Babys Finally Moved Lower but No Check up down There?!

Knowing how far dilated you are really tells you nothing. It doesn't tell you when you will go into labor so really, the less poking around the better!

I agree with Dawn 110%. The more they goof around down there, the more potential for bacteria and germs to get in.

The more you are checked, the more the risk of infection. There is NO reason to check you. You could be 1 day away, you could be 3 weeks away. Either way, you are VERY VERY CLOSE!!!!

Chill out, relax, sip some iced tea and know that soon soon soon you will have your little bundle of joy!!!!!!!

Yay!!!

Good for your doc for not doing an unecessary exam! I kept my pants on during my appointments just to be clear on my thoughts about early vaginal checks. Trust me, the baby won't fall out while you are not looking :)
I second Christine on not rushing things. As hard as it is to wait those last days and weeks, it is usually best to wait for baby to be born on their own time. My second was born nearly 2 weeks past his "due date"!
As others have said, don't place to much stock in dilation before true labor. I was barely dilated to 1cm at 10pm, gave birth just before noon the following day!

I'm sure it is just a preferance as far as the Dr. is concerned. I know that my doc just had the policy that they'd start checking at 38 weeks. However, as in your friends case, just because you are already dialated doesn't mean anything. Those little people will come when they are darn good and ready.

My assumption is that your doctor was very pleased with how everything is going with you and felt there was no need for the extra exam.

Congratulations on your little one!!

M

When were you pregnant last?

When I was pregnant with my son, they did not check me every time. My Dr. said that is no longer recommended, and was found to actually do more harm then good. Basically, they were unnecessary exams, that were ending in infections, and starting premature contractions. Basically, they don't want to stir the pot down there. I had to see a different Dr. at an appointment, because mine had an emergency birth. She did check me and said I was pretty dilated. I stayed that way for 3 weeks. They don't really put much stock into dilation indication imminent labor anymore.

I don't remember getting checked at all when I was pregnant for my oldest until AFTER 39 weeks.

I remember getting checked earlier with my other daughter but then not on another week.

Really, I don't think it matters. They could tell you you're dilated to 2 and still nothing will happen. Or they can tell you "nothing" is going on down there but the next day you go in.

Your baby will come when he/she is ready I wouldn't get concerned about why you didn't get checked. They simply could have forgotten.

Best wishes.

They normally don't check at this point. No need to stir things up down there.

Your doctor wasn't insinuating that you're bound to go into labor at any minute even though you "could." She just meant that the baby is head down and is preparing for labor.

She didn't do a cervical exam because at 38 weeks there isn't a need to when you're not showing any signs of being in labor yet. .

there is no "need" unless you are contracting or leaking fluid. my doctor NEVER did an exam down there until i started contracting and he checked to see if i was dialated or not

There is really no medical reason to check. With my first I visited w/doctor he checked, I was closed tight. He said "See ya next week!" She was born the next day. My second, I was dilated to 3 and partially effaced at 38 weeks, he was born 13 days past my due date (and only then because I was induced and thank God I was - he was HUGE!) My thrid, she didn't check that often and I had him 1 week early.

So, no matter what they tell you, the baby will come when its ready. :)

With my first baby the doctor checked my dialation at 38 weeks and accidently stripped my membranes. Long story but they were concerned about infection because my water broke and I wasn't showing any signs of labor. Not because of that but my daughter ended up being delivered by a emergency c-section.
With my son's pregnancy I wanted to do everything I could do to avoid a repeat c section so did research. Basically the Dr's don't need to be checking for dialation in routine appts because it doesn't really tell them anything and the risk of infection greatly increases. So with my son's pregnancy when I got to 38 weeks I told my Dr. that I would not like to have internal exams unless he felt it was needed. He told me that it wasn't needed and I neded up having my baby with a vbac at 40 weeks, and a long day!!

Good luck and congratulations!!

