Wild guesses as to what I'm feeling?

[Italiamom]

I know you're just DYING for another cervix checking thread, right?!

Okay, so, question for all of the cervix checkers.  Please skip over this if you don't want detailed information on my internal anatomy.  I really hope this isn't offensive...

I finally got up the courage to check mine (completely ridiculous, since I checked it all the time before...).  And -- can someone tell me what the heck I am feeling?  I can reach what I think has to be the cervix, because I don't know what else it could be.  It would be like if my normal cervix were flattened into an extremely large, thin pancake, and was very, very squishy.  There's clearly the hole, which I can push a finger in to, but it seems closed still about an inch up maybe.  If I feel around the "outside" (I use this term loosely, because it's very shallow), then I can feel what I assume to be the head through my vaginal wall.  Does this make sense?  How would I tell how dilated or effaced I am (if anything)?  I wish my midwife didn't frown so much on vaginal exams or I would have her do them.  I am so darn curious.

I had the tiniest crampy feeling when I pulled my finger out, like I would feel if I checked my cervix on my period.  So I would assume I was examining the cervix?

SO MYSTERIOUS!

[RileyAnn]

See this is exactly why I haven't tried to check mine because I have NO clue what you're talking about. lol. Sorry I can't help. :/ It would be cool to be able to feel the babes head though! That's the only reason I'd be tempted.

[HeatherB]

DDCC.... Sounds like you're fairly well effaced (the degree to which you are depends on just how thick/long the cervix still is - I believe 0% is 4cm and so 50% is 2cm, etc, but it's all sort or relative). You're not dilated yet, which is the interior closed feeling, the internal os. I made the mistake with my last baby, with whom I checked fairly regularly, of believing the external os was the same as the internal os. I was shocked in labor to discover I wasn't, even after a while of very strong ctxs, as far as I thought I had been for WEEKS. All that to say, definitely assess the internal os. Sounds like the external is slightly dilated as is typical of any multip.

FWIW, it's far better to be fully effaced and 2cm than to be 5cm and 50% effaced. Dilation goes much more quickly once effacement is complete! (Though they don't always progress in any particular proportion to one another.) And, of course, no cervical check can predict labor or birth. But I do find it quite fascinating to check!

[mareseatoats]

Oh man, I wish I could help. I can't even find my cervix! I could prepregnancy, but I think it's disappeared. Malcolm will never get out. Can you ask your midwives to check, even though they aren't the biggest fans? I didn't with DD but I have an appointment on Wednesday and I am absolutely asking for them to tell me what's up down there.

[Ree Tee]

Originally Posted by RileyAnn 

See this is exactly why I haven't tried to check mine because I have NO clue what you're talking about. lol. Sorry I can't help.

Ha! Ditto!

[Baby_Cakes]

I have nothing to add b/c I'm just as lost as you but I just wanted to give you three cheers for checking!  I still can't reach mine and even when I could I had no idea what I was feeling, and got real lightheaded trying.  LOL!  

It sounds like progress is being made though if you can insert a finger in a bit, right?  That's good news!  And a thin mushy cervix is better than a firm one, IMO.

[bethany42309]

I check mine all the time but I can't reach as good as I wish I could.  My external os is at least 2 cm dilated.  But....I cant reach far enough up to see if the internal one is as much.  My cervix is still pretty thick though :(  It is gradually getting thinner and softer though.  And I know what you mean about feeling baby's head through your vaginal wall....it feels hard as a brick to me. 

But at least you are thinning out!  Wish I could say the same.

[LadyJennifer]

It sounds to me like your cervix is pretty effaced, and very soft (they get very soft and mushy in late pregnancy), and not dilated (the inner os is what counts). Also it's common for baby's head to be in front of the cervix before labor:)

I've been reading a midwifery book that describes what to "look" for and so on, and so I've been fascinated with checking my own. My cervix is still pretty posterior (way back there), so I cannot really reach all they way through either.
Anyway the book says to pucker your lips all the way as if for a kiss (but exaggerated), then slip your finger in your lips to your teeth, that's basically 50% effaced; then pull your lips back into a tight smile, that's basically 100% effaced. BUT, she does say that multiparas usually don't efface as much as primiparas, and may not ever get to 100% even in labor.
Also, you can measure your finger on a cm measuring tape, but usually 1 finger = 2 cm, 2 fingers = 3 - 3.5 cm, etc. (Finger all the way through the cervix, with no stretching the cervix open).
Hope that helps! It's all very fascinating to me! And I wish I could feel my baby's head! She's not engaged yet though.

[Baby_Cakes]

Can I ask a dumb question?  If you can fit your finger all the way in with no stretching, is the only thing left to touch/holding the baby in the bag of waters?

[lisastrickland]

If you can get your finger all the way thru your cervix, you are on the babys head/bag. I got to mine the other day. I was SO tempted to do a little sweep, but I decided against it...

my cervix is pretty well effaced already. i read an article that it is 4 inches when 0% effaced, so 2 inches when 50%. I would say I am almost 80% and probably a 2-3 dialiated, but this is my third baby. I was a 3-4 for a week before my second was born so dialiation means nothing to me... i will have my midwife check me if i make it to 40 weeks, just to see.

OH- that article I read also said at first your cervix feels like the tip of your nose, then ... something else.... and finally it feels like the inside of your cheek. Yup, mine is total cheek mush.

[Italiamom]

Thanks for all the feedback ladies!  I've definitely got the cheek mush going.  I'll have to go exploring again now with some feedback on what I'm feeling.

[JoyFilled]

Thanks for posting this thread.

I have been trying to check my cervix too with little idea of what I am finding.  I know my cervix is very low and forward facing..  I can't really get a finger in and it is still hard like a nose.

Keep up the conversation on this.

[SouthernStormy]

I hadn't been checking it b/c the few times I did I got somewhat discourage. But curiosity got the best of me and I checked it in the shower this morning- it is still sooo difficult to reach, but what I can feel it seems like i'm about 2 cm dialated and not very effaced Pretty much what I've been the past couple weeks. Of course I know this really means nothing as you can stay at a few cm for several weeks or go from a few cm to having a baby in no time at all.

[jillybeans]

my cervix and I are very friendly lol!

I agree, you sound very soft and effaced, but not super dilated. Mine is kind of the opposite...I can fit 2 fingers easily (with room between) in all the way to his sac, but my cervix is still fairly thick and long (no pancake for me!)

[Italiamom]

Originally Posted by jillybeans 

I agree, you sound very soft and effaced, but not super dilated. Mine is kind of the opposite...I can fit 2 fingers easily (with room between) in all the way to his sac, but my cervix is still fairly thick and long (no pancake for me!)

I think I was almost afraid that I *would* feel the sac.  I don't know why that makes me nervous...  I'm sure with all the vitamin C I'm taking that it's quite strong!  I guess I've been afraid all this time that I would stick my fingers up there and the baby would jump back and disengage herself, or flip.  Silly, but true.  But now that I've been in there I almost want to feel it!  It was pretty neat to feel the baby's head through my vaginal walls.  Like, "oh, that's why there's so much pressure, because there's a head RIGHT THERE."

Crazy.

[Inali]

I tried to check too...  I wasn't going to after my OB did hers and it hurt like woah.   But now I'm just getting so curious!  I dont know if I feel anything of the cervix though...  It all just feels like mushy vaginal wall to me :-(  I guess I probably just can't reach it...  Not to mention everyone keeps telling me Im carrying high so maybe she didnt even drop or whatnot yet.