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12-04-2012 at 9:16 AM
stephanie6...
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internal exams

So I will be starting my internals at my next appt. on the 11th.

What can I expect? Does it hurt? uncomfortable?

Thanks. 
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12-04-2012 at 9:20 AM
Geline16
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I found that my first internal hurt quite a bit. The second one did not hurt as much lol. I just figure labor will hurt 10 times more so might as well practice now haha
 
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12-04-2012 at 9:25 AM
sbevmc09
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It's uncomfortable, but it shouldn't hurt.  I had tons of pain in that area toward the end of my last pregnancy and the internals were uncomfortable, not painful other than when they swept my membranes at 40w.

I would encourage you to look into the reasons why they do internals and consider whether you even want to do them.  They're pointless.

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12-04-2012 at 9:31 AM
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sbevmc09:

I would encourage you to look into the reasons why they do internals and consider whether you even want to do them.  They're pointless.

This. I'm refusing until I'm past due. 

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12-04-2012 at 9:40 AM
Buttercup0...
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I have had two so far (at 38, and then 39 weeks yesterday).  They both hurt (though admittedly I'm a big baby when it comes to pain).  I asked my doctor why they do them because each time she said "you could go tonight, you could go in two weeks."  She said they do them just in case people are walking around 8 cm dilated and didn't know it.  I would think by then they would be having severe contractions?  But I am an FTM and have no idea.  The first exam I was 1 cm and 80% effaced.  This last one yesterday I was 2 cm and 90%...for whatever that is worth.
 
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12-04-2012 at 9:45 AM
martha919
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I had two in one night after I got sick/dehydrated over Thanksgiving because the first nurse thought I was at 3cm but thankfully, I was only 1cm (glad she checked!). Anyway, they were pretty uncomfortable. I wouldn't say "painful" per se, but just really really weird. Unless they give me some good medical reason to continue checking, I'll refuse them until I can't anymore. =)
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12-04-2012 at 9:52 AM
6fsn
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They are uncomfortable but not painful. 

To pps- why assume she hasn't researched?  You may find them pointless and not want them, but she may feel different. 

 
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12-04-2012 at 10:21 AM
lkm2006
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6fsn:
They are uncomfortable but not painful.nbsp;
To pps why assume she hasn't researched?nbsp; You may find them pointless and not want them, but she may feel different.nbsp;


This exactly. I have researched internals and have zero problems getting them done. Pointless to you doesn't always equal pointless to me, believe it or not.

OP, I really didn't even find them uncomfortable but I have a higher pain tolerance so maybe that is why.
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12-04-2012 at 11:03 AM
kerbear135
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Maybe it's just me, but I didn't find it to be any more painful or uncomfortable than a regular GYN exam...
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12-04-2012 at 11:15 AM
cjtemt921
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All depends on where your cervix is. If its posterior it will definitely be very uncomfortable/painful.

I had one at 39 w 4 days and it was definitely not fun. I will be declining this time at all appointments. My Midwife doesnt normally do them, but last time I was anxious at the end and wanted to see if there was any progress. 

Sounds like all of us have different experiences. I would go in with the thought thats its not going to be great. Better to expect that then go in and think its going to be nothing.

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12-04-2012 at 11:46 AM
hmontty
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I agree they are largely pointless, but sometimes they are helpful.

With DD, she was measuring huge, and they were talking C-section because she was not engaged and I had zero signs of progression: no effacement, cervix was high and hard, etc.

Had I shown any signs of progression, we might have gone for a trial of labor or maybe an inducement at 40 weeks. Since there was nothing at all at 40 weeks, and she was ginormous, we did a C-section.

So that's why I had internals with DD. With this LO, we're doing a RCS, so I see no need for internals whatsoever.

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12-04-2012 at 12:31 PM
sbevmc09
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lkm2006:
6fsn:
They are uncomfortable but not painful.nbsp; To pps why assume she hasn't researched?nbsp; You may find them pointless and not want them, but she may feel different.nbsp;
This exactly. I have researched internals and have zero problems getting them done. Pointless to you doesn't always equal pointless to me, believe it or not. OP, I really didn't even find them uncomfortable but I have a higher pain tolerance so maybe that is why.

Ooookay, reword: I would encourage you to do some research if you haven't yet to decide whether you feel they're necessary or not.  They're largely pointless.

