is "checking the cervix" necessary?

[neveryoumindthere]

i have an appt with my OB tomorrow and he wants to 'check my cervix'...what is the idea behind this...

i'm due in about 3 weeks...what info could u get from this 'examination' that helps/hinders?

like i mean who cares if he sees i'm 4 cm dilated for example..what's that supposed to mean...do they try to estimate when u'll go into active labour based on something like that?

as u can see i'm CLUELESS...

[dotcommama]

I don't think it's necessary at all. It really can't tell you anything about when you will go into labor. There are women who walk around for weeks 100% effaced and 3-4 cm dilated and then there are women who go into labor the same day they were examined and told they are not thinned out or dilated.

I do think it makes you feel better to hear your dilating a little or effaced - it just nice to know you're getting closer to actually giving birth. But other than that I don't think there is a real benefit from getting an interal exam and they definately can't tell you whether or not you'll go into labor soon by checking (this doesn't mean that they won't make a guess based on what they notice during the internal - but truely it's just a guess).

Just my .02 :)

[lilyka]

Out side of where you are right then there is noithing you can tell. If they are worried about preterm labor then checking is good to establish if that is a concern. Also if you are jhaving a truck load of contraction it sometimes is comforting to know that they are doing somehting. Even if it isn't much. There is no reason to check you unless you want to know what is going on down there. There is no useful information outside of preterm labor that your Dr. can get from it.

[neveryoumindthere]

thanks! preterm labour *was* a concern at 29 weeks..i ended up in the hospital on bedrest for over 4 weeks..still i'm on bedrest but at home..but i dont think at this far in the pregnancy that preterm labour is a concern but it would be nice to know these painful contractions i've been having the past couple days are doing something...

as long as there's no harm in doing them...any risks? or should i go for it since i'm interestd in finding out

[frogertgrl]

To answer your question whether checking the cervix is necessary:

Nope.

People are always amazed that I never had my cervix checked in pregnancy or labor and here my son is, 15.5 months now! Who knows if I got to 10 cm before pushing? Who cares?

There are risks associated with any vaginal exam. Yes, even with gloves. Introducing anything foreign into the vaginal area carries risk.

[2much2luv]

There are slight risks. Infection for one. I've heard that the water bag can be prodded and break early because of internal exams. Generally I just don't think it s a good idea to be sticking anything up there unless you need to. Unless you are so curious you just can't stand it I would avoid the exam.

[YiddisheMama]

b'h

same story as frogertgrl. no internals, dd is 6 months. and i wonder if i was 10 cm when she was born because with dd1 (2.5 yrs) the dr drove me nuts - don't push, you're not 10cm yet! and with dd2, i may have been, i may not have been.

it's not necessary at all.

[Viola]

I am going to turn down the cervical checks. I didn't the first time because I didn't really know anything about it. Both times she checked me, she did something really painful to me to "help get things going." I assume that was stripping the membranes, and maybe it isn't supposed to hurt, but it sure as heck did. So I want to avoid all of that even though this is a different doctor.

I know a several moms who turn them down simply because they find it discouraging to be told they are 4 cm dialated, then not go into labor for a couple of weeks.

[fourlittlebirds]

Not necessary! And it can introduce infection. And like with Amywillo, some doctors and midwives will decide to do something to "help you along", which carries further risk. Any intervention carries risk. I'd just say "no thanks!"

[Tigerchild]

It's definitely not necessary in most cases!

I've chose to ask my doctor to check every week, though, because of the position of the boys I'm at a substatially increased risk for cord prolapse if my water were to break early, and because not knowing makes me totally obsess between appointments.

However, my OB would *never EVER* do anything to 'help things along' without my permission, and she is very gentle. We're on a first name basis, I've known her for 3+ years, we share almost identical thoughts regarding pregnancy care, childbirth, baby care, ect...so I know I can trust her implicitly. I know most women don't have that kind of relationship with their doctors. :(

I don't allow other doctors in the practice to give me internals, just her. And I think if I hadn't already been through hell and back in this pregnancy, I would probably do what I did last time...no internals until I requested one at 40 weeks, and then at 42.

So...it's really up to you. If you're not in a situation where you need or want it done, then I can definitely understand why you'd want to say "no thanks!"

