THERE IS NO REASON, IF YOU'RE HAVING A NORMAL PREGNANCY, TO HAVE AN INTERNAL EXAM JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE CREEPING UP TO YOUR DUE DATE. How dilated you are means pretty much nothing about when you'll go into labor, AND you run the risk of introducing infection.
There, I feel better now. Oh, wait: there's more!
PRODROMAL LABOR/BRAXTON-HICKS CONTRACTIONS ARE NOT CAUSED BY LARGE BABIES. Zillions of women have prodromal contractions for WEEKS before giving birth, and only a small percentage of them have large babies. And oh, while we're on the subject: did you know that if your doctor BELIEVES you are going to have a large baby you are twice as likely (maybe three times; I can't remember) to end up with medical interventions than if you actually DO have a large baby that nobody's anticipating? With no improvement of outcome?
One last thing: Co-sleeping is NOT the same as spoiling a child. If you think it is, you're probably better off not co-sleeping. But don't assume that folks who DO co-sleep don't know what the heck they're doing.
Happy 2007, everybody. I need a nap.