Suggesting to someone that they research a topic because they're doing something *I* feel is pointless doesn't equal me assuming they haven't done their research.  Just because I didn't clearly state that in my PP doesn't mean it's true.  Your body, your baby, you do what you want.  Some women just don't know that there are even options or that you can decline things like this.  My purpose in making a statement like I did is to make sure that women do know they have options.  Not to force my personal beliefs on people. 

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12-04-2012 at 1:14 PM
tmsgrl
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this decaf life:
sbevmc09:

I would encourage you to look into the reasons why they do internals and consider whether you even want to do them.  They're pointless.

This. I'm refusing until I'm past due. 

This, my OB doesn't really even do them until you are at your due date...even then she only does it if you ask.

 
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12-04-2012 at 1:56 PM
traneshaph
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sbevmc09:

lkm2006:
6fsn:
They are uncomfortable but not painful.nbsp; To pps why assume she hasn't researched?nbsp; You may find them pointless and not want them, but she may feel different.nbsp;
This exactly. I have researched internals and have zero problems getting them done. Pointless to you doesn't always equal pointless to me, believe it or not. OP, I really didn't even find them uncomfortable but I have a higher pain tolerance so maybe that is why.

Ooookay, reword: I would encourage you to do some research if you haven't yet to decide whether you feel they're necessary or not.  They're largely pointless.

Suggesting to someone that they research a topic because they're doing something *I* feel is pointless doesn't equal me assuming they haven't done their research.  Just because I didn't clearly state that in my PP doesn't mean it's true.  Your body, your baby, you do what you want.  Some women just don't know that there are even options or that you can decline things like this.  My purpose in making a statement like I did is to make sure that women do know they have options.  Not to force my personal beliefs on people. 

This! I'm a FTM and I didn't know I had a choice to decline them. So thanks very much for your post. It helped ME! Oh yeah, *FYI*......around this place, you have to over-explain each and every thing out that you want to be understood or they'll chase you with a pitch fork. I'm like, "Dang! Excuse me! I forgot to say "If" or "Maybe" or "Sometimes" or "In my opinion". I swear they need to start passing out chill pills around here. I usually just chalk it up to pregnancy hormones but there are some "Rude-y McToodys" in this place.
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12-04-2012 at 2:22 PM
SummerOH
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lkm2006:
6fsn:
They are uncomfortable but not painful.nbsp; To pps why assume she hasn't researched?nbsp; You may find them pointless and not want them, but she may feel different.nbsp;
This exactly. I have researched internals and have zero problems getting them done. Pointless to you doesn't always equal pointless to me, believe it or not. OP, I really didn't even find them uncomfortable but I have a higher pain tolerance so maybe that is why.

They're painful for some women because of their bodies.  I have a very posterior cervix, so much so that my doctor always comments on it.  Exams are extremely painful for me and I'm someone who has a decent pain tolerance.  They really are pointless, but I do understand people getting them out of curiosity if they're not painful. 

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12-04-2012 at 3:10 PM
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It seems 90% of questions on internals devolves into how pointless they are.  The op didn't ask if she should have one, she asked if they hurt. 
 
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12-04-2012 at 5:03 PM
sbevmc09
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traneshaph:
sbevmc09:

lkm2006:
6fsn:
They are uncomfortable but not painful.nbsp; To pps why assume she hasn't researched?nbsp; You may find them pointless and not want them, but she may feel different.nbsp;
This exactly. I have researched internals and have zero problems getting them done. Pointless to you doesn't always equal pointless to me, believe it or not. OP, I really didn't even find them uncomfortable but I have a higher pain tolerance so maybe that is why.

Ooookay, reword: I would encourage you to do some research if you haven't yet to decide whether you feel they're necessary or not.  They're largely pointless.

Suggesting to someone that they research a topic because they're doing something *I* feel is pointless doesn't equal me assuming they haven't done their research.  Just because I didn't clearly state that in my PP doesn't mean it's true.  Your body, your baby, you do what you want.  Some women just don't know that there are even options or that you can decline things like this.  My purpose in making a statement like I did is to make sure that women do know they have options.  Not to force my personal beliefs on people. 