[Kirsten]

The only reason I agreed to a vaginal exam at 36 weeks with pregnancy #1 was that the nurse midwives were not allowed to deliver in the hospital without a doctor present unless they did a vag check at 36 weeks to make sure that the baby was head down. So I agreed to it. Just a quick check and I told her I didn't want to know if I was dilated/effaced/what station as it didn't mean anything. As others have said, you can walk around for three weeks dilated to a 3 or you can have no dilation/effacement/baby still floating and deliver that night. It really just doesn't mean anything so why get all excited or sad by what seems to be good or bad news?

With pregnancy #2, no vag exams until I was feeling like pushing and even then, my midwife asked if I wanted her to check or not.

With this pregnancy (#3) I just had a vaginal exam at 39 weeks to be sure baby was head down. From abdomen palps, the midwife was worried that baby may have reverted to transverse and we are having a homebirth so really want a head down baby! They gave me the choice between an ultrasound (at the hospital) or a vag exam. I chose the exam. Baby is head down! :) Oh happy day!

Unless declining it would cause you to do something or not be able to do something that you wanted to do, I would not do it. If there is a reason (other than "policy") that makes sense to you, and if the doctor is VERY clear that he/she is NOT to strip your membranes, then it would probably be ok. But the chance of introducing infection is always there....
Kirsten

[Doodlebugsmom]

I had the same experience as Frogertgrl and Chani. My midwife told me early on that she doesn't check the cervix at all. When I got to the birth center, I didn't even need checked because dd's head was already "right there!"

[KFH]

It is known to increase the liklihood of premature rupture of membranes (water breaking before labor starts). The downside to that, especially if you're delivering with an OB in a hospital, is that they put you "on the clock" which can lead to a whole dominoe-effect of interventions.

I'd avoid it, it doesn't really tell you anything constructive.

[compleatmomof4]

Originally posted by Kirsten
The only reason I agreed to a vaginal exam at 36 weeks with pregnancy #1 was that the nurse midwives were not allowed to deliver in the hospital without a doctor present unless they did a vag check at 36 weeks to make sure that the baby was head down.

With this pregnancy (#3) I just had a vaginal exam at 39 weeks to be sure baby was head down. From abdomen palps, the midwife was worried that baby may have reverted to transverse and we are having a homebirth so really want a head down baby!

My midwives have always been able to tell if the baby is vertex by palpitating my abdomen alone. I have never heard of having to examine a woman internally to determine this.

I have never had a vaginal exam prior to birth and i am due in a week with my fourth.

[neveryoumindthere]

but that's only cuz my appt was cut short because there was a lady who went into labour...

now i have another appt on thurs...i might be getting induced end of this week/beginning of next...

[frogertgrl]

saffiyya, no offense, k, but if I were you, I'd get educated real quick about what you could be in for at the hospital, post induction (please do not get induced for a non-evidenced based outcome reason!). If you are admittedly 'CLUELESS' about labor and birthing, then only you can do the work between now and your baby's birth to get clear on the systems of obstetrics and hospital and understand why they CYA financially and legally and how you are at risk.

I don't say this to scare you, but I'm worried about your upcoming birth. If a home, assisted waterbirth was your dream, and you can't do that, I'm worried that the hospital may be on the other end of the birthing spectrum and turn out to be something to heal from, not a positive, life-affirming, baby-affirming experience.

If you do not have a birth plan for your hospital birth, then I would make one ASAP. In this case, the failure to plan could be a plan to fail...meaning that you will be at the mercy of the system and not know what your options are until it is too late.

Please, for your sake and baby's sake, check out the Ask the Experts at least here at MDC and their websites. Also maybe Search here for some keywords like Induction, Failure to Progress, Pitocin...that sort of thing.

I'll be thinking of you for sure.

[neveryoumindthere]

my hospital is pretty good/have no problem with natural drug-free etc births and so is my dr...

the reason he's looking into inducing (and he admittedly does not like to do it because he likes for 'nature' to take it's course) is because the baby is IUGR (intrauterine growth restricted)...my placenta is not giving the nutrients this baby needs and i have *very* low amniotic fluid (3cm)...i've been on bedrest for the past 2 months

my dr. is really great and i definitely have been researching and i trust him but still I read and then question everything and then decide what's best for me and the baby...

at this rate, the fear is cord constriction and heart decelerations during labour...i have a birth plan and the staff and dr know me pretty well by now and know what i want and dont want...

but right now we're going day by day and trying to decide what's best for the baby...

thank u for looking out for me..i'm definitely open to ideas.

[youngnhappymamma]

(edited cuz I left and came back and posted not realizing other posts had been made and they had said basically what I was goign to say!)