Freaking out about labour, birth, pelvic exam!! Any info!!

I am freaking out about Labour and Birth!!!! I'm only 37 weeks and 1 day but i know that anything can happen at anytime!! I'm so nervous and scared, any helpful advice. I have also never had a pelvic exam done and i am freaking out about that too! People have said that it hurts or compare it to a pap smear, but i've never had a pap smear either... I feel so blind as to what they might do. I have 3 appointments tomorrow at the hospital, midwife, obstetrics and a medical team... Any useful, helpful information? Anything so that i'm not so blinded by whats going to happen? Anything to calm the nerves??? Thank you!

Its normal to be scared just relax and trust your body. As for the pelvic it can hurt depends on the person and the doctor. Just take a deep breath and it only last a few seconds.

You've never had a pap smear and you're 37 weeks pregnant? They usually perform one on the first appointment. Also, at 36/37 weeks they usually perform a strep B test.

If by pelvic exam you mean getting your cervix checked, it's no big deal. You've had sex, so...It's not going to be completely new to you. It just simply creates a little pressure.

Oh my goodness! Do NOT freak out there is absolutely nothing to worry about!!!! While they aren't comfortable, pap smears and pelvic exams don't hurt. They aren't something you want to get everyday but they're nothing to be afraid of, I promise. I thought I would be nervous when I went in to have my son, and I didn't think a thing about it when the time came. It wasn't as bad as everyone let on. The contractions hurt, yes, but it wasn't like in the movies where I saw the women screaming and punching their husbands lol!!!

A pelvic exam is simple. You'll take off your pants/underwear and lay down on the exam table with a sheet over you. The doctor will then insert her finger to check your cervix, take it out, and viola, you're done!

Just curious, how did they not give you a papsmear and pelvic exam at the beginning of your pregnancy?

My exams were never that bad. Being scared is normal. Try to relax, and it won't last too long.

Paps don't hurt so much & the pelvic exam isn't that bad either. Its just uncomfortable because you figure everything is in there getting ready for the baby to come OUT & the doctor is putting something IN. Other than that, its over before you know it. I am also a little nervous about what to expect and when everything will start. I have 12 days left (Dec.21st) till I meet my lil boy. Hope everything turns out well! :-)

They only ever asked if i had previously had a pap smear before pregnancy to which my reply was no. They then proceeded to say that they would need to do one after giving birth... :/ Hmm... Wow that's really odd... I have been pregnant before but miscarried and even then did not have any type of pelvic exam... Maybe it's different where we are? QLD, Australia?? Also what is a strep b test?? I'm glad that the pelvic exam shouldn't be too bad! I'm sure i will get in there and have nothing to worry about. I'm so thankful for such supportive people on here!!

I never had a pap smear in my life until i was pregnant,i had it done at 28 weeks. It hurt and i was bleeding after it.  

Quoting Gayle Saunders:" They only ever asked if i had previously had a pap smear before pregnancy to which my reply was no. They ... [snip!] ... be too bad! I'm sure i will get in there and have nothing to worry about. I'm so thankful for such supportive people on here!! "

They take a swab and test your vagina for a certain bacteria that can be harmful to baby during labor and birth. If you test positive, you simply have to have IV antibiotics.

Oh ok, Thanks for that... I'm glad to hear different things it makes me feel more aware of what may happen! Never had a swab before so maybe tomorrow.   Thank you for not calling me stupid! but being very nice about it Tiger Lily!  

I do know everyone is different, but at my 37 and 38 week pelvic exam checks I was in tears, HURT LIKE H***..... previous pregnancy's were a walk in the park... But its all worth it in the long run when you get to hold your precious lil one.... Hope all turns out well for you and good luck.... Just remember all the pain you may or may not experience will be worth it when you hold that beautiful lil girl or handsome lil boy......

<blockquote><b>Quoting Gayle Saunders:</b>" I am freaking out about Labour and Birth!!!! I'm only 37 weeks and 1 day but i know that anything can ... [snip!] ... helpful information? Anything so that i'm not so blinded by whats going to happen? Anything to calm the nerves??? Thank you! "</blockquote>




I only ever had one internal when I was in labour with DD, physically it didn't hurt (the speculum hurt like a bitch cause the OB was digging around too much fluid for him to see!) the mental thing was worse as I was telling myself "it's for medical reasons" but I still had a hard time dealing with a man I'd just met putting his hand up my vag. I just switched off and it was over in seconds. I was at 6cm then. But when it came time for the birth I didn't really care who could see my lady parts