Self checks of cervix

[Niniel]

Hi ladies,

hope you are all well!

I'm 36 weeks pregnant now and have just started to use evening primrose oil internally to help ripen my cervix. I was inserting the capsules last night and decided to have a feel of my cervix while I was at it. I couldn't reach it at all! I had tried checking my cervix a couple of days before that and it felt pretty soft to me, it was high up but still reachable with a bit of effort now I can't seem to get near it. I've been trying to find information on effacement and dilation but nothing is really telling me what I want to know.

Does anyone know when the cervix is starting to ripen and efface is it high up? low down? does it move down or up as labour is approaching?

thanks in advance!

x

[fyrebloom]

You likely won't feel it for a while. It's normal for the cervix to be high an posterior for a long time. Sometimes your partner can reach, but I'm full term and I still can only barely touch mine.

This is a great cervix checking link
http://www.joyousbirth.info/articles...xlearning.html

[gentlestrengths]

Originally Posted by Niniel

Hi ladies,

hope you are all well!

I'm 36 weeks pregnant now and have just started to use evening primrose oil internally to help ripen my cervix. I was inserting the capsules last night and decided to have a feel of my cervix while I was at it. I couldn't reach it at all! I had tried checking my cervix a couple of days before that and it felt pretty soft to me, it was high up but still reachable with a bit of effort now I can't seem to get near it. I've been trying to find information on effacement and dilation but nothing is really telling me what I want to know.

Does anyone know when the cervix is starting to ripen and efface is it high up? low down? does it move down or up as labour is approaching?

thanks in advance!

x

It is different for every woman. Usually it'll move forward (easier to reach) when you're getting closer, but that isn't always true. Next time you check yourself get into a full squat on your floor. I think you will be able to reach that way. That is really the only way I can reach. I am a midwifery student, and this isn't true for checking other people - they can reach fine with you flat on your back - but when you check yourself, it just works so much better to squat. But your cervix can ripen anywhere it wants to!

[mother culture]

i remember having to squat on the edge of the bed and tip my cervix way forward to reach mine. It is ok to not be able to feel it at all. It is up there and it will open when it is ready. Some fingers adn pelvis sizes just don't allow for contact, especially in pregnancy.