Vaginal exam question

I am 38 weeks and at my last appointment which was 37 the dr said on your next appointment they will do a vaginal exam. So at that appointment I asked and was told no we dont always do them or we may do it at 40 weeks. Im getting very anxious. what is the point to even do one at 40 weeks. obviously the baby will be here pretty soon by then. Has anyone not had a vaginal exam before?

My doc does not do them at all unless you are having very consistant contractions, with each exam that they do you run the risk of getting an infection, so they avoid doing it until they know something is really happening.

My doctor didnt one until I was overdue and then after they checked me it put me into labor....I was never checked with my first I was two days early. They told me it's not necessary to keep checking.

My OB never checks.  I asked him to at 38 weeks and he did but they never do it routinely because it really doesn't matter, it will happen when it happens.

My dr does them at 37ish weeks until you deliver they want to make sure your bag is intact and to see if the baby is head down, if you are progressing at all so they can help if they need to. like i was 1 and thick the first time and then 2 and soft the next time etc. Also then if you go into the hospital they have something to compare so if you say im contracting then they check you and your still a 1 and thick its probably false labor etc.

Every doc is different just like every woman and baby is too!