Did you have your cervix checked?

[~Megan~]

I'm debating whether or not to do this next week at my appt.

I know it doesn't really mean anything necessarily as I could be dilated for a long time. Mostly I'm just curious. Since I'm not "trained" I'm not really sure what I'm feeling.

I think my cervix is toward the front (sort of pointing straight out my vagina) and it feels quite soft and squishy. I can get the tip of my finger in but haven't really pushed because I have nails.

[Jaimep]

I got checked at my appt. today and I am 1 cm dialated inside, but 3 cm outside. My cervix is kind of funnel shaped. She didn't say anything about the effacment. So I am really not doing anything extrodinary. However, every since my appointment I have been having Braxton Hicks like crazy and my lower back hurts, so maybe she stirred something up in there.

[heldt123]

Like you said, it doesn't make a huge difference because people vary so much on when they dialate. I was only checked once at 37 weeks and was 1cm, 80%. Delivered the next week, but some people can stay dialated for weeks.

[QueenMommy]

I've been checked and wished I hadn't been. When I got checked (3 weeks ago) I was 3 cm and dr didn't think I'd make it to my "due date." Well, that day's tomorrow and I'm still here! lol! I think I would rather have not known anything, then I really wouldn't care as much.

[carrietorgc]

i got checked yesterday at 39 wks - was 80% effaced, very soft, and 2 cm.

i know it means nothing, but i'm a bit further along than i was when I was at my 41 wk appt with dd, and 2 days later I went into labor with her (helped along with castor oil).

i'm probably setting myself up for disappointment, but i am really hoping i go into labor this weekend, or at least somewhat near my due date of the 14th....

[onlyboys]

The only reason I would consider it, if I couldn't check myself, is to have a "baseline" idea of where labor started for me. Just out of curiousity. I mean, did I have 10 cms to go or 6? It's all a mental thing, though.

I hear you Queenmommy, I walked around 6 weeks at 4cms with my last. I didn't want an early baby, but I never knew I had the cervix of steel!

Sorry to butt in!

[chiro_kristin]

I'm not getting checked nor am I checking myself (not even sure if I could maneuver that way actually), as to the unreliability of it, especially this being my first, I figure I don't need to stick anything up there except dh , and the biggest reason is it would probably just feed my obsession with overanalyzing every little thing.

[ktmama]

"the biggest reason is it would probably just feed my obsession with overanalyzing every little thing"

:

I didn't do any checking in the final weeks or during labor and I found that it helped not to. I was sooooo disappointed during my first birth to be "only" 3cm after laboring for a really long time. I needed to stay WAY out of my head this time and let my body do its thing and I ended up with a three hour labor.

This time, the only thing I know for sure was that I was at 10 when the baby came out...... :LOL

[mom_in_training]

my normally very hands-off midwife wanted to check at my last appointment, not to see how far my cervix was, but to see how firmly the head was engaged in the pelvis.

[QueenMommy]

Just wanted to add, when I was checked three weeks ago and was 3 cm, I got dissapointed when, 3 days later I didn't go into labor like I did with my last! lol!

[Mama Coltrane]

My doc doesn't really believe in doing it. Of course, if I wanted it done, I'm sure he would do it. I think I am just going to keep away from it. It gets me either too excited about impending labor or disappointed that I am not further along.
_ Kerri

[*Lindsey*]

I was checked at my appointment nearly 2 weeks ago at 38 weeks. I was, to my surprise, 4cm & 70% effaced. I was quite excited and thought, like my doctor said, that I was going to have this baby "anyday now".

And I'm still here WAITING!

[TCC's Mom]

I am going to start them next week (my 38 week appt), but that is because I will need a pit drip due to pituitary surgery about ten years ago that limits my ability to produce sufficient oxytocin (for labor only, luckily enough I had enough to bf). The pit drip will be started when I am past 38.5 weeks (no idea why they chose that number) and have enough "favorable" signs of impending birth other than regular contrax (which my body can't do without help)...

If it wasn't for that I probably wouldn't have one (they offered one at the 37 week appt and we refused).

[AugustLia23]

I had my cervix checked to see where I was. At 40w2d, I was 2cm and soft, and baby's head had been firmly engaged for a couple of weeks. he was born the next night, but, like I said, I didn't go into labour all on my own, I had my membranes swept.

[TanyaMT]

I'm not having them done. My midwife doesn't seem to recommend them at all and that is just fine with me. Enough discomforts in pregnancy without that, and that way I won't obsess about that at least. Plenty of other things to obsess about as I near my due date (8/17).

[~Megan~]

Obsessing. That's probably a good point. I do tend to do that.

[mags]

It's nice to know, but technically it doesn't really mean anything. Some women can walk around dilated for quite some time before they actually go into labor. Some women will be tight and closed and then all of a sudden go into labor. Sometimes I think docs do this, just so there is something to, "do" at those last few appts... b/c even they admit that it's not a good indicator of determining when labor will hit. At least my ob's will ask first if we want an internal exam, I don't know if all docs do this.

[Mama Coltrane]

I am figuring out over time that my family practitioner doc is not the norm. He doesn't do US, cervical checks, induce just for dates, etc. He doesn't even ask me at the appts. if I want to get checked. I would have to bring it up. Makes me feel good. I know he is not a drug pusher or pushing cheerleader. I am the head of this show and he is following my cues. It is refreshing. He is actually less clinical than the midwives at my last birth. I guess title doesn't mean everything, eh?
- Kerri