Anyone else not get "checked"?

[AnnR33]

Everyone talks about getting "checked" at such early time frames like 36 and 37 wks and then every week after that. I just don't get it since it can potentially introduce bacteria. Why would a caregiver take the chance?
There's really nothing that can be done regardless of the results since the body has it's own timetable. If anything, the results can cause more stress for the mama-ie. "you're 3cm and 75% effaced" might sound like she might have the baby in the next day or 2 but it could also be another week or more!

I didn't have any checks last time and haven't this time. I'm glad I haven't this time because I'm 5 days "late" and knowing I was a few cm dilated a week ago just would have driven me nuts making me think it was imminent and then I went late.

Anyone else just let "sleeping dogs lie" so to speak and just wait without the checks?

[GoGoGirl]

Sure, I'd imagine a lot of us here didn't get checked. I didn't get any checks at my prenatal appointments. My midwife didn't even offer them. (Though I imagine she would have done one if I'd asked).

I didn't really get checked in labor either...The midwife did check me when she arrived, when I was in transition, and I was 9 cm dialated with a lip. I think it was super important for my peace of mind for me to not get checked during labor. I know how I am, and if I had known how far dialated I was at this point or that point in labor, I would have been doing the math and freaking myself out.

Best wishes for your upcoming birth!

[Robinna]

I didn't have any checks w/ #1 until labour, had maybe 3 during labour.
None with #2 until 9cm.

[Sudonk]

I didn't get checked until 10 cm with my second, and didn't get checked until after birthing the placenta with my third. With my first I was clueless and had one check at 39 weeks and was told nothing was happening so I would "get to schedule my induction at my next appointment!" like it was a big treat. My birth began naturally the next day, and I got to rub it in the OB's face, much to my husband's dismay.

[chrissy]

I was not checked at all, even in labor, with my last 2 (both homebirths). I don't plan to, or expect to get checked this time either.

[CallMeMommy]

I was never checked before, during, or after birth. I don't think my midwife does checks unless you request them or she thinks there might be something wrong, and neither applied to me.

[SequoiasMom]

I've not been checked at all, and MW doesn't offer. She doesn't really even check during labor, unless requested, I suppose.

OTOH, I am soooo tempted to be checked this Thursday at my next appt. I'll be 39w4d.

I can see pros and cons for each side of the argument, and I can't decide. Thinking I'll just talk to MW and see what she thinks. Practically, I am close enough that whatever news I get, it won't be long until labor.

Anyway, no checks so far, but dithering on whether I should request!!

[sebarnes]

I don't get checked before or during labor.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by SequoiasMom

I can see pros and cons for each side of the argument, and I can't decide.

What are the pros? (Can't think of any...)

[LaurenAnanas]

I had to ask to be checked at around 38 weeks- I was a little paranoid and just wanted to see whether I was dilating at all. My midwife seemed surprised by the request, but checked for me. At my 40 week appointment, they said they'd want to check at 41 weeks if I hadn't given birth by then....but I had.

During labor, she checked three times: upon arrival at the birth center, right before I started pushing (I was having a break from contractions- if I had already started pushing, she wouldn't have bothered), and about an hour in to pushing because the baby had made very little progress at that point.

My water broke during the last check. I don't know whether it qualified as AROM or an accident, but I didn't care at the time and I don't care now. Either way, it didn't speed things up, as I pushed for three more hours before DD was born.

[momtolivy]

I was checked at my request the morning I had my son - I had been contracting for a couple of days, and I just wanted to get an idea of what was going on. I was 3cm - hand on baby's head. I know there's no reason to do it, necessarily, but I wanted to know. I think it depends of your comfort level and 'need to know' - I wouldn't do it as a matter of routine...

[SandraS]

No, never. There's no reason for it, it can introduce infection, cause cramping and bleeding, and even early labor.

I refused all checks before and during labor. No problems.

[meganmarie]

What are the pros? (Can't think of any...)

I agree with this...can't think of any either!

The only thing might be, if there are true medical indications of need for an induction - you would want to get checked for your bishop's score to know how likely induction would be to work, right? Aside from that - I generally advise mamas to skip it.

I think the poor anxious new mama desperate for some insight that might suggest she won't be pregnant forever can feel that just "knowing what's happening" is a "pro". But since (as pp's pointed out) a woman with no dilation can have her baby the next day, and a woman with 2 cm dilation can stay that way for 2 weeks, the "knowing" is an illusion of control. Still, I know how powerful the desire to know can be. I let myself be swayed to the checks at 38 and 39 weeks for baby #1 but skipped them the second time around when I had more confidence.

