Performing cervical checks on yourself

[birthjunkie27]

This is a spinoff from my thread, Cramping. Thought we'd get more responses here. So, how does one check their own cervix?

[onlyboys]

I put my leg up on the toilet after a shower and reach waaaaayyy back into my vagina to feel my cervix. Your cervix at this point is most likely very posterior, so you'd be feeling the front of your cervix, pointing back. In order to feel the os (opening) you'd need to reach under and back toward your spine.

Hope that helps!

[Spark]

That's how I do it, too, Amanda. Although sometimes I find the much higher bathroom counter is better for me to throw my leg up on.

REALLY BIG thing though - make sure that you've washed your hands with warm water and soap for a good amount of time, that your nails are short, and to not do anything that hurts.

Now is a really good time to start checking, because as you get further along, it becomes a little more challenging to find the signposts. Plus, you'll be able to notice changes.

One neat thing, when my baby is low, I can feel its head behind my vaginal wall. :thumb Totally cool in my book! :D

[kir]

OK. I have a question about cervical checks.

When I was using FAM for birth control, I did daily cervical checks, because this was a fertility sign that I was trying to learn. [By the way, I always did it in the morning, after a shower at the gym, squatting down, when I was sure my hands were really clean. You're right, Spark, about the reminder to keep it clean!]

So I was thinking of resuming doing checks once every few days or so, just because I know people who suddenly found out they were dilated and were all shocked because they had no idea. Plus, my dad said that at the multiples clinic where he works the protocol is to do a cervical check -- with the same doc/midwife each time -- every week from like week 24, so that any changes at all can be noted and appropriate measures can be taken before the mom goes into pre-term labor. I like this approach b/c it's a preventive approach, you know?

So I asked my doctor about doing this, and she said, "I don't do internal checks, regularly." But then I insisted, telling her that I'm feeling all kinds of pangs and sensations, and that I have NO idea what a dilating cervix would feel like....So she checked (and I felt like a weirdo because I had to insist on her checking), and of course everything is fine and closed and posterior. But then she said she doesn't like to mess around in there too much, because that can trigger things happening.

So what do people think? I just cannot see how touching the cervix is going to cause it to dilate, or to trigger pre-term labor. But I've heard this from others, too. At the same time, I have periods of time almost every day where I'm laying there thinking -- what's going on in there? Is that a baby kicking or turning? Is that a contraction? Is that the feeling of my cervix dilating? I HATE not knowing what is going on in my own body, and while to some extent that's just something that comes with the pregnancy territory, if there's a way to be more aware, I'd really like that.

Kiran

[spiralmg]

Love this thread! I've been thinking of doing my own cervical checks lately too. But don't want anyone else to do it for fear of triggering early labor. This didn't make complete sense to me. So I kept thinking about this dilemma...and ...

So, I don't know if this is medically correct or not, but I've come to the conclusion that doing it myself (with properly clean hands, of course) would probably be "safe" and non-triggering - because the hands are my own.

In my mind, having someone else do it, probably with a speculum and all that, might be what sets off those old "yikes, predator approaching, panic!" responses in the body.

My two-cents.

[henhao]

A cervical check doesn't tell you anything besides where you are right now. It's not a way to predict when you'll go into labor. I know people who walked around for weeks at 3-4 cm. I had preterm labor and wasn't dilated one bit, so knowing where you are isn't going to tell you if you'll have preterm labor.

When I went to the birth center, I was 1 cm. They sent me home. They said based on the 1 cm that it would be a really long time before I had the baby.

Well, I ended up having the baby in my front hallway 3 hours later.

So, dilation doesn't tell much. I wouldn't mess around in there and risk infection or anything else.


