question

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

Not pregnant just asking a question that has me a little confused.
I keep seeing posts from the expectant mummies on here that mention cervical checks at antenatal appointments, why? i really don't understand this practice, can someone shed some light on this because i don't understand why it is needed when labour has not even started and even then it doesn't really mean anything with my dd. chloe i was 4cm from 10pm to 5am and then dilated the other 6cm in just 2 hours so the checks only made me worry and with cameron i was checked at 10pm and was 4cm dilated and then at 10.30pm i was ready to push.
i had none of these checks with caitlin and caden.

[IAMommy]

It depends on your healthcare provider. I see a midwife and she doesn't do this. I asked her to once during my previous labor because I was curious about my progress, but she doesn't do them just because. She says she can tell everything she needs to know from the mom's behavior.
Some HCPs have a hard time allowing nature to take its course and do cervical checks so they feel like they know where the woman is. Of course, they aren't finding out anything much - as you pointed out, cervical dilation progresses in its own time, and in fact, being checked can actually cause some women to close up a bit.
I can understand it if there is a problem with the cervix and it needs to be checked on, but 99% of the time, it seems to be pointless. Maybe some women are asking to be checked from curiosity, but I daresay most are simply because their HCP was trained to do things that way instead of talking to the woman and looking for other signs of early dilation.
So, in short, I don't understand it either

[MaerynPearl]

My doctor will do one before I move to North Carolina, not because it will signal us to premature labor beforehand for certain but if I am more dilated than I should be, I will be flying to NC rather than the 2 day drive we have planned.

Otherwise, she doesn't do it. Its really all up to the provider and what they believe it will tell them.

[sanguine_speed]

I have no idea either and I'm on baby #4.

Seems invasive and a waste of time, nevermind risking infection or irritating contractions or spot bleeding.
It can also set people up for expectations and disappointment.

I can't understand why doctors bother and moms consent.

[JessieBird]

Neither my MW or GP do any kind of internal check at all unless they have a reason to do so. With DS I had my first check when I went into labour at 39w6d.

[jennica]

I don't get it either. I went along with it last time and ended up having my membranes stripped without my consent during one of these "checks" This time around I haven't had any and don't intend to during the entire pregnancy or the birth (unless something is weird and I request). I think women think it is going to tell them something, and providers imply that it means something, but really it tells you nothing and is not necessary.

[klocke]

I don't usually have internals done before labor and even then I think my midwife did one during my last labor. But this time around I am having to have them every week from 34 weeks on. The reason is I am high risk and can not deliver the babies vaginally. Since I am being a bit stubborn and trying to hold out on the c-section as long as possible my Dr is checking me every week so that if I start to have any cervical changes he can schedule a c-section earlier without me going into labor. I realize that my cervix could obviously change anytime between the weekly checks but it is the only way I could get my OB to hold out longer so I am willing to do it so I can have my c-section later.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

I'm glad i'm not the only one who doesn't get it.

sorry if being nosey klocke, why is it you need a c-section? i notice from your signature you are expecting twins, is this the reason for the the section, sorry just curious as i have been i have twins and triplets in my family and if multiple babies make c-section more likely i should probably should do research (just incase) .

[GoBecGo]

Not sure about klocke's situation but multiples do increase the risk of csection. Some careproviders won't do vaginal multiples because of increased risks and lack of experience. Because so many multiples are born by csection nowadays there are less and less careproviders who are experienced in vaginal multiple births.

The risks vary depending on the specific pregnancy. Positional problems are more likely to occur and less easy to correct (there's less space for breeches to turn, a transverse twin can block the passage of the 2nd one, etc. etc.). Vaginal birth is often very possible and safe with the right care giver, but in some situations, like when babies are transverse, it's just not possible to deliver vaginally.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

thanks GoBecGo.

[AFWife]

I don't understand them...my OB did them with DS RIGHT AFTER explaining that dilation doesn't always matter. Her exact words were, "I've seen women walk around for weeks dilated to a 3 and I've seen women go into labor after not being dilated at all." (the latter ended up being me btw!)

So I dunno...

[karen1968]

With my last pregnancy, I had them done a couple of times toward the end. I wa pre-eclamptic and my care providers were pushing for an induction. There is a measurement called a Bishop's score which can indicate the potential succes of induction. The score is a mix of cervical meaurements, baby's position, and something else-maybe gestational age.

This time, I do not want ANY cervical checks, except possibly during labor.

[thefreckledmama]

Generally speaking, routine cervical checks from 36/37 weeks on is a typical part of the obstetrical model of care in the US. Honestly, I think it's due to the fact that the obstetrical model needs to be proactive when it comes to pregnancy and labor, so there's that need to "do something", rather than sit back and let pregnancy and labor be the natural process it is. Especially when you factor in that most of the time, cervical dilation, or lack there of, doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.

Of course there are instances mentioned by PP's where there is a medical need and legitimate information that can be obtained from doing such checks. But as for normal, uncomplicated pregnancies-there's really no need, and it would be great if this practice went away.

[mediumcrunch]

My OB's back in the 90's did routine cervical checks starting at 36 weeks. That all stopped with abby #4 (1999). Neither any of my CNM's or OB's (multiple practices in varying states) over the last 10 years do cervical checks during pregnancy without a real reason beyond curiousity.

[klocke]

Originally Posted by beckyand3littlemonsters

I'm glad i'm not the only one who doesn't get it.

sorry if being nosey klocke, why is it you need a c-section? i notice from your signature you are expecting twins, is this the reason for the the section, sorry just curious as i have been i have twins and triplets in my family and if multiple babies make c-section more likely i should probably should do research (just incase) .

My twins are transverse / breech so not deliverable vaginally. And on top of that both have higher than normal levels of fluid. My last labor was only 3 hours and the one before that only 5. My doctor is concerned if I do go into labor I will go very quickly and I could end up with a cord prolapse from the excess fluid. I had originally intended on a vaginal birth but both babies have been in the same position now for 3 months and are making no attempts to turn.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

oic wouldn't really be able to push out a baby lying sideways across *ouch*.
there obviously comfy that way, plus they'll have less room to turn now with there being 2.
thanks

[MiaMama]

My MW checked me exactly once during my pregnancy and labor. When I arrived at her clinic, ctrx 7 min apart, walking and talking through ctrx easily, she checked me for the first time, and I was at 8cm.

My labor didn't follow the rules, my emotional signposts were all off, and no one expected me to be at 8. That being said, it was essentially useless info. If she had not checked, there stilll was a good 20-30 min before crowning when it was obvious birth was imminent.

I check myself, and I couldn't tell *how* much I was dilating, but I could tell my ctrx were causing progression because I could feel a change. Had I not checked myself, I would have accidentially UC'd, because I would not have headed to the MWs with ctrx still so far apart.