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by AnnR33

There's really nothing that can be done regardless of the results ..... If anything, the results can cause more stress for the mama

Yes, yes and yes! ITA with your whole post.

I didn't have a single vaginal exam through most of my pregnancy. The only ones I did all through labor & birth:

• GBS swab - at which point she did a VE to check baby's position (I was paranoid about breech, so I figured it was worth checking that way to be sure!)
• Had my membranes stripped when I reached 41W4D
• Checked when I felt the urge to push to be sure I was 10cm (my choice)

That was it.

The funniest part is that as I went late, people - co-workers, friends of friends, were asking if I was even dilated.

I said, "Well, there's really no point checking. I could be 3cm & still have a week to go, I could be totally closed & have the baby tomorrow. Why risk getting stressed if I"m 0 or excited if I'm 3 when it means nothign anyway?"
& women were like, "Oh, oh yeah, that's true."

Plus, I knew one lady who got induced because she had been at 3 or 4 cm for like a few weeks & the OB said, 'I've just never heard of that." So that was the reason for induction. (It was a casual convo at a party, not sure of the details, but it sounded like that was the reason for induction. Even though I had CNMs who were NCB friendly, I didn't want to risk giving anyone more fuel to push induction!!

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by GoGoGirl

I think it was super important for my peace of mind for me to not get checked during labor. I know how I am, and if I had known how far dialated I was at this point or that point in labor, I would have been doing the math and freaking myself out.

Exactly! I felt the exact same way! Like, If I had labored for 10 hours, was at 5cm, I would have thought, "Oh no, another 10 hours to go!" even though, intellectually I know it just doesn't work like that - emotionally, I would have FELT that way.

Best not to know, IMO.

[rainashine]

So how common is this with OBs? I was pretty uninformed when I had my dd and it wasn't really presented as something to "choose". Has anyone had any trouble refusing checks in an ob practice? Now with future births I'm hoping to have a MW but I'll be a VBAC so I'm sure will have to have OB back up.

[SandraS]

Originally Posted by rainashine

So how common is this with OBs? I was pretty uninformed when I had my dd and it wasn't really presented as something to "choose". Has anyone had any trouble refusing checks in an ob practice? Now with future births I'm hoping to have a MW but I'll be a VBAC so I'm sure will have to have OB back up.

I never had any problems. My OB always asked if I wanted to know this worthless ifnormation (lol, that's how she worded it) and I always said nope.

"No" is a very powerful word. And a doctor won't be angry if you use it.

[adlib77]

With my first two (first induced for preeclampsia, second induced for doctor's fear), I was checked constantly, as per the usual OB/GYN hospital protocol. With my youngest (homebirth) I wasn't checked until late in labor and then it was at my request. I wanted to know the work I was doing was getting us somewhere. In my case, it worked out because I was progressing really fast. It could have just as easily backfired had I not been, but I really wanted to have some "evidence" of progress. There's really no reason to be checked, though and I'm not sure why it's such common practice.

[georgiegirl1974]

With my first, I went to a big OB practice and they started checking at 36 weeks. The day before my due date I was a fingertip dilated, and I cried because I was so ready to be done. However, I went into labor 12 hours later.

This time, I'm seeing a naturally-minded OB. He said he usually doesn't check until 39 weeks (but if you don't want to be checked, that's fine.) He said he will check you at 37 or 38 weeks if you really want to be checked. I declined at my 38 week appointment. I didn't want to get my hopes up for no reason. He said the only time he'd require a cervical check is if the woman is being induced for some reason (since the way you induce depends on the ripeness of the cervix.)

My friend walked around at 5+ cm dilated for a week with her second child. (She went 10 days past her guess date.)

[littlebb]

Unless there's a problem, I don't want to be checked until maybe I start labor and my midwife arrives to see if it's the 'real thing' or not. I had a routine pap smear at 8 weeks, and nothing has been up there since. Otherwise, I think it creates more stress. Just because you dilate some doesn't mean labor is imminent. I mean, you can be at 4 cm for two weeks before active labor kicks in, but knowing you've dilated that much can put you on edge. Or if you haven't dilated at all, I think that can cause some mental havoc also. Also, I don't want to risk bacteria, either. I think my midwife will do cervical checks if requested, but she doesn't encourage them.