So I asked my doctor about doing this, and she said, "I don't do internal checks, regularly." But then I insisted, telling her that I'm feeling all kinds of pangs and sensations, and that I have NO idea what a dilating cervix would feel like....So she checked (and I felt like a weirdo because I had to insist on her checking), and of course everything is fine and closed and posterior. But then she said she doesn't like to mess around in there too much, because that can trigger things happening.
Kiran

[henhao]

To me, hands messing around in there are hands messing around in there. I had 2 vaginal exams ( I **didn't** want more) and no one ever used a speculum. They used their hands.

The only reason I even let them do the exam was once when I had preterm labor and she wanted to see if I'd dilated or not. The other time was when I was in labor and that info did no good anyway (see my previous post).

I think it's easy to get way too interested in information that may or may not indicate what will happen with the baby.


So, I don't know if this is medically correct or not, but I've come to the conclusion that doing it myself (with properly clean hands, of course) would probably be "safe" and non-triggering - because the hands are my own.

[Taedareth]

If fingertips touching the cervix is a problem, then why isn't sex a problem?

[judybean]

If fingertips touching the cervix is a problem, then why isn't sex a problem?

I'm curious as well.

[atozmama]

At my apt Friday, I had my first ever routine check for cervical dialation, for preterm labor. Totally unexpected and now that I think about it, there is a small chance that unexpected dialation, preterm labor, could be caught, I feel it is just as likely something to happen suddenly triggered by an infection or something. I wish I had declined it. Oh well, it was closed and one less thing in thier book to trigger extra interventions.

when my son was born at 21 weeks I had the discussion with my dr at the time about doing a cervical check before I left the hospital. I had been in overnight because of heavy bleeding, diagnosed then as a subchorionic hematoma. We decided on no check because that could aggrivate things, though I was not totally comfortable with this. Hind sight being 20/20 I wish I had insisted in one. That was about 4 hours before he was born, there would have been changes by then. It could have prevented a traumatic unexpected birth at home. I feel that if there is a condition making preterm birth likely than a check could aggrivate things. After all all the checks women have at the end of pregnancy would make more women go into labor too.

As far as sex goes, I don't think a penis is as invasive as a hand. After all the hand goes all the way around the cervix and directly feels it. At least I assume so, I have never been able to reach mine. I'll have to try the leg on the counter thing and see if that helps> :wink At least for me, I don't feel my cervix is normally hit in sex, only in a few positions does it come close. and then the semen probably has some what of an protective property to it, to prevent frequent infections. Also a hand touchs a lot more things and contacts a lot more germs during the day than the penis does. :LOL

[xkoliex]

My doctor doesn't start doing internal exams until the 36th week, and I'm a little concerned of what I could possibly do to myself if I tried a cervical check on my own. I'm very clumsy :nut

Does this strike anyone as odd, that she would wait so long to start checking?

[littleteapot]

It's only a problem during labour, particularly after your water has broken. See, strangers and doctors hands have a LOT more bacteria and stuff you're not immune to then your own hands, or the hands of your partner. My MW with my DD encouraged my hub to learn cervical checks so he could do them instead of her (I had a LOT of trouble reaching at the end)! But he was not too into that.

I've done two or three checks this pregnancy, just for curiosity's sake. Turns out I'm about a fingertip-1cm dilated and about 50% effaced and have been since around 20 weeks. ;) Turns out that's also normal. Kind of surprised me since I'd been under the impression your cervix stays tight and long until you're "close".

[Spark]

I don't think a penis is as invasive as a hand.

Excuse me, I'm up with insomnia, but I just had to pull that quotation! I think that statement really depends on how two sexual partner's anatomy lines up. That's... all I'll say about that!

Your own hand is much different than someone else's hand. For one thing, you know how to be gentle to yourself. If you've done cervical checks for FAM, you know what I'm talking about. Me, at home, with clean hands is MUCH better than an exam table, speculum, strange hands. I'm much more gentle. Besides, it's my body. i know it better than someone else.

