[OnTheBrink]

I have read of people checking their own cervix for dilation. How do you do that?<br><br>
I am only 27 weeks, so I don't think I need to do this today, but I just would feel comfortable knowing. It will take my midwife about 2 hours to get to our house for the birth. I might like to know what's going on before that.<br><br>
I honestly don't even know exactly where my cervix is! I was going to figure it out when I started the Taking Charge of Your Fertility thing, but we got pregnant before I got to that section!<br><br>
So - any tips? If there are websites with illustrations or something, that would be especially helpful.<br><br>
Thanks!

 

[newlife]

It is in the back of your vagina. There is a little hole in it of course and it can't be mistakes b/c it kind of sticks out. I am guessing that if you wanted to check to see how dialated you were ,you would just put you hand up there and feel the hole. I think. But just do a search on cervix ,and you shoulf be able to get more info.

 

[mehndi mama]

Wash your hands, then stick 2 fingers in <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"><br>
Your cervix will probably feel fairly firm, nicely roundish if this is your first pregnancy, and the os will feel like a smaller-than-fingertip sized dimple right smack in the middle.<br><br>
*My* cervix, on the other hand, feels like a volcano with a very uneven crater :LOL The more babies that go through, the funnier shaped it gets!

 

[True Blue]

Hi! Go here to Fertility Friend <a href="http://www.fertilityfriend.com/HelpCenter/FFBook/ff_fertility_signs.html#45" target="_blank">http://www.fertilityfriend.com/HelpC..._signs.html#45</a> to the section on checking your cervical position. This describes how in relation to checking cervical position for conception. Once you find your cervix, you can feel how it feels....soft, firm, etc. As it gets softer and sticks out less, you are ripening and effacing. As it opens, you are dilating. Each centimeter of dilation is approximately one finger's width. It may be kinda hard to find your cervix when you are very pregnant, but keep trying and you should be able to locate it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> Before you are close to having the baby, it might be really high up in your vagina and really difficult for you to feel especially considering you have to get around your belly as well. Squatting or sitting leaning forward on the toilet help.

 

[Lucysmama]

I can't reach mine. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> I have never been able to check. According to my last midwife, my cervix "is up in my throat." She would have to go get her assistant who had longer fingers to check me, even in stirrups!!!!<br><br>
Just wanted to prepare you for not being able to reach it. Some people can't. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[plantmommy]

I couldn't reach mine in my last pregnancy, but this time I can. So far! We'll see, as the belly gets even bigger.

 

[jecaly]

hey, so:<br><br>
this thread reminded me, oh yeah! cervix! so i went looking for mine in the shower just now. i'm pretty darn familiar with it, both from <i>taking charge of your fertility</i> and just from checking on it for the heck of it.<br><br>
but now, i'm 19 weeks pregnant and it took some searching! it is way, way far up there now; i could barely reach it. that's in keeping with what i understand about how it's supposed to be these days, but once i did reach it, it was much softer than it ever is in my normal life, and the os was more open, too; i'd go so far as to say i'm 1/2 cm dilated. you guys who've btdt: is this normal? i was under the impression that it would be like Gates of Steel until the little one was getting ready to be born.<br><br>
thanks for any wisdom...<br><br>
*j

 

[lena_girl]

From what I have read you cannot accurately judge how dialated you are from checking yourself b/c of downward preassure ect. For example when I checked myself earlier this week I would have guessed I was at least 3, but the OB said just 2.<br><br>
Also, the outside end of your cervix can start to open a little earlier in pregnancy, but the rest remain shut tight. That is fairly normal from what I have read/heard. It doesn't mean that you are dialated. Only if you are dialated all the way thru the entire cerivx are you really dialated at all.<br><br>
Also you might want to consider that you can really not compare what a closed cervix feels like in pregnancy to what a closed one feels like out of pregnancy

 

[jecaly]

hm, true. thanks, lena!<br><br>
i guess i'll refrain from freaking out, then, especially in the absence of anything like contractions, heh.<br><br>
sigh, i love this board.<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"><br><br>
*j

 

[mattjule]

I have been checking mine and I asked my mw to explain it to me. Mine is probably three finger widths open, but she said that I was not even 1 cm dilated-the top where I couldn't reach was closed tight. She said lots of mamas (especially those that have had babies before) will have cervixes that "flower" open wide at the bottom but stay shut at the top next to your uterus. It was a very enlightening, though somewhat disappointing, conversation.

 

[Lucysmama]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>mattjule</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">It was a very enlightening, though somewhat disappointing, conversation.</div>
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:LOL <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"> Hang in there! You'll be holding Rowan before you know it!

 

[sweet tea]

when I get home tonight....I'm gonna try for it <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/kewl.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="kewl">

 

[mealymama]

I can't reach mine, either.<br>
Now how about mattjule, having her baby the DAY after that post? So much for disappointment!