Comments on: 36 weeks pregnant: OB pregnancy appointment and my first ever internal exam

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:31:58 +0000

I asked my doctors what contractions felt like. I thought up until a 7 dialation that I wasn’t having real contractions. Then when a 7 hit there was no mistaking it. I thought I was having braxton hicks contractions. The only thing that made it not braxton hicks is I was dialating my water breaking didn’t make them more painful. I just had a feeling the baby was coming. Most of the time I don’t have any problems with internals. I’m glad you didn’t have any problems. They are going to check today I think and do my GBS. I thought they usually didn’t do GBS test after positive with the first baby, but I guess I was wrong. Congrats

By: Michele renee

Michele renee — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:06:39 +0000

I think the fear of the internals that you’ve heard is that many docs like to get in there and strip the membranes when it is due date time. I always said no to internals because there is no point. Your cervix could look like it is not ready and yet you could end up going into labor the next day naturally. In my opinion it is really a method for the doc to know how well your cervix would take to an induction. In my opinion they are invasive and unnecessary.

By: Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com

Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:17:54 +0000

My belly button did what Jessi’s did for the longest time. I was so happy it finally decided to put all of its money on sticking out because it looked weird through shirts.

Now it just looks like a third nipple lol. And I have to hear everybody and their mother make Butterball turkey comments.

Congratulations on another wonderful appointment! It sounds like you have a quality doctor if you’re able to get through the internals without any pain =)

By: Jessi

Jessi — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:14:39 +0000

Congrats on another great appointment. I was having real contractions from the time I was like 32 weeks, and they only gets like mild period cramps. They WERE dilating me. Its different for everyone. And my belly button only popped out halfway, it looks ridiculous.

My water didn’t break, they broke my water. Only like 10% of women’s water break on their own. So don’t rely on that as an indicator. But if it does break on it’s own, labor is usually quicker.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:06:30 +0000

It’s good to hear that things are going well. I have to laugh a little to myself when you mention that you are ready to have your body back. My oldest is 3 and my youngest is 4 months…I am still waiting to get my body back. If you opt to breastfeed, you are basically a glorified fridge – but the perk is constant cuddling and a child that generally lights up when you walk into the room (although the gaze typically goes to the food source sooner than later). While I wouldn’t trade my experience, I can’t wait to have a little more of me to myself.

Good luck during these last few weeks.

By: Tori M.

Tori M. — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:44:15 +0000

I always felt that the internal had more to do with who did it than what was being done. I had some that didn’t phase me in the least, and I had some where I thought someone was being utterly sadistic.

Keep in mind that only about 11% of women actually have their water break on it’s own. It’s nice to know what to do to be prepared, but it’s pretty unlikely supposedly. I know mine didn’t break on it’s own.

And I agree, you will know when it’s real labor. Those ctx SUCK. My one suggestion is to start getting familiar with contraction timers. If you do a google search, there are a few really great free ones online that let you print out your timing to take with you (which the triage people were always really happy I did). They are also great for deciding when to call

By: Julia Bastos

Julia Bastos — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:31:57 +0000

I’m so happy that everything is right on schedule and your internal didn’t hurt. Remember: you’re one step closer to having that little baby in your arms.

By: Melissa, the blogger

Melissa, the blogger — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:22:24 +0000

That’s so cool that the internal was easy! I think mine is coming up. I’ve been measuring 1 1/2 weeks larger than my due date, wondering if that means anything. Good luck this weekend! Hopefully you’ll feel great.

By: Tatiana @ averygoodyear.net

Tatiana @ averygoodyear.net — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:10:12 +0000

Re: water breaking, everyone is different. I have read some stories where a lady’s water breaks before she’s even in labour, others where it breaks in the middle of labour but before “transition” etc… for me, I’d been having contractions off and on for eight hours, but they were short ones. Then all the sudden, just as I felt one coming, my water broke — and then my body wanted to push, BADLY. Like we called our midwife to come to the house and I spent the entire time that we waited for her telling myself: “Don’t push, don’t push, don’t push”, but with every contraction it just felt so gooood to push. Baby arrived two hours after my water broke.

I’m glad the internal wasn’t bad for you — it was the same for me, as I shared with you on Twitter, but it looks like I was one of the few who wasn’t scarred by the experience

By: Emily

Emily — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:03:27 +0000

My belly button never popped out, and I was actually kind of bummed- I don’t understand how that works, and was really interested to see it happen to me, but it never did! I was nervous about knowing what real contractions felt like, but I never even ended up having any Braxton-Hicks, and when labor did start it was pretty unmistakable!