I think another issue at hand is what information you gain from doing cervical checks. I believe any time your touch your body, esp near your baby, whether it's a tummy rub or checking your cervix, it's important to do so peacefully. I wouldn't want to run checking my cervix every day out of fear but rather wonder and amazement of my body growing such a precious gift. After all, feeling your cervix is probably the closest you're going to come to your baby's head until it's born. It's really special. And, it's special to be able to understand your internal changes that are preparing you to welcome your baby into the world.

With no history or high risk for preterm labor, I don't give much credit to early dilation. After your second vaginally delivered baby, you're usually open 1-2 cm anyway. (I am and most others are, too)

With history or high risk for preterm labor, I think it would be much more comforting to rely on your own information instantly than to wait for an appt to give you info. The waiting on pins and needles part does not sound fun! And, I know you'd be much more gentle than a care provider, but I would make sure not to check too often as well.

atozmama - I'm so sorry that you had such a traumatic loss at home. :hug Sending you peace and love.

xkoliex - I wouldn't want any cervical checks from my provider, esp not starting at 36 weeks unless there was some reason for it that I can't think of or unless I was concerned about what I felt doing my own and couldn't adequately describe it. It's your body. Clumsy tripping over a rug, sure, but feeling your own body? Nah. If you've used a Q-tip to clean out your ear canal in the last month, you can trust yourself to feel other parts of your body, too. Unless, of course, you're hearing impaired now do to a perforated ear drum from said Q-tip! Then, maybe checking your cervix isn't a good idea! :LOL

[witchbaby]

i tried to check after my shower, but i couldn't find my cervix! sneaky cervix! :LOL

[kir]

Another point - If you are not already familiar with how your cervix feels when it is "closed" vs. when it is "open" or dilated -- or what it feels like in terms of length -- then it might be difficult to interpret whatever information you can gather this late in the game.

Kiran

[birthjunkie27]

Allrighty, I tried last night after a good hand scrubbing, to feel for my cervix, but I have NO clue what I'm looking for.....what does it feel like? Maybe my fingers aren't long enough?

[Taedareth]

Allrighty, I tried last night after a good hand scrubbing, to feel for my cervix, but I have NO clue what I'm looking for.....what does it feel like? Maybe my fingers aren't long enough?

I can see why you're having difficulties - I recently tried to check my cervix, only to discover that at 7+ months pregnant the walls of my vagina are compressed under the weight of the baby! :p Pre-pregnancy, cervical checks were easy to do: I would put one knee up on the bed or toilet, empty my lungs and suck in my abdomen (opens vaginal canal) and easily reach my cervix which felt soft and donut-shaped at the highest point in my vagina. But now... haha I can't seem to reach it very well. Maybe DH would have better luck?

[littleteapot]

For me, I would always reach PAST my cervix. I know that sounds silly because you expect it to be just at the very top, but mine isn't. :) I'd always be reaching around next to it and miss it completely.

Reach in and feel your vaginal walls, get an idea of the texture and give. Then reach upward and around the edges once you feel a "top" and what you're feeling for is a sort of long, pokey bit sticking out that has a dent in the top. If you've given birth before it'll feel kind of like a soft smile shape dent, and if you haven't it may be a little circle (probably closed, and probably hard like the tip of your nose. But it may be soft like your lip). It's a little mushy, and if you push too hard you feel a kind of "jolt" through your body.

[henhao]

Nope, I don't think it's odd. My midwives didn't check on a reg basis, because they know there's not a pt to it. One asked if I wanted it and I declined. I think docs do it to show who's in charge.

My doctor doesn't start doing internal exams until the 36th week, and I'm a little concerned of what I could possibly do to myself if I tried a cervical check on my own. I'm very clumsy :nut

Does this strike anyone as odd, that she would wait so long to start checking?

[cariadanam]

Does anyone have a printable dilation chart or a link to one? I sold my books with the vasectomy and no longer have the chart.

And yes I know I could hand make one ;)

[littleteapot]

For a rough guide, use each finger as 1cm. For two fingers, that's 2cm, four is 4cm, etc...

[Spark]

Does anyone have a printable dilation chart or a link to one? I sold my books with the vasectomy and no longer have the chart.

