- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
I'm going to keep my eye on this thread! I'm in the same situation (care-wise) as you and have been wondering how beneficial these exams really are. Thanks for posting!
I used to work in L&D and have a 3 year old son.
If I am lucky enough to do it all again, I don't think I would. I was 4cms at 36 weeks and was sure I would have him right away and quick. I went 21 days like that and it was really hard living like I was going to give birth anysecond. My water ended up breaking and it took almost 24 hrs from there for him to be born.
So, cervical dilation doesn't really tell you a lot if you are not in labour. I have had patients that come in high, thick and fingertip dilated that have gone to fully within an hour or two. I have also had patients walk around at 3cm dilated for weeks.
If you do get it done, just remember that it doesn't mean a lot at this stage, unless you are in labour.
Good luck!!
I wouldn't until at least 38 or 39 weeks. I didn't find it painful- just disappointing to find out things weren't changing from week to week. I was two cenemeters for about 2.5-3 weeks. When I went into labor the nurses told me to expect a slow process since I was still the same as I had been at my appointment 4 days before. My contractions started at 430, at 1030 I was still a 2 but by midnight I was a 4-5 and I delivered my daughter at 559AM. So needless to say I don't put a lot of stake in dialation.
I was dialated 2cm at 36 weeks and then went full term (induced 2 days before my due date). In my case, it meant nothing. However, I am the curious type and would still have it done. I don't think it matters either way.
I wouldn't let the pain factor stop you, I didn't find it painful at all. I'm only 37 weeks so I've only had one exam at 36. They told me I'm 50% effaced and not dilated. I went into knowing that no matter what they say (like pp say) it can still take a while to go into labor, but I still wanted to know. I'm just curious like that.
If you want to out of curiosity, go ahead, but I wouldn't just because it REALLY doesn't mean anything. I know someone who went the last three weeks of pregnancy dialated at 5 cm. I was not dialated AT ALL when I was checked just hours before I went into labor. Like, less than 24 hours after being checked with no dialation or effacement, I had delivered my daughter. So, unless you just want to have a story about how dialated or not you were prior to labor, it's not really useful knowledge.
I did find the internal exam painful, but it's really nothing compared to labor & delivery, so I wouldn't let that stop you if you're really interested in being checked. (Also, my doctor was kind of a jerk and not very gentle about things. When the nurse at the hospital checked me, it didn't hurt at all, but I was in labor, so it might just not have seemed that bad in comparison.)
I did it and wish I didn't. It's hard to resist when you are excited, but it really isn't a good indicator. i was 1cm at my 39 week appointment, and they were talking induction scheduling...I had the kiddo before my next appointment.
The ONLY good thing was that my manager finally realized this is really coming soon when I told her I was starting to dilate/efface, lol.
It doesn't mean anything. I did it, but probably wouldn't do it again. It doesn't "do" anything for you, doesn't give any meaningful information and has the slim possibility of introducing infection.
@cheese: Are you already group B strep positive or have a reason to do antibiotics during labor? If not, then they NEED to check you for that. Cervical exam can be helpful if you come in having contractions and your cervix is 2cm dilated. If it was closed/thick/high 2 days before, it can help you know you're probably in labor. Otherwise, cervical exam doesn't do much unless they are inducing.
I was checked at my 36, 37, & 38 week appts by request - no dilation at all. I went into labor 3 days after my 38th week appt.
So basically it's no indication - because you can be dilated for weeks and not go into labor or you can be not dilated or effaced and be in labor the next day.
I was going to say what @guitargirl: said. If they havent checked you for GBS yet, Id have them take a look when they do that just to see. I got checked at 26 weeks and was kind of disappointed by what they told me. And for me, it was SUPER uncomfortable, but not worth passing it up for the pain factor. Although I am getting checked again on Thiusday and am already dreading it
I don't think I'd do one that early. Maybe 38 or 39 weeks just out of curiosity. Like others have said, I don't think it tells you a whole lot, though. As for the pain? I thought it was worse than a typical well-woman exam and was kind of surprised by that.
I'm not being checked at all because it doesn't mean anything and can increase the chances of my water breaking before labor begins.
I didn't think it would happen, but I did do the internal at my 38 week appointment just because I was curious. And guess whose water broke the next day? ;) So, in a way knowing that I was 3cm and 90% effaced put me in the mindset of have all my shit together because I was like this will really happen probably any day now. Next time, though, I might not do it. Like Mrs. DG mentioned about the infection, I did end up with one. (Not sure if it was from that, my water breaking and them not talking c-section with me until 26 hours after it broke, or for another reason.) Let me tell you, it was NO fun because I was hooked up to all kind for antibiotics for days and it was so annoying hardly being able to walk and having to drag my little IV friend with me everywhere I went.
I skipped it. They let me do my own swab for strep (wow, was that some kind of indignity) so I didn't push for an internal exam. I'm still on every two weeks (36/28, then weekly) so in two weeks I might ask, don't know.
On the one hand, it would be good to know something... on the other, it wouldn't necessarily mean anything. I guess I'll go on pretending I have another month. :)
I hear a lot of people say it was disappointing for them, but for me, it was a sign of hope! Finding out I was dialated (even though it was only 1 cm at 37 weeks), was like a godsend. Those cervical checks (I had them at 37 and 38 weeks, then deliveered before my 39 week appointment) were my light at the end of the tunnel; at least I knew there actually was going to be an end in sight! It also wasn't painful for me, though, so I didn't have that negative to weigh.
ETA: Btw, Cheese, it's so awesome they let you do your own swab! Nice!
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| Gemstone | 19 |
| Rojocameo | 16 |
| Rivendeler | 15 |
| kat2014 | 13 |
| fivemonthsnotice | 12 |
| couawilou | 11 |
| bookworm88 | 10 |
| aussiebee | 9 |
| lionskitty | 9 |
| Suikerbossie | 9 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| roxy821 | 2 |
| hergreenapples | 1 |
| BayStateBride | 1 |
| shimmerofheaven | 1 |
| Mrs Sarah McK | 1 |
| KatyElle | 1 |
| couawilou | 1 |
| kat2014 | 1 |
| red dino | 1 |
| DaneLady | 1 |
Backstory: I go to a midwife-managed HippieBirthing Center for prenatal care (and hopefully, to delivery) where they are pretty anti-intervention, so they won't do an internal exam during any of my late 3rd tri appointments unless I request one.
My 36 week appointment is Tuesday and I'm debating whether I should or not. I know that you can be effaced/ dilated (too lazy to go Google to make sure I got it right, sorry) for weeks, so knowing wouldn't necessarily give me an indication of how close I am to delivering... but knowing I'm not effaced at all would tell me something, right?
I'm having a ton of BH contractions, have been for a month or more, and they're very strong and take my breath away (but definitely BH).
Did you guys find it useful to know? Was it worth the (alleged) pain of the internal exam?