Cervix checking - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[buko]

Oh, no, sunshinelove!  I completely agree with you!  It's just something I see from time-to-time-- people saying cynical things like, "Doctors do C/S because they are late for their golf games" or whatever.  When that's rarely true, and when you believe that's the cause of the problem (as opposed to the more complex reality), you're not going to find an effective solution.  

[babytoes]

I agree with everyone. No checks here! On Friday I had my 38 week home visit and it wasn't even mentioned. I will decline all checks unless we (the midwives, myself and my mother) believe it will give us some info we will need. Which I doubt will happen but who knows! It's interesting how many of you talked about the "mainstream" way of doing things, because my close friend (who is a nurse) was texting me last week, and asking what my dilation/effacement was... I just laughed and said I wasn't getting checked. She thoroughly baffled by this, "why wouldn't you get checked? Your midwife and you don't want to know whats going on!?"  I told her it was useless info, I walked around at 3-4cm for three weeks with DS3, so I could care less. I think she is still baffled, lol!

[buko]

She thoroughly baffled by this, "why wouldn't you get checked? Your midwife and you don't want to know whats going on!?"

What's "going on" is that you're 38 weeks pregnant!

[babytoes]

Hahahaha!!! EXACTLY Buko!!! 

[storygirlcindy]

Buko - wow, if I'd had some doctor experiences like that, I'd be a little tired of it all too! ;) Like I said before, I do a lot of my own research and tend to make my opinions pretty plain with any doctor I'm being seen by. I'm also definitely NOT one of those people who takes the doctor's word as gospel (don't even get me started on THAT pet peeve!). I feel like way too many people in our culture today just go along with what the doctor says because it MUST be right... when in reality, obviously, doctors are people too and at the end of the day they're just giving you their best guess!

But I agree that very few of them are doing things out of maliciousness/laziness/etc. Most doctors I have worked with have been genuinely concerned and caring... often the pushing of interventions has come about because they are worried about me (or whoever their patient is), rather than impatient/malicious/uncaring. And typically, if I don't agree with what they're suggesting, they've been willing to work with me and listen to my concerns.

[maydaymom10]

Buko

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodieanneanton 

I must admit that I did check my own cervix a couple weeks ago....    I was feeling cervical twinges of pain and was curious and that really got the better of me.  Before that, I was going to have none and now that I have done that... I have recommitted to no more checks.

Hah! I have to admit, even after posting this, that I was tempted to try to check my cervix today. Mostly because I had this crazy round of contractions (for lack of a bette description, although I wouldn't really call them that) and could feel the baby moving down & pressing against my cervix. So, of course, my curiosity is peaked. But, I'm resisting -- mostly because I know I can't even reach my cervix.  PS - jodieanneanton - are you planning a family birth?? I didn't want to ask on the trust birth site with the recent drama over there, but I couldn't remember. 

Originally Posted by storygirlcindy 

Anyway, just my two cents there. I'm also a high-risk pregnancy anyway, so have had more monitoring through the whole pregnancy than a typical pregnant lady. I also have a genetic illness (hence the high risk status) and have spent a lot of my life in doctor's offices and hospitals, so I'm pretty comfortable with medical procedures, but also do my own research and am not afraid to speak my mind when I don't agree with what a doctor is doing.

I think that women who are considered high-risk are a little different when it comes to this because the pregnancies are often not normal and need to be monitored. This is when the medical system and interventions can be so wonderful in helping mama and baby. I have no issues with women in these circumstances commenting about their "status", because often it's concerning and they are scared. 

However, I also don't understand women running to the hospital to get checked (those with low-risk pregnancies) for every twinge that is felt. I also get frustrated reading posts about being x weeks and my whole stomach is tightening up. Hello BHs! Do these women do any education for themselves?? A good childbirth ed class or book can just answer so many of these questions, and frankly, if you aren't sure if it's labor or not then it's probably not. I realize there are exceptions to this, but not many.

[pregnantdrummer]

No checks for me. My midwife will check me whenever I want, but I don't see any point to it. I'll be 37 weeks Thursday and feel exactly 37 weeks pregnant. With DS, my water broke on his due date, so I don't expect to have this baby early. I'm trying to mentally prepare myself to go over by a week, and a cervical check won't do anything to help that.

My SIL is due March 3rd. She was put on bedrest at 34 weeks because her cervix was 100% effaced. Dr. took her off bedrest at 37 weeks (one week ago) expecting her to go into labor right away. So her Dr. is telling her she's completely effaced, 3 cm dilated and could go into labor at any minute. Well, she's still pregnant. No signs of labor and I really won't be surprised if she goes to her due date since she's a FTM.  But who knows, just goes to show these numbers mean nothing!

[jodieanneanton]

Originally Posted by maydaymom10 

  PS - jodieanneanton - are you planning a family birth?? I didn't want to ask on the trust birth site with the recent drama over there, but I couldn't remember. 

