Internals...

[notconvincedaboutthis]

Just a quick question - do MW/doctors use some form of lubrication when they do an internal examination? Please say yes!

Also, I get the impression that they are quick to have a poke about more out of curiousity than necessity (e.g. checking at 40 weeks how your cervix is doing when it makes no difference as you won't be doing anything about it either way at that stage). Have I got this wrong?

Curiosity rather than necessity...well, yes.

Remember, there is no need for an internal, if you don't want one.

Yes my MW used a gel (like KY) for the only internal I had. I was never offered an internal until we discussed induction and she said she would check me at 40+5 and do a sweep then. You have every right to say no to any internal you feel is not necessary.

Things have changed alot regarding internal examinations in the time I've been having children.
I can only speak from personal experience but when I was expecting DS1 (12 years ago) they would do an internal examination almost every time they saw you. With DS3 however I got to 42 weeks without a single internal examination, went into labour spontaneously and was only examined internally when I said I needed to push!

And again from personal experience, yes, for any internal examinations they did use lubrication and were very gentle...

OP, have you been reading American books? Because in the UK they don't do them routinely at 40 weeks, nor do they poke about "out of curiosity". In fact, where I live they have to give a written clear rationale for each VE in your labour notes.

AND YOU CAN ALWAYS JUST SAY NO!!!

American books write a lot of tosh that is totally irrelavant toevidence based practice UK practice.

With DD1 and 2 I never had any internals until I was in labour. With DD2 I only had one - wish I'd had more becasue by the time I had that one I was 9cm dilated and it was all a bit of a rush getting into the delivery suite. MW didn't believe I was in labour and only checked because she was going off shift, I think her words were "Oh - I think you're having a baby" - no shit sherlock