This! I'm a FTM and I didn't know I had a choice to decline them. So thanks very much for your post. It helped ME! Oh yeah, *FYI*......around this place, you have to over-explain each and every thing out that you want to be understood or they'll chase you with a pitch fork. I'm like, "Dang! Excuse me! I forgot to say "If" or "Maybe" or "Sometimes" or "In my opinion". I swear they need to start passing out chill pills around here. I usually just chalk it up to pregnancy hormones but there are some "Rude-y McToodys" in this place.

Yes

And this is EXACTLY why I include the info even if it's not explicitly asked because if someone doesn't know/hasn't thought about it they're not going to say, "does it hurt?  And BTW, do I even have to have it or is it really important?".

If you've already done your research and/or don't care that you have a choice or why they do it just ignore the comment because it doesn't apply to you.

Obviously a lot of people don't know because there are questions ALL the time about internal exams and 25 people a day freaking out because "they're not making any progress" according to their internals and their care providers haven't explained to them that it's not something to be worried about. 

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12-04-2012 at 5:19 PM
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sbevmc09:
traneshaph:
sbevmc09:

lkm2006:
6fsn:
They are uncomfortable but not painful.nbsp; To pps why assume she hasn't researched?nbsp; You may find them pointless and not want them, but she may feel different.nbsp;
This exactly. I have researched internals and have zero problems getting them done. Pointless to you doesn't always equal pointless to me, believe it or not. OP, I really didn't even find them uncomfortable but I have a higher pain tolerance so maybe that is why.

Ooookay, reword: I would encourage you to do some research if you haven't yet to decide whether you feel they're necessary or not.  They're largely pointless.

Suggesting to someone that they research a topic because they're doing something *I* feel is pointless doesn't equal me assuming they haven't done their research.  Just because I didn't clearly state that in my PP doesn't mean it's true.  Your body, your baby, you do what you want.  Some women just don't know that there are even options or that you can decline things like this.  My purpose in making a statement like I did is to make sure that women do know they have options.  Not to force my personal beliefs on people. 

This! I'm a FTM and I didn't know I had a choice to decline them. So thanks very much for your post. It helped ME! Oh yeah, *FYI*......around this place, you have to over-explain each and every thing out that you want to be understood or they'll chase you with a pitch fork. I'm like, "Dang! Excuse me! I forgot to say "If" or "Maybe" or "Sometimes" or "In my opinion". I swear they need to start passing out chill pills around here. I usually just chalk it up to pregnancy hormones but there are some "Rude-y McToodys" in this place.

Yes

And this is EXACTLY why I include the info even if it's not explicitly asked because if someone doesn't know/hasn't thought about it they're not going to say, "does it hurt?  And BTW, do I even have to have it or is it really important?".

If you've already done your research and/or don't care that you have a choice or why they do it just ignore the comment because it doesn't apply to you.

Obviously a lot of people don't know because there are questions ALL the time about internal exams and 25 people a day freaking out because "they're not making any progress" according to their internals and their care providers haven't explained to them that it's not something to be worried about. 

Agreed!

Sadly I've even heard women say something like, "Well, at my office internals are optional until X number of weeks, then they are required.'  These types of statements are really scary to me, because women honestly believe they have no choice.  We could argue all day over whether internals provide useful information or not (I would say not), but the fact still remains, they must have your consent for all procedures!   
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12-04-2012 at 5:28 PM
ObLaDi
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I had my first one today; even describing it as "uncomfortable" would be a little dramatic. Although it obviously varies from person to person, I would try not to build it up too much in your head.
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12-04-2012 at 5:39 PM
mrsz2008
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I've had more uncomfortable ones and ones that are nothing. Mine today was less uncomfortable than laying on my back and my doctor feeling my stomach. Ones I had with DS were more uncomfortable because my cervix was posterior and harder to reach.
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12-04-2012 at 7:33 PM
lkm2006
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Whoa.. goodness!  I didn't mean my original message on an attack as anyone.  I know a lot of people, IRL and on here, that are terrified to get internals because everyone tells them how pointless they are and that they hurt so bad.. but they WANT to get them done.  I would never encourage anyone to get one done just because I choose to do so. Yes, we all need to do our research, but sometimes I feel like thebump has a very negative view on internals when it doesn't always have to be.

Before my first check, I was so nervous because I was scared of the pain.  I didn't find it painful at all and I wasn't progressing so it's not like I had the advantage of that.  I just like to add a positive experience when I can.  Like I said, not meant to attack anyone's opinions! 

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