Checking you every 20-30 mins??

Question

I just read an answer from another user that said that once you hit 1cm dialated your doc/midwife would be checking you every 20-30 minutes.
Holy Moley!! Are there really doctors that try to do that???
There is NO REASON to be checked that often (unless you are high risk)! Could you imagine being checked every 30 minutes of a 24 hour labor! Getting checked is awful. You are already uncomfortable and in pain and someone sticking their fingers where the pain is originating from is no way to spend 24 hours! You will know when you are ready to push. As long as they can check the baby's heart rate and yours, there is no reason to put fingers anywhere. (Maybe once when you arrive to see if the baby is head down).
I was checked with both of my babies only when my behavior led them to believe it was getting time to push.
What in the world did women do before we had big strong doctors to violate our bodies during labor??

Answer 1

Well, considering a large percentage of women are dilated 1-2 centimeters for WEEKS before labor and delivery, I somehow doubt that there are ANY doctors that would check for progress so often. It introduces risk of infection, not to mention the pain (as you brought up) that it causes the mother.

No laboring mother that I know of would tolerate such intrusiveness. And, for the record-the doctor most likely would not even be there until the end (they walk in minutes before delivery, it is the nurses that are there during labor doing checks).

I think this was just an ignorant person responding to a question. I see a lot of that here on Yahoo! Answers, and pray that people do not believe some of what is posted as it is just ridiculous in a lot of cases.

Answer 2

Unless the woman is has had exetremely fast dialations in previous labors,I don't believe that a doctor/nurse will check you every 30 minutes. Checking for dialtion numerous times can put you at risk for infection,so they try to keep the number of times to a minimum, but it is not unusual for the nurse to check you every hour once you progress into the full stages of labor ,such as after you water breaks or have reached a certain amount of contractions in a 5 minute period.

Answer 3

That's insane. I think I was dilated to 1 for about 2 weeks before I delivered. I was at 2 when I went to the hospital and I only remember them checking a few times. I think I was at 2 then 4 then 7 then I had the baby. I think they only checked me about 4 times in 8 hours.

Answer 4

I was in labor for 36 hours and they came in a checked me every hour or so but there were also 12 other women at the hospital in labor. with my second baby they checked me once and she was here LOL. i was dilated to a 6 when i got to the hospital and complete with in 3 mins. they checked me when i went in and the next time they come in the room i was pushing.i was in LABOR about 4 hours. i just waited until i couldn't stand it any longer before i went to the hospital.

Answer 5

That IS crazy - I would be getting a new doctor! lol!

Too many checks can increase risk of infection, give incorrect information, sets mom up for disappointment that she is not 'further along', raises the chances of cesarean (them not thinking you are dilating fast enough), and increases the chance of your water breaking too early. Sheesh! Not worth it to know what # I am.

W/ my last labor/birth my midwife checked me when she first saw me during labor (7cm) and once more 12 hours later (9cm)... nothing else.

Answer 6

Current research supports infrequent checks. It's true, there is no reason to do checks that frequently at all.

Most women think it's necessary to know how far dilated they are, and it really isn't. You're right, when it's time to push, you know it!

There are definitely cases though where more frequent checks are necessary. So the rule of thumb is, ask your nurses / doctor why they feel the need to check and if it is truly necessary or not - always challenge them to explain themselves!

Answer 7

That is not true I was 8 cm in my 8th month and i had my son 3 days past my due date. Now as far as being in actual labor they do come in quite often but I dont recall it being every 20-30 minutes.

Answer 8

That's ridiculous. May women stay at even 2 or 3cm dilated for weeks! Even when you're in active labor (4cm), they don't check you that often. I think someone got their information mixed up.

Answer 9

i think they checked me twice...............yeah twice not more then that.......it hurts!