Yes... There is quite a bit of drama over there, isn't there?!?!   ha ha ha!  Family birth in the way that they put it?  no.  I am having a home birth with a mw who will be as hands off as I want her to be (just like you are doing, right?) with DH, my DD (probably) and my mom (there for DD).  I would like it to be just me and DH, but DH is just not comfortable with the idea of unassisted and I totally respect that.  Though, I'd easily agree to a UC, I won't mind the occasional listen for a heart beat to ease DH mind.  The mw knows all my feelings about interventions of any kind... So, I trust it will go just fine.  I am wondering if she will even get there in time, honestly...  History shows I have long early labors but they are very short from about 5 cm to 10... So, we'll see.

ETA:  I also don't mind the idea of having a third party to "clean up the mess" to be honest!  hahaha!

         I have learned so much from that group even just through reading along, though they are past where I am at the moment.  :)

Edited by jodieanneanton - 2/19/13 at 12:24pm

[LDoulaSteph]

I've never been offered a cervical check in pregnancy...if I was I would surely decline because I can't think of one good reason why I would want one. I don't even want them in labour this time 

[cocoanib]

No checks planned here. I'm of the it tells you not much of anything camp.

The ob practice I'm at starts doing pelvic exams at 36 wks. I am declining.

With DD's homebirth, I didn't want any checks and wound up getting one during early labor and then a couple during birth.

I really wish that I would have have stuck with not getting any, because they did nothing for me, but make me feel bad and it hurt like H**l

This time, were UCing, so if I feel like checking around up there, I guess I will, but it's not something I'm planning.

[maydaymom10]

Originally Posted by jodieanneanton 

I am having a home birth with a mw who will be as hands off as I want her to be (just like you are doing, right?) with DH, my DD (probably) and my mom (there for DD).  I would like it to be just me and DH, but DH is just not comfortable with the idea of unassisted and I totally respect that.  

ETA:  I also don't mind the idea of having a third party to "clean up the mess" to be honest!  hahaha!

         I have learned so much from that group even just through reading along, though they are past where I am at the moment.  :)

Sounds like what we're planning too, and I agree about someone helping to clean up afterwards. I can't complain that my mw is going to help start some laundry and get a meal going.   And I agree about learning a ton from that group. I really like a lot of the philosophies that the women have there & has been so helpful during this pregnancy. 

[wildmansmom]

Originally Posted by buko 

I'm kinda blanking, but is there any real GOOD information that can be gleaned from a prenatal cervical check on a woman during a normal, low-risk pregnancy, especially if one hasn't had a lot of prodromal labor, funky symptoms, etc.?

I think the only good thing is reassurance to the woman that her cervix is starting to do what it's supposed to. 

[akind1]

If you are at all facing induction (for whatever reason) prenatal cervical check to determine your bishop score can be helpful in determinng whether or not induction is likely to be successful or not. That said - I've seen women with really unfavorable cervix have awesome inductions.I don't think I've ever heard of one with a "good" Bishop score having a failed one.

I will likely have them both prenatally and I know I will during labor. One one hand, it's a little discouraging sometimes if you make no "progress" week to week, but I do like to know where I stand. I won't be chemically induced this time - my OB practice has begun to refuse to use Pitocin in VBAC moms  - But they will induce with AROM, if you reach 41 weeks without labor starting on its own. Which I'd consent to before just signing up for another c-section, personally.

If you are having a hospital birth they are hard to avoid, and I think can still be helpful. If I'm stalled at a 5 or 6 for hours I might consent to an epidural to rest (my first labor, that ended in a c-section, was 26 hours. the epidural allowed me to rest and did seem to help me get some progress, even if not all the way). But If I'm progressing quickly, I'll deal with it, knowing it will be over soon, and I should have plenty of energy for the pushing stage. - second labor was only 10 hours - much more doable.

all that said - I can very much understand why some, if not most mothers could totally do without cervical checks. Just wanted to chime in with the idea that they *can* be helpful in certain situations.

[writermama12]

Thanks akind1. Because my baby has been more or less flipping around late in pregnancy, induction has been on the table for a while and so what you said applies to me. I thought I was in the clear since he's been head down for about a week, but I think he's also been slipping into oblique and might even be in a weird transverse position this morning. I can't tell exactly but something feels odd in there and there's nothing bony or firm at the top of my uterus so that makes finding his little body very difficult. 

[maydaymom10]

akind1 - good point on establishing a Bishop score and needing to know when facing induction. I've told myself that I might consent to a prenatal exam at 40 weeks if I haven't delivered just to see where I am at that moment. Of course I have an appointment today, and with all of these births happening (on here & also some other DDCs I follow) I am curious. Combine that with this LO constantly moving down & grinding against my cervix and the cramping I've had over the past few days, it's hard not to want to know if anything is going on. I'm going to try to be strong!

[nearlyelated]

My midwife offered with my last pregnancy, starting at about 38 weeks combined with the option of sweeping the membranes.  My cervix tends to hide during pregnancy though, so I'll likely forgo that this time around.  I had a colposcopy at 26 weeks and the OB could barely find my cervix with all her fancy tools (not a fun experience!).  I may opt for the sweep again if I go past my EDD, since I think it helped start labour last time (but only on the 3rd try at 41+ weeks).

I think I'll refuse checks while I'm in labour this time too, unless there's a good reason for it.  Last time I made it to 7 cm without a problem (and without knowing) and seemed to stall as soon as people started checking around down there.