Internal examinations
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=36049
Printed Date: 16 August 2025 at 7:50pm
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Topic: Internal examinations
Posted By: newme
Subject: Internal examinations
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 12:48pm
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I haven't had a single internal examination - either during this pregnancy, or my last one (I had a c-section for a breech birth). I have had 2 different midwives.
Is this normal? Have you had any? At what stage? I have a friend who said her midwife did regular internal checks. |
Replies:
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 12:55pm
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I never had any internals until I was in labour. Albeit, I didnt have a MW, my GP was my LMC. Not that that would make any difference.
Is there a need to have them unless there is a concern? ------------- Our Angel July 08  Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 12:56pm
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The only time that my midwife did anything down there was when she gave me a stretch and sweep, there was really any reason to do an internal. And I have heard the same from others, so yes completely normal.
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 1:04pm
| Not until I was in labour (5cm). Had none this time round either. |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 1:27pm
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Same. The less they poke around the better. As soon as anything is up there, it increases the risk of infection. My last MW did the first internal + attempt at s&s at 40 weeks. This time it'll be 39 weeks. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: AuntieSarah
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 1:30pm
| Ditto to the others. First time I had one was when I was overdue and had a s&s. Ugh wouldn't regular internal checks be awful! |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 1:50pm
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I think the only things they'd be able to tell from an internal is if you're dilating and how far engaged you are (which they estimate from external exam). ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: tessie
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 5:47pm
| Never had an internal. My midwife never ended up delivering my son, a nurse and my mother did at the local clinic (never made it to the main hospital as my labour was far to quick. I tested positive for GBS, so apparently even during labour they would only have done one internal due to infection risk. |
Posted By: MyLilSquishy
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 7:03pm
| i did once, i got kicked in the stomach at 26 weeks (i was a learn to swim teacher) and was having mild contractions. if i hadnt been kicked then i doubt i wouldve had one. I was a ECS for footling breech baby so didnt even need one at that end lol. |
Posted By: nicandtyler
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 7:51pm
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yea i only had 2 during labour ( one when i first arrived to hospital and the second when i was about 8cm) to check dilation ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
 April '11
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Posted By: pekay
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 7:57pm
| Not until I was in labour. |
Posted By: newme
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 8:39pm
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Thanks for that everyone. I will have to tell my friend that she is the exception - she was trying to tell me that everyone had routine internals like she did.
She must have had one odd midwife. |
Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 8:44pm
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I know you've had plenty of responses already, but I thought I'd share my experience with VEs.
My pregnancy with DD1 I had a S&S at term, then probably three or four during labour - one or two at home and a couple more at the hospital. My pregnancy with DD2 nothing went up there full stop, not even in labour or when she was on her way out - it wasn't something I was keen to do and as it turned out wasn't necessary anyway. ------------- Mama to two earth walkers & two angels. Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; You are raising a human being. ~ Kittie Franz Next Slingbabies! Meet - Friday 4th May !! |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 8:57pm
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Yup your friend is definately not in the norm! They really dont like to do them before term unless necessary. -------------   
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 9:30pm
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yup only in labour. that was it ------------- 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 02 October 2010 at 10:38pm
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Not until I was in labour, while I did hear of some MWs checking from 37 weeks, when I asked mine she said she didn't check until in labour. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 03 October 2010 at 3:57am
I'm under an obstetrician (and was for my first pg too) and no internals here until labour. Even then, when I was in labour w DS, they didn't do an internal till I asked for one 6 days after my waters broke and my contractions were ramping up.... They were trying to avoid it to avoid infection  ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: BellaVonTeese
Date Posted: 03 October 2010 at 4:01pm
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oh thank goodness. The Dr I first visited with was male and tho I would have gotten over it fairly quickly I wasn't looking forward to an internal. i had even 'tidied up down there' just in case.
But 13 weeks and nothing so phew! (Listen to me like a major event isn't going to be happening in that area in the next little while lol) |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 03 October 2010 at 4:29pm
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LOL I had a skirt on and my mw had a trainee with her at my last appt... even though the woman will be seeing me in all my glory any day now I was still embarrassed about her seeing my knickers while she sat at the end of the bed and the trainee felt and measured my tummy LOL -------------
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Posted By: newme
Date Posted: 03 October 2010 at 5:36pm
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I have just started thinking how strange it is going to be to have someone staring directly at and inside my lady bits.
I think, and to quote BellaVonTeese above, I am going to have to have a tidy up. Which in itself is going to be rather difficult considering the size of my stomach and the lack of visibility. It is going to have to involve mirrors!! |
Posted By: 4thtymlucky
Date Posted: 03 October 2010 at 7:40pm
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I haven't had any internal exams except for when DD1 wouldn't come out and the doctor had to check what was stopping her and found her cord was acting like an elastic gate , none with DD2 and DS...
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Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 04 October 2010 at 9:46am
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Oh good, I've been wondering when my mw was going to want to start checking out down there! I can certainly wait till labour! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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