does anyone else's doctor NOT check them?!

Question

I'm 38 weeks and I go to the doctor weekly, I've been having intense pelvic pressure and vaginal pains and they still won't check if I'm dilated. Will they ever check me? When I bring it up they say "no we don't want to cause an infection" but there has to be a point when they will check? Right?

Answer

I'm going to request not to be checked when I get that far. With my last child in was at a 3 for weeks and 4 for a week and last appointment I was at 5cm.  It's pointless to be checked imo.. it's not an accurate determination of when labor will come.

Answer

Really what's the point in checking - it doesn't affect anything.  It doesn't really mean anything - I've heard of women being dilated for weeks before they actually deliver...

Answer

In the UK we don't get checked at all until you're in labour. There's actually no need too as even if you're dilated or not it doesn't indicate when labour will be.

Answer

My OB and midwife dont check until you go over the 40weeks and they are thinking of inducing. Its my preference not to be checked until im actually in labour

Answer

I'm personally opting out of being checked, because you can go from not dilated at 9 am to suddenly in labor by 3 pm + you can stay at a few centimeters for weeks. 
I'm just waiting for the constant/painful  contractions to tell me.

Answer

My doctor never checked. She said seeing how many cms dilated you are is irrelevant until you are in active labor. You can be dilated 1 cm and go full term , or you can be 1 cm dilated today and deliver tomorrow.

Answer

My doctor leaves it to the patient to decide. At my appointment yesterday they told me at any of my appointments if I'd like to be checked let them know. They said that some women are dilated at a 1 or 2 for awhile. So it really doesn't determine how soon labor is expected. However they said if I'm having discomfort or pressure and would like to check they are fine with doing it that with proper hygiene it shouldn't cause any infection. Which all Ob's should be following anyway. He did say he doesn't recommend self checking.

Answer

My doctor only checked me because I've been having really painful contractions. She really leaves the decision up to her patients though. A lot of women opt out until there in labor.

Answer

A lot of doctors don't check unless you've had symptoms of labor like contractions etc.

Answer

My dr hasn't even brought it up and neither have I. I'm 39 weeks today and have an appt tomorrow.  I don't know if they will or not.  To me it doesn't bother me to know if I'm dilated or not its not going to tell me if my baby is coming soon or not

does anyone else's doctor NOT check them?!

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