And yes I know I could hand make one ;)

Julie, I went to look for one for you on Google Images and kept coming up with aborted fetuses... I couldn't keep looking! Ugh. Grotesque images.

[cariadanam]

I looked around online and couldn't find one to print, all needed to be purchased.

I *think* they don't follow exact to fingers, if I remember right. In the smaller cm's it didn't seem to matter, but since I dilate a lot before birth I'd like it more accurate. I was 5 cm before I went into labor last time, with a 2 1/2 hour labor. Who knows this baby may just decide its time and fall right out :wink

[Spark]

Still no Dilation chart, but I did find these links...

How to Check your Own Cervix: How To:
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/birth.html#Self-Checking

Cervical Effacement illustration: http://babies.sutterhealth.org/health/healthinfo/index.cfm?section=healthinfo&page=article&sgml_id=zm2271-sec

[Spark]

Got One!
http://childbirths.com/euniversity/images/Dilatation%20chart.jpg

[cariadanam]

Got One!
http://childbirths.com/euniversity/images/Dilatation%20chart.jpg

Awesome Claire, thanks very much!

[spiralmg]

Another idea: my birth instructor last time, who is also a doula and lay midwife, had these really cool "cervixes in a box". She passed them around in class so everyone could actually FEEL what a cervix feels like in every stage of dilation. The boxes had an opening for your hand that was covered by a cloth, so you were forced to go by touch, not visuals. I think the cervixes were made of latex or something? So, I realize this is probably a rare thing to come across, but just in case someone knows a good midwife, med student, or ??? who would be willing to share - they do exist.

[xmasbaby7]

This has been a thought provoking thread. My MWs say leave it alone and wouldn't check my cervix unless there was a specific reason.

I agree that a person could examine herself with clean hands and be fine, but I think routine cervical checks by a medical provider increase your chance of infection, which is what can lead to preterm labor, as we know. I doubt that the exam itself could trigger pre-t labor.

As for the hand vs. penis thing, a fun thing to consider for an insomniac... I am in the school of thought that there is nothing unnatural or dangerous about any sexual activity in pregnancy unless it hurts.

[MrsMoe]

Popping in from the November forum... (I have insomnia) because I too have been trying to check my cervix lately, but I can't even reach mine as of yet - though normally I can outside of pregnancy.

Also wanted to add, I notice the women here all have very different cervix's from mine. Mine is shaped like a firm ice cream cone with a very very tiny hole at the top and is about an inch long with a small piece missing out of the tip on one side. If my cervix were flat or like a donut or round with a smile, for me that would mean my cervix is preparing for labor because it would be shortening. My cervix is naturally closed very tight as well, my prior L&D didn't cause any perm dialation.

Somebody explained to me that as a woman approaches her labor - her cervix will come closer and is more easy to reach. It will also shorten and become soft. Typically, if labor is nowhere in sight, the cervix is quite hard to reach due to the position of the baby.

[Spark]

MrsMoe, you should jumped onto the Insomnia Congo Party we have going on here! Mmmm, insomnia in the 3rd trimester. Nothin' like it! :LOL

Yes, it's true that most cervixes are posterior (pointed towards your back) until labor gets closer then they move to an anterior position (pointed perfectly downward as you reach in). From this point on they will continue to feel more and more squishy.

Pictures of cervixes. As you can see we all vary in size and shape quite a bit.
http://www.sisterzeus.com/graphics/cervix4.gif (Os or cervical opening probably the same size/shape of first or second time vaginal birth mothers)
http://www.sisterzeus.com/graphics/cervix2.gif (Os probably the same size/shape as many second or third or more vaginal birth mothers) Vaginal secretions are seen in this photo.

Illustration of reaching your cervix:
http://www.femcap.com/Find%20your%20cervix%20Jpg%5B1%5D.jpg

[birthjunkie27]

Thanks for those links Claire! That made all the difference. Next time I check I'll know what I'm looking for.