For those of you having regular cervical checks now...

EricaOO

I'm 30 weeks and will start having cervical checks at 36 weeks.  I'm just curious of what to expect.  Are the cervical checks performed by a doctor or nurse?  Is it uncomfortable?  Is this just a look, do they use a speculum, feel around? Thanks!

chemily8

Mine are performed by doctor. Speculum, yes, feel around, yes. It is very uncomfortable. But quick.

cerafina205

My doc feels to determine if I am dilated. It's a little uncomfortable but nothing to worry about. I have brown spotting for a day after my exams.

Kattank12

Cervical checks are truly unnecessary and tell you nothing about when you'll actually deliver your baby. It puts you at risk for infection which is why with both pregnancies I opted out of them and the two I did have before being in labor were very uncomfortable to me.

Kitty1225

with my son, I had an optional one at 38 weeks and was told nothing was going on and my son was head down (told this all pg) at 39 weeks had another and was told again nothing at all is happening and he is head down; delivered him the next day and he was breech for a long time they say; internals tell you nothing.

Angel5218

I never needed one until around 38wks. Really they do nothing, they can say your at 2cm but you can stay at 2cm for weeks. I believe they are a waist unless you are showing signs of early labor and they need to see if you are dilating, but just to check at a regular apt is really not necessary. And my doc never used a speculum, that was only if they thought I was leaking fluid. The only one I truly needed my first time was at 42wks when I was admitted for my induction and that was just so they could tell where they needed to start off at (I was only a fingertip dilated and not effaced at all).
The one I had at 38wks was very painful, unsure why but the doc was not very nice about it at all. My doc this time said they are not necessary and said they probably wont do one unless they are concerned about something. Since I am probably having a rcs I probably wont need one at all.

EricaOO

thanks for the info.  declining the cervical checks may be something i will consider.  the risk of infection is scary! 

Angel5218

I did have a friend go in at like 36-37wks, get checked and it caused her water to break and she had to deliver. Now I am unsure if this would of happened if she didn't get the check but I know she was early and it was during her check her water broke.

EricaOO

Angel5218 said:

I did have a friend go in at like 36-37wks, get checked and it caused her water to break and she had to deliver. Now I am unsure if this would of happened if she didn't get the check but I know she was early and it was during her check her water broke.

oh.my.lord..

HFrizzle

No speculum are used during a cervical check. It's two fingers, it can be uncomfortable, but it's not horrible. They may use the other hand to gently pull the baby down from the top of your stomach to bring the cervix down to be able to feel it. It's normal to spot or bleed a little and to cramp afterwards, but honestly they mean nothing.

kdjudd

As everyone else said, the checks mean absolutely nothing in regards to progress. They can be incredibly uncomfortable depending on how swollen you are down there. Other than that though it isn't a big deal. The doctor just sticks two fingers in and measures your cervix. It's over pretty quickly. 

emmylou78

No speculum. It's just 2 gloved fingers and some lube. Lasts maybe a minute. It's done by a doctor and they are wearing gloves, so risk for infection is low. Lower risk than sexual intercourse I'd say.
I've had 3 checks due to continual contractions. So they were more necessary. I'd probably get them done anyway out of curiosity, if they offered.

roo1oo

Agree with PP, the risk of infection is the same as having sex. I also agree that they seem unnecessary, as I've been about the same every check I've had, but last week was happy to have one because I'd been having lots of BH and pelvic pressure and thought I'd be more dilated and was just the same as the week before. The first few I had when I was only effaced and not dilated did not hurt at all, just a bit uncomfortable. Once I started to dilate they did hurt, but only for a few seconds while the doctor checks. I've bled from some, lost my mucus plug from one. Last one I had on my due date (Monday) hurt but I did not bleed at all or feel any adverse affects the rest of the day. No speculum, just the doctors two fingers and a little push on my abdomen.

preggyamy

I don't think it's unnecessary.  If you start having contractions, it helps them know how quickly you need to get to the hospital - much more quickly if they know you have been walking around already dialated at a 4! 

Tigger & pooh

preggyamy said:

I don't think it's unnecessary.  If you start having contractions, it helps them know how quickly you need to get to the hospital - much more quickly if they know you have been walking around already dialated at a 4! 

I have to agree with this! I was 4cm dilated for a month and went overdue so it doesn't mean you will go into labor but when I went into labor it was fast, 3 hrs total.

bmqcmg

My OB didn't do them with DD until I was overdue. At 41 1/2 weeks he did an exam and an U/S to determine whether or not I needed a c-section or an induction. Turned out she was in the right position, was a good size, and she was just being stubborn and didn't want to come on her own so we did an induction.

brea311

Between 35 and 37 weeks they also check you for Staph B (I think that's what its called).  So the first time they check it is important to at least get that swab so you can get antibiotics if necessary before the baby is born.  Otherwise, I have never heard that these checks are harmful in anyway, but I agree largely unnecessary since they dont really mean much.  The most important thing is asking your doctor questions about L&D so you can be prepared when it is go time and to ensure baby has enough fluid, so that you dont have any other health issues, etc. 

mmm50

My doctor does one when you get your group B strep test at 35 or 36 weeks since she'll be down there anyways.  She's basically just confirming if the baby is head down.  After that she won't do them unless you ask until 41 weeks.  Since they don't mean anything about when labor will start/how long it will last, etc.  the negatives don't outweigh the benefits.