32 weeks and no internal exams yet - is that normal?

I am 32 weeks today and just went for my check up - all has been well with my pregnancy, just a few things like G.D. and Carpal Tunnel. I have yet to have an Internal Exam and thought that by now I should have had one. Don't they need to check for dialation and stuff or I am watching too much "A Baby Story"?

 

I am 32 weeks today and just went for my check up - all has been well with my pregnancy, just a few things like G.D. and Carpal Tunnel. I have yet to have an Internal Exam and thought that by now I should have had one. Don't they need to check for dialation and stuff or I am watching too much "A Baby Story"?

 

I had never been checked until my appt. yesterday.(32w4d) The only reason my OB checked me was because I had irregular contractions the whole hour I was on the NST machine. Otherwise, I still would not have had one. She said sometimes checking "stirs things up" so they don't normally check unless they have to. HTH.

Misti

 

I am giving birth on friday and have NEVER been checked internally.Guess your doctor doesn't think anything is wrong or it's unnecessary to "interrupt" anything. You don't HAVE to have internal checks.

 

I have been checked every appointment since early on. I am very thankful for them since I had a friend lose twins due to an incompetent cervix.

 

Docs won't check incase they case infection or labour.I wasn't checked till I was 33 weeks...had babies at 35 weeks 2 days.

 

My dd was checked once at 35 weeks and delivered at 36w 1d....
Lindy, mom to Stephanie who is mom to...
Cameron and Corey

 

I've never been checked and I'm delivering tomorrow at 36 weeks. They did test me for Group B strep (or whatever) today - but that was it.

When I asked a few weeks ago about my cervix, my dr. said checking it can irritate it. She knows I'm having contrax - but they seem very related to hydration or lack thereof.

Miriam

 

I was never checked until last week at 36 weeks. When I asked my Dr. about checking for dilation at about 34 weeks, he suggested that it wasn't important enough to check as at that point, even if I had gone into labor they would have stopped it only long enough to get steroids in.

A different Dr. checked me at last weeks appointment -- but he's the more conservative of the two.

It will be interesting if my more laid back Dr. checks me tomorrow; I'm scheduled to deliver this Sunday.

Good luck -- try not to worry -- or ask your Dr. next time you see him/her to find out their philosophy on internal exams.

 

My doctor hasn't done an internal exam yet on me, either. He said they can keep track of my cervix with the ultrasounds, and the internal exams can cause bleeding or other problems. If he does start doing internals at all, it won't be until several weeks from now for me (maybe 36 weeks?)
I wouldn't worry about it.
Helen

 

at last weeks appt. 36wks - they checked me ONLY because they
did the group B strep test and I asked them to check me (since they were in the area!) but if they had not then - they wouldn't have until tomorrow when I go for my pre-op visit! I will be 37wks 5 days!

 

Interesting; my doc checks every visit. I'm 22 weeks and she wants to see me every two weeks - they also check at u/s which happen monthly, but when i see her she does a very quick internal just to see how my cervix is doing. guess different docs have different protocols...

 

Thanks everyone. I guess different Doctors do different things.

 

I'm 29 weeks & still haven't had an internal either.

 

I was never checked until I was showing to be having contractions every 2 minutes during an NST at 31 weeks and was admitted for 3 days during which I had many checks that luckily showed no progress. After that he didn't check me till I was 35 weeks, I went into labor the next day. Many drs believe that frequent checks can stir things up.

 

Hi,

I had only one quick internal exam during my pregnancy until 36 weeks and that was on my first OB visit for a pap smear. You'd rather they don't mess around with internals anbd leave well enough alone!

Teri D