First Internal Exam Questions

[Sleeky_Meerkat]

Hi everyone! I had my first internal exam today (at 38 weeks). I really didn't want one at all, but I made the mistake of saying I was concered about leaking amnio fluid and my midwife wanted everything checked out.

Turns out, I'm not leaking amnio, but am losing my mucus plug and am already 3cm dialated and the baby is VERY LOW ("ready to go" my MW said). My MW said that I could see some spotting after the exam, but I really wasn't expecting so much. When I got home I went to the bathroom and it was like wipe...blood..wipe...blood...wipe...blood...etc...

So I was a tad worried and called the MW office. They said that as long as it wasn't getting worse, I should be fine.

When I told this to my mom and my sister (along with the news of the 3cm) they freaked out and think the baby is coming soon.

I am not freaked out...but should I be? I mean, it's only 3cm. Sure, I've been having BH contractions, but nothing that feels like it could be labor. But since this is my first, I am kind of clueless.

I guess my questions are:

1) Should I be worried about the bleeding/losing mucus plug action that is going on?

2) Should I be more concered about going into labor soon (like tonight or tomorrow)? Or do I still have more time (like 4-5 days to a week or more)?

Thanks!

--jennifer

[faithhopelove]

You won't want to hear this but... there is no way to be sure what is going to happen. Any of us really could go from nothing to holding baby in 3hrs. Or we could have all the symptoms there are and still have weeks to go.

*I* would think that with the blood.. it could be sooner than later but you did just have an internal too.

So really... there is no way to say. Too bad though huh? Would be nice to have some answers!!!

Crystal

[LionTigerBear]

I agree with Crystal . . . I know it's awful, not knowing. I hope it is soon for you (if that's what you want). I wish I had some idea when my baby was coming too (other than "some time in the next two weeks or so"!) Oh well . . .

[leurMaman]

It is really hard to say. I heard of a lady that my midwife knew who was dialated 4 cm for 7 weeks (that is kind of rare - but can happen). I've also heard of another woman who went from 4cm to 10 cm in one contraction. So it is really hard to say. I was dialated to 2cm for 2 weeks with DS and nothing happened until that last day. I went into labor and knew it was that day (full-on hard labor), yet when I arrived at the birthcenter in hard contractions, I was only dialated to 3-4cm. Still, the cntx never slowed down and I labored there for 12 hours before pushing. So you could be on the threshold or not - just pay attention to your body.

I just had an internal today. I caved into my own curiosity (sigh). I am dialated to 2 and 60% effaced at 39 weeks - really doesn't tell me anything yet! Oh, the bloody show you had might be a good indication that the exam itself triggered something - so wait and see. Good luck!

[Earthy~Mama]

No answers here either. Only the baby knows Hopefully you will be holding your lil in your arms soon!

[SunRayeMomi]

I'm so tempted to have an exam -- but I just KNOW that it won't shed any real light on the situation so I'm not going to unless I go way overdue again.

<---- reminding myself to trust in my body

If it were me, I wouldn't worry too much about the spotting unless it continues for more than a day. I'm sorry, I really don't know!

[Avani]

I went 4 weeks at 4-5cm dilated and fully effaced and had lost my plug.You truly never know.

[Sleeky_Meerkat]

Originally Posted by SunRayeMomi

I'm so tempted to have an exam -- but I just KNOW that it won't shed any real light on the situation so I'm not going to unless I go way overdue again.

<---- reminding myself to trust in my body

If it were me, I wouldn't worry too much about the spotting unless it continues for more than a day. I'm sorry, I really don't know!

I really didn't want one for that reason...it's not going to shed any light on when I will go into labor. They did one only because I was worried about leaking amnio fluid. Otherwise, I would have declined.

It's good to know that I have no real need to be freaking out. It's just difficult because my sister and mom are calling like every 2 hours...I keep telling them that I have no feeling of imminent labor. But they are so excited for the baby to come...sometimes I think they are more excited than I am!

--jen

[ladybugchild77]

1) Should I be worried about the bleeding/losing mucus plug action that is going on?

Like the pp said, no...I lost my mucous plug last time about a month before I delivered and I also had bleeding afte rinternal exams...Not to mention I was dialated to 3.5 cm for like 6 weeks before the action happened...Sorry, I am sure you don't want to hear that!

2) Should I be more concered about going into labor soon (like tonight or tomorrow)? Or do I still have more time (like 4-5 days to a week or more)?

You might have more time, you might not. When the plug and bleeding happened to me I was like "this is it!!!" and got all excited...a week later I was still pregnant...two weeks later I was still pregnant...you get the idea. It is idifferent for everyone! HTH!

[boscopup]

The cervix can bleed easily when it gets irritated. I have a friend who GUSHED blood after an internal one time - to the point that her OB was a tad worried. It was just her cervix responding to the exam. I think she delivered like a week later.

So I don't think the bleeding you're experiencing is bloody show.. I think it's just your cervix's reaction to the exam.

[Sleeky_Meerkat]

Originally Posted by boscopup

So I don't think the bleeding you're experiencing is bloody show.. I think it's just your cervix's reaction to the exam.

I think you are right seeing as the bleeding has pretty much stopped by this morning already. I just couldn't believe such a quick exam made me bleed so much!!

--jen

[PuppyFluffer]

Can I suggest you turn the ringer off to get your pressuring relatives off your back?

[faithhopelove]

Looks like it was the real thing afterall huh? Won't be long now!