Women only ... those who delivered their babies?

Question

Iam 21 weeks preggo and more then labour pains I am scared of the hospital staff touching me there...I heard that they check you regularly to see if you've started opening... thoughts of all those tests is driving me crazy.....although I had my gyn check me once on the inside and that was horrible too......what do I do? is there any option?

Oh! it was not some guy...he is my husband..and there is diffrence between husband and other people.

Answer 1

I would check and see if you can locate a midwife in your area. I know that many midwives do very little "checking" during delivery. However, most midwives will still have to check and see how your labor is going and such... but most of them allow the closest thing to "natural childbirth" as possible. Therefore, I would call a few of them and tell about your fears and see if they can help you.

Answer 2

Nope. No option. That's how we know how the labor is progressing. Don't know if anyone told you, but that's where the baby is coming out. The only other option is a c-section, and this is truly a stupid reason to chose a section. I'm not trying to be mean, but really, you don't want a c-section just to avoid this. At my hospital, we "check" your cervix when you get there, when you want something for pain, before the epidural, and then when you feel pressure. Not a ton of exams. We do get people who freak out over the exams. Honestly, it's just annoying. We know you've had sex at this point. and it's much much harder to do the exam if you clamp your knees together and wiggle off the bed. It should only take a second, and it shouldn't hurt. Nurses in general are gentler than doctors. and the further along you are in the pregnancy, the easier the exam is.

Answer 3

The less internal exams you have, the better. Some midwives don't do internal exams until you are in labor.....some don't even do them then unless you ask.

An internal exam really gives very little useful information prior to labor. It's simply another way that doctors try to "manage" your labor and birth. You might be dilated 3-4 cm and 100% effaced for a week or more. Or you could be closed up tighter than a bank vault and have a baby a few hours later. Cervical checks during pregnancy really give little useful information.

Once labor has started, they should still be kept to a minimum. (Preferably only done if there is a reason to think they are needed....not as a routine check every "X" hours.) If your water has broken, internal exams up your risk of infection, so that's another reason they should be kept to a minimum.

When I saw midwives for my 2nd and 3rd babies, they only did internal exams if I asked for one.

Answer 4

You'll have to get used to it, unfortunately. Cervical exams hurt - - sometimes a lot!! You will probably have 2 or 3 more before your pregnancy is over, and during labor you will probably have a few, too. Not comfortable at all, and not anything you can do to avoid at least a few.

You *should*, however tell your doctor that you don't want a cervical exam and ask him/her if it can be avoided. Most practices will probably say it can't - unless you find a good midwife who is generally a lot less invasive, much more gentle and will only do things out of necessity rather than to make a buck or an irrelevant diagnosis.

Answer 5

Just wanted to say that your question is very valid, some women have a lot of trouble with the idea of being touched by strangers. The first answer on the page was clearly the response of a person without a whole lot of compassion. Talk with your practioners about your fears, that will alleviate some of the worry, and focus on the outcome - - your beautiful baby.

Answer 6

You have the right to refuse any test. They can't make you take any test you don't want. Just tell them, "I do not consent to this test" and there is nothing they can do. Pelvic exams aren't really necessary anyway, and even with sterile gloves they are introducing bacteria down there and that isn't a good thing. While this test can be helpful, sometimes it does more harm than good anyway.

You may want to think about going to a midwife-- they are less envasive generally and may possibly not want to check your cervix anyway.

Answer 7

Although it may be uncomfortable for the "checking" your mind will probably be preoccupied at the time. (thinking about this wonderful little life on its way out) Also, the pain kept me busy and when they would check and let me know how much further I needed to go, it made me feel like I was accomplishing something.

Good Luck!!

Answer 8

When you go into labor yes they will be checking you periodically to see if you have progress to 10 centemeters and 100% effaced. This is necessary to see if you are progressing or if intervention is necessary. I tell all my mommies to close their eyes, relax their bottoms, open their legs like a butterfly, and breath in through your nose slowly and deeply for a count of 5, and blow all the air out of the lungs through the mouth as if you are blowing out a candle for a count of 5. The way you know you are breathing correctly as you breath in your chest should expand on your sides of your chest and as you breath out your chest collaps, concentrate on your breathing and relax your body think of the bed sucking you in and everytime you breath out let your body fall deeper into the bed. Use this technique when you go into labor as well, I promise you it will help. Start practicing this now so you will be a pro when it comes time to deliver.

Answer 9

Once you start the actual labour, you will lose any sort of modesty you have - I promise. I was the same way, hated all those invasive check-ups, but think of your baby and how excited you are going to be when you have him or her in your arms, and it will be worth the discomfort.

Answer 10

good luck! I had a midwife both times and still had to be checked! It is not a fun time but once the baby comes and its all over it will be worth it!