Some babies stay high right up until active labor.
Other babies drop and sit on your bladder for a month or more before they are born.
(I had to pee, shift, then pee some more in order to empty it adequately.)
Some women dilate to 3 cm and stay there for the last month or two, while others don't dilate at all till the labor pains are in full swing.
Every pregnancy is different - even with the same Mom.
Don't worry!
They'll check you next time.
No pregnancy goes on forever - even though it feels like it will the whole last month.

Dear Sam,

If you don't have any medical intervention, average length of pregnancy for a first baby is 41 weeks, 2 days and for a second pregnancy is 41 weeks, 3 days. I'm sorry, but you could have 4 more weeks to go. Yes, look for signs of labor but know that everyone is different (labor is controlled by the baby so it is even different in the same mother from baby to baby) and don't be too upset if you don't have a baby in the next week. If your doctor offers induction, ask why? If there is no medical indication, than you should know that doing induction doubles the chances of ending up with a cesarean section - which is major abdominal surgery and can have lifetime effects.

If you don't want the doctor to check (medically speaking, dialation has NO impact either - you could be not dialated at all or you could be 3 cm for two months), you can also reject that check. It is your right to reject any intervention and a vaginal exam is an intervention.

C.

There's no hard and fast rule for when the doctor checks for dilation. The nurse was right - they'll check you soon enough. And dilation is not really an indication of labour....you can be dilated 2cm for WEEKS and not go into labour!

I've had 3 babies and was only ever given pelvic exams at the end with my third and that was because I was overdue. She was born at 42 weeks.

Doctors don't check for a number of reasons: maybe your appointment was running long. Or if your baby *just* dropped the doc saw no real reason to check so soon, especially if it's your first, and potentially introduce germs. Or you've had NO other signs of impending labour or other complications.

Just relax, take some long walks, put your feet up and nap while you can - that little babe of yours will make their appearance when they're good and ready :)

Do you mean he didn't check you internally? Is that what you mean by "down there"?
Probably next week for sure. You Weren't having any labor symptoms right? I don't think it's all that unusual. Relax & speedy delivery!

Sometimes knowing how far dilated you are can be more frustrating, honestly. With one of mine, I was dilated to a 4 for 4 weeks...with another...I wasn't dilated or effaced at all on Tuesday...and went in Saturday morning dilated to a 6. It's kind of 'fun' (hah)...I suppose...to feel like you're making progress, etc...but I've known so many women (myself included)...that have ended up frustrated and miserable because they were expecting to go into labor sooner based on how far dilated they were. I'm also almost 38 weeks...and feeling pretty 'ready'. I'm getting more patient in my old age...but it will be nice when I don't have to heave myself out of a couch...have to pee a dozen times a night...or waddle around the store looking like I'm falling apart more than the 90 year old guy next to me :). Good luck!!

ETA: My Midwife generally won't check at all if I don't want her to...With several of mine I have had such strong contractions preterm - that they usually end up checking me around 34 weeks to see if my '5-minute-apart contractions' are doing anything and if anything should be done about it...etc. In general I agree with not doing internal exams...but I'm glad they did one with our daughter...I was still preterm and went in and was dilated to a 6 and stalled. Had they not checked, I would have not thought much about it because the contractions stopped...but once they were regular again, she was out in ~40 minutes. She ended up being fine...actually got 8/9 on her apgar...but having a preterm baby in the car or something is still not my idea of a good thing!

It is totally normal. Every doctor is different. My doctor checked me with my first at 38.5 weeks and said he will defiantly see me next week. The next night I went into labor. Some doctors/people think that doing an internal exam can some how induce labor. If you are moving along fine at 38 weeks, you should just enjoy being pregnant and let your little girl bake for another couple weeks. Don't force the labor process. Your doctor will check you as soon as next week.
Good luck with your labor and delivery.

The nurse kind of answered the question for you, didn't she? He'll start checking you next week.