Internal Exam - anyone experienced no negative effects?

[SweetBerries]

Hi all,

I'm 30 weeks pregnant after miscarriage earlier this year. I've really struggled with ante natal depression throughout the pregnancy but have just gone back to work and felt OK about things...until this morning!

I went to see a practice nurse to have routine swabs taken due to some weird discharge and irritation. During the swab test, the nurse noticed a bulge in my cervix and asked a doctor to come and have a look. The doctor examined me (with speculum) and then asked if he could 'have a feel'. I was that petrified by now that of course I said yes! He felt my cervix with two fingers and said he couldn't see or feel anything unusual.

Now of course I was reassured for about 5 minutes until I realised that in probing me so deep with his fingers, the amount of bacteria that could have been transferred up my vagina to my cervix are countless.

Basically, I'm terrified. I've spent all day in a trance at work reading scientific papers on chorioamnionitis and its risk factors. I'm a scientist and unfortunately know that there IS a risk here.

What I'm basically looking for is some reassurance that others have had internal exams like this and not experienced infection. I can't just ask to be tested for infected amniotic fluid, so this is the nearest I'm going to get to piece of mind.

Any replies appreciated - I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate I'm afraid!

Xxxx

[mummyneedinganswers]

I'm 35 weeks and previously had 4 miscarriages and through this pregnant I have had 5 internal scans, and 4 internals using a speculum which included them feeling around and taking swabs. I've never had an infection any of it everything they use come fresh out of packaging as they use it

[SweetBerries]

Thank you, that's good to know. I was concerned because they used the speculum twice (it was put down on a table covered in tissue in between) and then the doctor used his fingers with gloves on. I'm more worried about the possibility of pushing bacteria up the vagina towards the cervix, but the fact you've had so many and are OK is reassuring :)

[Haggisfish]

I had lots and was fine. Honestly, the ph of your vagina changes and you produce a lot more secretions and have a whacking great mucus plug -all excellent things your body does to prevent infection.

[outputgap]

Hi, I've had speculum tests several times in both pregnancies, and multiple sweeps near the end with no negative impact.

[SnozzberryPie]

I've had a couple of 'internal' scans this pregnancy. I've also had sex a few times . AFAIK everything is fine.

[SweetBerries]

Oh boy...sex?! What on earth is THAT?!

Seriously though, thank you all who've commented so far. For every person that says it was ok, I feel so much better. Xxx

[Nousername2015]

I know that feeling OP, I'm 28 weeks after a miscarriage in March and this is just the most terrifying experience.

I've had 2 internal exams this pregnancy, one at 9 weeks and one at 18 weeks and I'm still pregnant.

Sex on the other hand... Unfortunately not, just been too scared even though I know it's perfectly safe!

[ISpidersmanYouMeanPirate]

Where I live monthly internals are standard throughout the pregnancy. I've had 2 pregnancies and no infections

[Shallishanti]

don't worry, your cervix is sealed (with the mucus plug) that's what it's for!
if your cervix was open or there was any suspicion your waters had gone, they would have used sterile gloves- and been less likely to do it anyway

[museumum]

The mucous plug is HUGE! Seriously, mine came out in one blob and it was a HANDFULL of yuck. I would be seriously surprised if any bacteria could pass through it.

Also, on a sad and serious note, a friend of mine lost her baby at around 20 weeks due to an infection before the mucous plug formed fully. She was a microbiologist and read up a lot and told me that infections generally get in before the plug forms. You are too far along to be at risk.