And HOW do I check my cervix???

[AmamaAgain]

Okay...

Is there anyone that knows? I know I'm probably not dilating. I wasn't on Tuesday (even despite the cramps and everything else). But I'm really wondering if I could check myself. Is it a bad idea? If not, what do I need to feel for?

Everytime I check, it feels...hmmm....i dunno...not like it did prepregnancy...but I don't know how to explain. The doctor said on tuesday that my cervix was long and closed.

And if you do know...laymen's terms would be great...im just a silly music teacher from New York...no medical experience.


I'll check back in awhile...I'm off to reorganize my Kitchen cabinets!

[Amber Lion]

Well... I would have said I'm a pro cervix checker since I checked mine daily for over 4 years before getting pg... but I tried last night and I couldn't figure out what anything was in there!!!! So I'm not sure that I'll be any help! I mean, if you're supposedly long and closed then you should insert a clean finger, possibly bear down a bit, and try and find the end of a long cylindrical shaped object. Usually for me it was always right there and unmistakable. Now there's a baby's head and tons of mushiness!

[janasmama]

If its still long and closed then you won't really feel anything except something like the tip of your nose.


Checking your cervix only tells you whats happening as of right now though so once again, it's not a good indication but I know about the curiosity.

When you put your fingers up there you are suppose to use two fingers. Squatting or sitting back with your knees pulled up are the best positions to check IMO. make sure you clip your nails and clean your hands well.

When you do start dilating/effacing, your cervix will become softer and you will be able to put at least a fingertip into a little hole. Sometimes the opening of the cervix is more towards the back and has to 'roll' down so even if you can feel the cervix, you may not be able to feel the opening.

As you become more dilated and completely effaced, the cervix will have more of a rubber band feel to it rather than mushiness.

HTH.

[AugustineM]

I have been so curious, and did check my cervix pre-pregnancy while charting, and could feel it then (although it was *really* difficult). Midwives have told me that it is quite far back. Anyway, I tried to check a couple times recently because I'm so curious, and am pretty sure I'm dialated a bit at least. But I can't tell what I'm feeling except for lots of mushiness and a hard baby's head!

[Amber Lion]

So Carrie - it starts to feel more like a rubberband... not mushiness at all? "Rubberband" is escaping me right now, I can't imagine it. Somehow I always assumed there'd be some mushiness with effacement.

Guess I just can't find mine then! I started to get a little crampy just from the little poking around I did, so I hesitate to *really* look for it.. but now I'm curious!

[janasmama]

Yes, once the cervix is effaced and there is only dilation left to happen it feels more like a rubberband feeling (stretchy, kind of tighter and thin) This is why sometimes you'll hear midwives or CP's say they can stretch someone from a 3 to a 4 or something similar.

ETA: FWIW...I checked myself a couple of days ago and I can feel the baby's head but only through a fingertip...I'm still mushy. This means I'm not completely effaced (maybe 80-90%) and probably only 1cm maybe two but I only checked with one finger because it's too uncomfortable for me to use two fingers. My EDD is today but I never really dilate until labor begins.

[Alison]

I think maybe my arms are too short to reach around my belly to check my cervix . I confess, I haven't actually tried or anything.

[~Stephanie~]

I've tried and tried, but I can't discern anything. I want to put the EPO in the right place, but I can't feel anything like what you guys are describing. I'm wondering if my fingers are just too short or something.

[leurMaman]

I like the squatting advice. I tried the last two pregnancies and never felt anything discernable. My husband tried once and said 2cm dialated - the next day the mw said the same thing - so he gets it! This pregnancy I've tried and just feel very mushy tissue at the back - some of it is even a little granular feeling. There is a place where my finger sort of pushes in more than the rest, which is, I'm guessing, the cervix opening? I can tell I'm in the general area because it feel different from the rest of the birth canal, but I can't seem to tell much about dialation. If I lie down and try then I can hardly even reach it - too far back. Also, my uterus is tipped back (posterior) and really hard to get to anyway. Thanks for the suggestions, I think I'm right there with all of you in not really being great at telling. After I check, though, I feel crampy.

[janasmama]

I think the granular feeling might be the baby's head that you are feeling if you are feeling it through the cervix opening.

Last time I checked I got some globby mucous and then later I got more globby mucous on the toilet paper. Early this morning I dreamed I lost my plug...it was vivid and that's the only the thing the dream was about.

[TaraRae82]

Originally Posted by ~Stephanie~

I've tried and tried, but I can't discern anything. I want to put the EPO in the right place, but I can't feel anything like what you guys are describing. I'm wondering if my fingers are just too short or something.

EPO doesn't need to be put in any special spot, just in the vagina. The oils will get where they need to be, just like semen. You can't really do it incorrectly! GL & HTH!