Hi, Im 34 weeks 5 days. I have had mild menstrual like cramps on and off. I have an apt with my doc next week where I will be 35 weeks 4 days. He wants to give me an internal exam next week and says I could contract. Does that mean he thinks I will go into labor?????? I'm so confused!!! Does that usually happen???
2007-07-20 05:07:30 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
just thought i would add some info: I just saw him yesterday (seeing him weekly now) He was going to give me an internal yesterday but decided not to, because he said i may contract, this is why he wants to give me one next week. he says if i were to go into labor this point he wouldnt stop it cause my baby is measuring big and he says its perfectly safe at this point, plus i cant get a c-section cause i am at risk of blood clotting, so the earlier the better i guess????
2007-07-20 05:38:55 · update #1
You may have slight cramps, but it would be too early to go into labour, but when my doctor gave me an internal exam I was 37 weeks and 5 days and went into labour. But in your case you may have slight cramps from the exam only.
2007-07-20 05:22:47 · answer #1 · answered by Tiara 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're worried about it, just say no to the exam. I take it there isn't really an urgent reason for doing one if he's able to wait a week, and there's almost certainly no reason to have one.
"Vaginal exams are just not good predictors of when labor will start.
Using a vaginal exam to predict advisability for a vaginal birth is usually not very accurate, for several reasons. First of all it leaves out the factor of labor and positioning. During labor it's natural for the baby's head to mold and the mother's pelvis to move. If done in early pregnancy it also removes the knowledge of what hormones like Relaxin will do to help make the pelvis, a moveable structure, be flexible. The only real exception to this is in the case of a very oddly structured pelvis. For example, a mother who was in a car accident and suffered a shattered pelvis or someone who might have a specific bone problem, which is more commonly seen where there is improper nutrition during the growing years.
During labor vaginal exams can't tell you exactly how close you are either, so keeping them to a minimum then is also a good idea, particularly if your membranes have ruptured.
Okay, so there's not really a great reason to have a vaginal in exam done routinely for most women. So are there any reasons not to have vaginal exams? There sure are.
Vaginal exams can increase the risks of infection, even when done carefully and with sterile gloves, etc. It pushes the normal bacteria found in the vagina upwards towards the cervix. There is also increased risk of rupturing the membranes. Some practitioners routinely do what is called stripping the membranes, which simply separates the bag of waters from the cervix. The thought behind this is that it will stimulate the production of prostaglandins to help labor begin and irritate the cervix causing it to contract. This has not been shown to necessarily be effective and does have the aforementioned risks."
http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/interventions/a/vaginalexam.htm
2007-07-20 12:40:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The mild cramping your talking about might be Braxton Hicks. You can develop these symptoms near the end of pregnancy. All it means is that your body is preparing for labor...your baby's birth is at hand.
The new average for women going into labor is before 37 weeks now. As long as your baby's lungs are fully developed, it's okay if you to go into labor.
If you're concerned that you're laboring too early or that the contractions might hurt the baby, talk to your doc. If you can't get in sooner than your scheduled time, then ask for a phone consult. If there's any chance of complications, he'll see you ASAP.
Good luck and Congratulations!!!
2007-07-20 12:30:27 · answer #3 · answered by Elizabeth P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
contractions don't always mean labor. Some women have Braxton Hicks (fake) contractions for months before delivery. Some women have cervical changes and others don't until the onset of labor. Every woman is different. I doubt you will go into labor from an exam.
2007-07-20 12:22:25 · answer #4 · answered by Kishauna_P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Umm no. You might have slight cramps and maybe a little bleeding but I doubt you'll go into labor.
2007-07-20 12:10:07 · answer #5 · answered by I smile because of them ♥ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is unlikely but not unheard of.
2007-07-20 12:23:00 · answer #6 · answered by Cannuck 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