Let's talk about the ever-watched cervix - Page 2

[yellowdart]

I kinda poked at my cervix the other day.  It's high and soft.  If I could reach it better, how would I assess dilation?  Just stick a finger in there?  I'm not sure I should do that.  

[by-the-lake]

Really, its all your comfort level. You can stick a finger inside the cervix if you can reach. It may feel like a long tunnel,  which means you arent effaced much. An uneffaced cervix is about 4-5 mm long. If it seems less, its thinning.

[lifeguard]

Jane - that is very interesting.

I personally like knowing. I remember at one point when in labour with ds my ob checked. He said I was 4cm to which I responded with a long, drawn out, lowing nooooo. He was still checking at that point & said "oh, now it's 6". I know it could also go the other way in that situation though.

[AlexisT]

My OB offered to check, no pressure, and I said okay. I was 99% sure I hadn't dilated a bit and I was right. I was sort of hoping that having a vertex baby that was pushing down a bit would dilate me earlier this time (I had a late breech with #1) but really, I knew.

I know that it's impossible to never ever go into labor, but I still strongly suspect that my uterus takes a really long time to get the hint. This is pregnancy #3, one live birth and one missed AB, and both of those ended in surgery. 1600mcg of misoprostol couldn't make my uterus move.

[kindyll]

I'm 37 weeks and lost my plug on Sunday.  I plan on going natural and have heard a lot of advice against cervical checks, but curiosity will likely get the better of me at my next exam.  I know on a logical level that it doesn't mean anything as far as timing goes, but part of me still wants to know!

[ThreeCats]

I gave in (to myself) and had a check today (38+5). Cervix is high and closed. I nearly cried. Doc predicts I'll be seeing her next week...at my scheduled appointment. Ugh. I've been having mildly painful contractions on and off since Saturday, and I'm really discouraged. I am so ready to get this baby out - s/he has been sitting on my cervix for 3 weeks now...and it hurts! DS's birth was induced, and another induction is my biggest fear right now...and rational or not, the fact that my body doesn't seem to be preparing for labor has me totally scared that I'm headed for another induction.

Sorry for the whiny vent...I figured if anyone would understand, it'd be you guys.

[Snugglebugmom]

My cervix was high, closed and posterior on Monday, and my labor started early on Friday morning, actually shortly after midnight. Don't despair! The state of the cervix can change pretty literally from one minute to the next. 

[akayerich]

I've been doing the weekly cervix checks, more out of curiosity than anything else. 

With my last child, I was 1cm but  90% effaced the day I went into labor at 39 weeks.  Did not have one single contraction (other than Braxton Hicks) before I woke up in active labor that night.

This time, I was: 3cm and 50% and 37 and 38 weeks, cervix still posterior.  Lots of contractions, just not regular.

                             4cm and 50% at 39 weeks, cervix anterior, baby low and engaged. Still contracting irregularly.

                             4-5cm, 50% "VERY soft and stretchy" today at 40 weeks. 

Still no baby.  It really makes me wonder what the point of the checks really is?  But I can't resist.  I like knowing what's going on in there.