The exams I HATE!

Okay so I'm 22 weeks along, no major issues...other than the norms...and thank goodness, my Doctor hasn't requested any internal exams yet. Is this normal? I see him today, but I HATE when they bring you the long sheet and tell you to get undressed from the waist down..LOL. I've read about cervix length and such, but didn't know when it starts to become routine. I'm a C/S patient anyways, so it's not like I'm delivering "out of there"....Any ideas?!

 

My peri started my cervical length (all twin Mom's) at 17w. I was really thrown off by it and asked and they said they start at that time with all twin pregnancies.

 

For me, I started getting the internals I think by week 28, but Iwas having alot of pressure down below, I now have appointment every 2 weeks and get that wonderful internal exam every time. I believe we will have a vag delivery (both babies are head down). But I think (and I could be wrong) even with a c/s the doctor will want to monitor any changes that are happening with the cervix. For me, my cervix was 90% effaced at 32 weeks, so at that point i was put on very restricted activity and doctor wanted me to stay off of my feet as long as possible...want to keep the babies in as long as possible. I am now 34 weeks so things are working!

Good luck with everything

 

I never had an internal till I was 38 weeks. Delivered my two vaginally at 38w3d after being induced the day before because they weren't gonna come on their own. Nothing going on with my cervix. I had abdominal u/s at every single appt.

 

I got the cervix check at every appt during both pregnancies. YUCK!

 

I didn't have any internal exams till the day my water broke. Now why they needed to know that I was only 1cm dialated with almost non-existant contractions to have a c-section I don't know.

 

I was checked by u/s until 33(?) weeks, and then once more at 35 weeks.

 

I am at 33 weeks and have not begun my internal cervix checks yet. Now I am wondering if this is normal.

 

I just had my first cervical check last week, at 29 weeks. And that's only because I told them I'd had some BH and they wanted to be sure I wasn't dilating, and I'm not. Up until last week they've been checking through the u/s.

 

i had my first one at 26 weeks to make sure i wasn't dilated (i was having contractions)... i wasn't. theni had one again this past friday, so i'm assuming i'll be getting them every week now blaaaaaaaah.

 

I've had a quick internal exam at my last two appts., which were at 18 and 22 weeks. The exam doesn't bother me at all, and I feel better knowing everything is OK!

 

Even with c/s they still need to know if you are dilating...in particular to make sure that you don't go into premature labor without anyone noticing and trying to stop it...and also depending on your babies' positions... a breech baby can have it's cord slip through a dilating cervix which can be life threatening...so it's important to know if you are dilating even with a c/s...

All that being said my docs didn't do "manual" checks until around the same time I had them with my singleton...I think maybe after 35 or 36 weeks...can't remember exactly... But they did transvag u/s which for me was much less uncomfortable, at the perinatologist from about week 20 on... they get a nice view of your cervix without ever having to touch it.

 

I'm not the norm here, but I have internal exams every two weeks that started at 16 weeks. But I have a cerclage in and the doctor likes to "feel" it to make sure that it doesn't feel like there's pressure on it and tearing or anything like that.

 

I've only had transvaginal u/s to check cervix length. This is my third pregnancy and I've never had an internal cervix check by a hand before..

 

mine will start at my next appointment at 27 weeks...

 

i had one check of cervical length around 26 weeks via vag. ultrasound on my request (i was just curious). otherwise, i had one internal exam at 27 1/2 weeks after going to l&d with some contractions (which ended up being nothing). otherwise, no internals at my regualr appointments. i think unless you are having symptoms, my peri does not see a reason to do them ...

 

They check mine by u/s--starting at my most recent appt--but not manually. The midwife said they are probably going to use the *****-cam at every appointment from now on.

Luck-y me.

I am glad they are checking it though. My BP goes down when I hear the words "long and closed"

 

I have had a cervical length check each time I do an u/s. The only internals I had was 2 wks ago in the hospital because they picked up contractions on the monitor and then a week later they wanted to check to see if I dilated more since I didn't feel the contractions. They continue to check my cervix with u/s unless I have more contractions on a regular basis.

 

None for me until 32 weeks, and only because of bleeding. Dr. said she didn't want to disturb my cervix. they really hurt for me!! I was glad it waited until 32 weeks!

 

The peri checked me internally with the u/s at 24 weeks and 28 weeks. My ob said he would not do it unless I am showing signs of labor. And the peri will not be checking me anymore.

 

I haven't had any internal checks either and I'm not sure when or if they'll start. They do check my cervical length at each u/s which I now have every 4 weeks. Like someone else said, your cervical length is still very important regardless that you are having a c/s. They don't want you going into pre-term labour.

 

my ob started my cervical exams around 28 weeks. i'm sure it depends on if you're have any issues. my BH ctx were about 4 a day at that point, and my health was (and still is) fine.

however, it does become pretty funny when they give you the big sheet and the big sheet no longer provides you with any modesty! i'm at the point where i'm so huge that the sheet does nothing for me. i have to laugh at it. my size at this point is my badge of honor...

 

The peri has always done a cervical check and my ob started doing them when I had BHC at 24 weeks-They checked for dilation at 32 weeks b/c my cervix shortened drastically, but since then no internals and I am not sure if or when they will do them again.

 

however, it does become pretty funny when they give you the big sheet and the big sheet no longer provides you with any modesty! i'm at the point where i'm so huge that the sheet does nothing for me. i have to laugh at it. my size at this point is my badge of honor...
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LOL-I feel the same way-my butt hangs out the back b/c there is not enough sheet to go around-Couldn't they find something bigger to give us at this point!?