Am I Just Being Hormonal?

Hi A.,
I am a nurse who works for an Ob/Gyne and I can tell you that we do not do internal exams unless it is really necessary. Once you are 37 weeks, however, your OB will probably do a cervical check with each visit. These exams can be rather painful and cause a little spotting. We hate to mess around 'down there' unless there is a really good reason to. As far as what is considered 'normal' during pregnancy, well, that is a VERY broad category!!! Unless you are bleeding, having regular contractions or swollen up like a balloon, almost anything that happens is considered 'normal'!!! That is because not only is every woman different, but each pregnancy you have will have different sorts of aches and pains to go along with it.

If you feel your doc or nurse is not giving you the attention you need, tell them!! Go in there with a list of questions and look them in the eyes and say "I need you to explain this to me". I know that at my office, I always take the time to really talk to my pregnant patients and make them feel as comfortable with their pregnancy as I can. If you have any specific questions or need any advice you can send me a message. I just had my first child 4 months ago so not only do I have the clinical knowledge, I have personal experience now, too!

Best of luck to you!
T.

IT probably is hormones. There isn't really much they can do. If you have any questions ask, they're not gonna know your bothered by it if you don't say anything. Not going to the doctor because you're upset is a little irresponsible, especially for the baby

If you are that uncomforatable that you are missing dr. appointments, go ahead and switch doctors. They should be more responsive to your feelings and ask them whatever you want - that is their job!

In terms of checking more, they won't do that because two are close together (I had 2 close together and the visits were the same).

Good luck. And switch and get back to the dr.

likely just hormonal. I'm pregnant too and some how remember having more exams down there the first time... but they say I didn't. Perhaps our memory is just off. I do think avoiding Dr apts because you are upset will do more damage for you than speaking your mind. If you have concerns then trust your feelings and say so : )

You shouldn't be getting any internal exams until you are nearing end of term. There is nothing really they can tell by doing that either than how much dilated and effaced you are, which doesn't really tell you anything. The things they do might seem small but it is important that they are regularly monitored to detect symptoms of bigger problems. Internal exams can introduce infection into your uterus and all kinds of other things.

Now, if they seem to be blowing off your concerns, that is another thing. I have a midwife and she is wonderful...she will sit and talk with me about what I can do to help make myself feel better when I am having pain or other issues. But it is true that most of that discomfort is normal....and there isn't much the doctor can do about it...but they can give you suggestions on how to help yourself. You might bring up your concern to them that you feel that way. They might just be assuming that you are an old hat at this and that you already know what you are doing. Good luck!

If my memory serves me correctly - I started having internal exams when my appointments went weekly - which I believe was either 34 weeks or 36 weeks. The only reason they do internals is to check if the baby is breach and if you have dialated. Of course that was almost three years ago now and my brain doesn't work like it used to. I am sure you are fine - you could ask when do the internal exams start if that would help. Actually I had my second child two weeks early and was thankful that I didn't have too many internal exams. Good luck!

I totlly understand how you feel.. i was irrate when my doc didnt see me weekley until i was 37weeks and i was not happy.. but Other than the initial "yeah your prego" all of my appointments were really boring.. they siad they did not want to mess around down there if i felt "no action"..to avoid any ennessasary(spelling?) infections...but if you feel comfortable at all just ask.. or if you are likeme call and express your concren. i think sometimes docs forget how emotional we really are (one obgyn called me fat when i had only gained 8 lbs at 27 weeks) and just let them know you are concerned and would feel better being checked...good luck i hope all the best for a safe and happy L&D!

There's really no reason to do an internal exam. It doesn't really tell them anything and it could cause issues like accidentally breaking your water. The only information they can really get from an internal exam is how dilated/effaced you are and baby's station. This doesn't mean anything as you can be dilated for weeks before labor or not be dilated at all and have a baby the same day.

Personally I would avoid an internal exam at all until I am in labor, if even then. I think a weight check, BP and measuring is about the standard of care from your usual OB office.

If you are looking for more personal attention you might consider switching to nurse-midwifery care. The midwifery model of care is more patient-centered. At my visits we generally did the health care stuff then sat at a couch and chatted for awhile. If you are interested in that you can go to www.midwife.org to find a midwife in the area. They are not always listed so sometimes if you call OB/GYN offices they have midwives on staff. Most local hospitals have midwives doing deliveries- you could call your labor and delivery and ask for names.

I am not sure what you mean about your docs being on call at the hospital but it would be pretty unusual for a practice to not deliver the babies of their patients. Each practice generally has docs on call at all times so there is more than one doc from more than practice on call at any given time.

I'm agreeing with everyone else. I see a midwife and am 37 weeks pregnant. I like them more than I did with an OB but check-up wise it's the same. BP, weight, urine, etc at every visit.
They don't do an internal until 40 weeks, if you make it that far. They feel it's unnecessary and can cause bleeding for no reason. Checking to see if you are dilated and/or effaced
doesn't tell them much. They told me that unless I was contracting a lot then there was no reason to do one. I'm looking forward to the care of a midwife while in labor because unlike
an OB, they are with you for the whole labor and delivery and a few hours post partum.
Other than that, if you really don't like your doctors than switch, but your appointments seem normal.

if u r feeling pain, they should check u, my dr did an u/s when i was feeling pain. other then that it was a normal visit until i was 36 weeks, then i was fully checked out. i felt the same way on my last pregancy.

I have three kids and am pregnant with my 4th. I go for my first appointment next week, but I don't expect it to be different
with this one. Usually my doctor gives the full exam at 12 weeks, and then it's in and out from there to 37 weeks. I think that they try to avoid checking you too early, because nothing much is going on, and it could cause problems. As far as the pelvic pain - with my third, I had a ton. I think that it is pretty normal, but they also shouldn't make you feel bad that you are asking or blown off. You shouldn't miss appointments though, because weight and BP are good indicators of problems if there are any, and of course measuring the baby and it's heartrate. Maybe you should call the office and lay out your concerns while in the meantime check into other offices/practices.

Good luck!

I wouldn't switch dr's this late in the game. If they are going to deliver the baby anyway, it seems sort of useless. My advice is to talk to your nurse when you re-schedule your appt. Explain when you make your appt that you have several questions and would like them to block out the time to answer them. I hated my doc while I was preggo. I just never got around to switching. It was my first and I really felt like they blew me off all the time. I finally made my concerns known, in a nice, but firm way. I felt so much better after I had my questions answered. They probably don't realize how you feel. If this is the same doc you've gone to for the other children, they probably assume that you've been there and done that...know what I mean? Be honest with them. It's the only way to get the answers you're looking for.