Do you have to have internals when in labour?

[milkybarkid]

Hi, I am currently pregnant and have a baby due very soon. I am worried about labour, but not for the same reason most people are. I am dreading having internal examinations. Are they essential when in labour? I know that its important not to start pushing until you're fully dilated and they can tell by an internal if you are dilated or not but I would really like to avoid them if at all possible.

Just to add a personal experience. When I was in labour I was given an internal and was found to be 2cm dilated. I wasn't keen on the idea of internals anyway and it was no better than my expectations so I said I didn't want another one if possible and only then did she tell me it wasn't absolutely necessary. I then laboured for about 10 hours with no other 'interference' and was starting to worry about how far on I was, because obviously couldn't tell. Then as soon as I went into the pushing stage I KNEW and didn't need an exam to tell me. The mw also didn't even ask to do one, just took me to the delivery room. So they can't be that vital, your own body will cope well enough, especially on a 2nd baby.

hi everyone, still here. didnt think my second pregnancy would last longer than first. Have had a show but for some reason dont think i'll go into labour for a few days yet. just want to get it over and done with now.

Hello Milkybarkid - how's it going?

Such a shame to have false alarms, and to have had to have the internal that you dreaded. It occurs to me, have you done any birthing classes? I find that the visualisations and breathing help a lot with the stress of internals. Also, you can ask for gas-and-air to help you through it.

You'll know when labour really starts! Do let us know...

having contractions again now regular and quite painful but still dont think this it. my last labour only 6 hours long and was just like one long contraction from start to finishpain was continuous but every few seconds reached a peak, turned out when i was on the monitor that contractions were every minute but right from the start were one on top of another.

i feel like as this is my second i should know whetehr this was it or not but i dont because last time was so unusual and not how labour is "supposed" to be.

No 2 labours are the same,my first was as you described yours-one big continuous contraction,i was 4 hours from first contraction to delivery and was in constant pain,but with no.2 there was a definate build up and i was able to time my contractions which never got closer than 21/2 3 minutes apart even at delivery. GOOD LUCK hope your exciting time has come.

If they're regular and painful, then it really does sound like you're properly on the way!

I suppose that by now something will have happened, so I'm not going to worry if we don't hear from you for a few days .

Keep breathing!

{xxx{}}

well, actually, called the midwife and she came out today and nothing happening and everythings stopped again now. last baby right on time, this one few days late now.

hello, just to let everyone know im still here. maybe i was on time last time because of all the raspberry leaf tea i took; havent taken it this time. hope i dont have to be induced, after whats happened to me i dont think i could take the intervention

Must be frustrating for you Milkybarkid. GOod luck! I'll keep my fingerscrossed that things move very quickly for you.

milkybarkid - please reconsider and discuss what happened to you with your midife. It will help you cope with labour and help those looking after you understand the fears you may have. It will make the whole situation so much less stressful for you. Best wishes, mears.

Hi Milkybarkid - sending you positive vibes.....

Message withdrawn

Ooooh it does put you through the mill when they're late! My dd was exactly one week late, and those last 10 days or so of my pregnancy draaaaaaaagggggged, especially after ds had been a few days early.

Still thinking of you, sending you good vibes

(ps I'm boyandgirl)

still no sign of baby and they are talking about a membrane sweep now. is that a form of induction, i've been told its better than pessaries or gel or breaking the waters, but ive heard somewhere that the midwife has to put her whole hand up, surely thats not true or even possible, but it sounds horrible anyway, how do they do a sweep, surely it will be worse than a normal internal

A sweep strips/breakds the outer membranes, I get this picture of MW sweeping a finger around just inside your cervix. It often is enough to trigger labour. Never had one myself, but other women describe it as anything between barely noticeable to somewhat painful -- it's quick, anyway!

milkybarkid, just wondered how many days od you are. With dd I was booked in for an induction on the Tuesday, she came the Saturday before, 7 days late...Have you tried a hot fiery curry, seriously they really sort your you know whats out big style...With ds I went for a big walk and my waters broke that night (a mile as was very uncomfortable to walk too far), other than that all I can say is I had an internal when I was in full labour but didn't know it, yes it was painful BUT only because I was having very painful contractions...I really hope you start before the induction has to be started and will be thinking about you and hoping

xx

milkybarkid, just wondered how many days od you are. With dd I was booked in for an induction on the Tuesday, she came the Saturday before, 7 days late...Have you tried a hot fiery curry, seriously they really sort your you know whats out big style...With ds I went for a big walk and my waters broke that night (a mile as was very uncomfortable to walk too far), other than that all I can say is I had an internal when I was in full labour but didn't know it, yes it was painful BUT only because I was having very painful contractions...I really hope you start before the induction has to be started and will be thinking about you and hoping

xx

sorry, just wanted to add that a hand did go up, but it was the way they knew how far I was gone and as it was my first labour and didn't know if I was in labour they did it. If you've done this before you know when you are in labour and wouldn't need this, as per previous posts.

hi lavender1, i have just been looking up the procedure on the internet and somewhere its says that a good one takes 10 to 15 minutes and that the the midwife can often go quite deeply, up to the knuckles! how can she manage to put her fingers in that far. i thought it was difficult to reach the cervix, as its quite high and posterior, let alone get your fingers in that far

Milkybarkid hello! so did I, as have always had smears but that's the small metal corkscrew thingy...had absolutely NO idea they would put their hand up whilst I was moaning and groaning but they did. If not in labour I would imagine it would feel like the annoyance of scratching when you have a smear but more uncomfortable...Is your baby engaged as the pressure would be there and that's maybe why people say it hurts a little...How many days before they have to do this if you don't mind me asking?

any more info on sweeps greatly appreciated, esp from mears. hoping it wont come to this, but want to be prepared for it. im ten days late now, first baby right on time, cant believe it, really thought it was meant to get quicker

Ds was 7 days early, dd 7 days late..Hope it goes alright for you

lavender1, next tuesday

am really panicking now, just seen somewhere on mumsnet about two whole hands going up, surely not?! hopefully this person just thought it was two hands because of the discomfort and it wasnt really two hands? then again, whether it was two hands or not, if it feels like two hands it must be extremely painful!

mears?

Hi Milkybarkid...
If you can avoid a sweep - avoid it - in your situation UNLESS necessary, avoid it!
Babies gestational ages are 41 weeks on average.
You do not have to agree to a sweep (and consent should always be sought - though that is not always the case,........)
I am not sure I understand.... when are you due?