news is bad (ie, long closed cervix) it provides a false sense that your body doesn't work. Either way it can be frustrating.
The other reason women decline multiple (or any) exams is that 1) it can hurt and 2) unscrupulous doctors or midwives may take the opportunity to strip the membranes without consulting with you first. The benefit of ONE (no need for mulitple!!) cervix check prior to the onset of labor, is that when you arrive in labor you will have had a base line to compare any current progress with. For example, if I arrive to the birth center in labor and I am found to be 4 centimeters, it might be helpful for me to know that a week (or whenever) ago I was already 4 centimeters....or, a week ago I was just 1. Either way it would give me a little guage as to how effective my labor is or how early I am in labor. But again, this is merely helpful but not at all necessary. |
Anonymous
| Though you definitely want an internal exam prior to any induction. If you are dilated or effaced already, you have a much greater chance of having a successful induction. |
Anonymous
| The other good reason for a cervical exam is if you are at risk for any type of weakened cervix and your insurance won't pay for a sonogram every other week. That was my experience...so because of my high-risk status I had one every other week beginning at 16 weeks. It was fine. My baby ended up just fine and I was thankful for the reassurance each time that I was NOT dilating. |
Anonymous
| Actually, I go to Foxhall and don't think I got an internal exam until 38 weeks. With no problems, and a mother who went well past 40 weeks with both her pregnancies, I don't think anyone thought that I wouldn't go past 40 weeks. (Delivered at 41 weeks exactly). |
Anonymous
| Another question about internal exams -- wouldn't another reason to get one be that you shouldn't have sex once the cervix starts dialating? (Maybe this isn't true, but I thought it was....) |
Anonymous
No, you can have sex even if your cervix is dilated. The only time you should abstain from sex (or anything else in your vagina) is if your water has broken. |