Question about going to the doctor in your 9th month

I am 38 weeks today and just came back from the doctor and am a little confused/surprised as to why she did not do an internal exam and measure me. I went last week and was only 1cm dilated, but thought I would be getting checked every week. Is this normal? I felt like I should have asked and I don't know why I didn't but I feel she definitely should have checked. All she did was check baby's heartbeat. There are two doctors at the office I go to and I prefer the male doctor over this doctor much more. I just feel like she is not informative at all.

Has everyone been measured every week in the 9th month?

Re: Question about going to the doctor in your 9th month

I'm 36 weeks and I was told that starting next week I will have an internal exam every week. I'm surprised you weren't checked.

Re: Question about going to the doctor in your 9th month

I had an internal every week starting at 37 weeks... Some doctors don't like doing them at all??

Re: Question about going to the doctor in your 9th month

I've read that doing an internal doesn't tell you anything because you could be all closed up when they check you at your appointment and then start dilating later on in the day. Or, you could be dilated for weeks.

When my sister had my nephew she went to the doctor on a Friday, he did an internal and told her that the baby was weeks away. She gave birth 2 days later!

Also, the last time I went to my midwife was 35w5d and she did an internal. I was not dilated at all. She told me I could skip a week (she was going away anyway) and that I could come back at 37w5d (which is tomorrow). I'll be seeing the doctor in her office. I told my midwife that I didn't want to do that many internals and she said it wasn't a problem and that I can tell the doctor at tomorrow's appointment that I don't want one.

They're really not necessary.

Re: Question about going to the doctor in your 9th month

I have had an internal every week since 36 week and I am 38 weeks now. I have a friend whose doctor doesn't start doing internals until 39 weeks. So who knows!?

Re: Question about going to the doctor in your 9th month

Mine didn't do one till 39 weeks. I was 2 cm dilated. This knowledge didn't change anything. As PP said, you can be dilated for weeks.

Re: Question about going to the doctor in your 9th month

Thanks for the replies. I feel better knowing not everyone has them.

Re: Question about going to the doctor in your 9th month

Mine did them every week from 36 weeks. I was dilating from week 36 yet didn't have DD until 39 weeks, 3 days.

A friend of mine had internals every week, had not progress at all, they scheduled an induction and the day after her last internal (where they said 0% effaced, 0cm dilated), she had her baby within 7 hours of contractions starting.

So, internals don't really tell you anything. Your OB may just skip week 37 to save you the discomfort!

Re: Question about going to the doctor in your 9th month

mine does not start anything until 38 weeks, so as to not 'stir' anything up in there.. but i did have fake checkup b/c the baby was breech all along.. so maybe your OB just skipped this week..