When do cervix checks start?

noe2013

Does the doc start doing these? Saw some ppl post that they are dialated already, when and why did your checks start?

ho11yday

Mine only does it if there is an indication (late) or if you ask, normally on or after 36 weeks

ThereBeDragons

They will check early if there's reason to believe that you might be dilated. There are two kinds of cervical checks- those that check for external dilation and those that check for internal funneling. 

I had a check for external dilation when I went in for cramping with my last pregnancy- but it didn't indicate a problem. But it didn't show that I'd funneled down to nothing internally. I had an internal funneling check AND an external dilation check at 17w with this pregnancy because of my prior loss. I've since had several funneling checks but no dilation checks. Those have stopped though (not done past 24weeks by my MFM) and only dilation checks will be done from here forward- but only if symptoms indicate. Contractions being the big symptom.

chillypenguin

Last pregnancy I was checked early at 34 weeks because I was having a lot of BH contractions. I think otherwise they would have started around 36 weeks.

spacepotatoes

I will be confirming this at my appointment tomorrow but I believe they start around 36 weeks. I know they are doing the Group B Strep swab at 36 weeks so it would make sense to do a check while they're down there. I am planning to decline them, though, unless/until I reach my due date with no sign of labour.

ksyknelvr73

I was checked at 37 weeks with DS1 and I was at 1cm. They didn't check me again until I was at the hospital for delivery.

spacepotatoes

jkanter107 said:

Question for STM+ (and my apologies if this is dumb, or has been answered), if you are declining the cervical checks, why? And do you need to give your doctor a specific reason? Just curious because I've had all of the recommended testing/checks so far (and then some), but it sounds like for a pregnancy without complications these might (?) be avoidable prior to the EDD.

I'm not an STM but since I am planning to decline, thought I'd share my reasoning. Assuming everything is normal and you're not showing any signs of complications, the checks don't really tell you anything about when you will go into labour. Like Bliz said above, you can be dilated and still continue for weeks like that or your body will kick into gear and things will move really fast. The check won't tell you what's going to happen. So, I don't see the point in having an invasive, uncomfortable session with my doctor every week when it's not going to produce useful information. There is also always the possibility of introducing bacteria up there each time that wouldn't get there otherwise.

mmks

It really is whenever you choose. I didn't get checked until I was 41 weeks and then I was soooo disappointed at how I was not open at all!!

Tootistar22

My dr said that they'll start checking at my appt next week... I'll be 33 weeks then.

HARLEYSMOM2010

With both my pregnancies I had cervical checks at 37 weeks was dilated to a 2 and had the baby's before the next appointment

spinsoffresonance

I never had one when pregnant with DD. she was born at 38w via scheduled csection so there really was no reason to check.

jjones59

I never had any until I went into labor, I told my doctor that it wasn't going to change things so why bother going up there right now. Needless to say I went into labor 12 hours later.....

I'll still be doing the same thing this pregnancy. 

dakota01

I never had them until I was 38/39 weeks.  I see a CNM so that is a little bit different.  Although it tells you nothing so I would rather have less time with my pants off thank you very much!  Unless I get my membranes stripped at 39 weeks I will pry pass.

noe2013

Thanks so much, I'm 32 weeks so I have 1 more appt before the probing begins

Hallil

Neva!!!!! No, wait, I took one while in labor to make sure of was fully 10 cm and that was it Everything was fine through my pregnancy so there was no need or benefit to having anyone's hands up in my business. And I can't tell you the number of friends I've had come out of their 36 week appointment so excited because their doc informed them they were 2 or 3 cm and they figured they were having baby THE NEXT DAY! And then let me tell you how happy they were as the weeks went by and no baby.

ho11yday

I'm declining all cervical checks this pregnancy because they hurt like hell. Childbirth is less painful than cervical checks. Overly dramatic, yes.

hfooter

My places standard is at 40 weeks. So basically they wait till your due date. I may ask them to strip my membranes sooner but I haven't really looked into if that is something they would even consider doing before my due date.

MrsT2008

37 weeks at my OB (you can decline them though).

spacepotatoes

Hallil said:

Neva!!!!! No, wait, I took one while in labor to make sure of was fully 10 cm and that was it Everything was fine through my pregnancy so there was no need or benefit to having anyone's hands up in my business. And I can't tell you the number of friends I've had come out of their 36 week appointment so excited because their doc informed them they were 2 or 3 cm and they figured they were having baby THE NEXT DAY! And then let me tell you how happy they were as the weeks went by and no baby.

I have a friend who used to post on FB about getting checked at each of her weekly appointments like it was a badge of honour. So ridiculous.

sthomas1222

spacepotatoes said:

I will be confirming this at my appointment tomorrow but I believe they start around 36 weeks. I know they are doing the Group B Strep swab at 36 weeks so it would make sense to do a check while they're down there. I am planning to decline them, though, unless/until I reach my due date with no sign of labour.

Yep my old OB did a check at 36w b/c she was already down there doing my GBS but if I had said no she would've been fine with that. I had planned on declining all checks after that but I had a lot of prodromal labor (5 minutes apart, lasting a minute, for 10-12 hours straight every weekend) then I go in our my NST & DD's head was so low she may as well have done a vaginal u/s. So I was curious if all those contractions had done anything. Well I ended up 6cm, 90% effaced, not in labor at 38w. It really means nothing & just increases the chance of bacteria being introduced. I will not be having any checks this time til I'm in labor.

ckandi007

With my first, they wouldn't check unless you requested it because it wouldn't necessarily mean anything.

Hnova86

I've been having transvaginal ultrasounds I check for dilation and funneling since 28 weeks. But I have a history of multiple losses and preterm labor. With my son I had very uneventful pregnancy and around 31 weeks I started having what I thought were Braxton hicks. The contractions kind of came and went, no big deal. And then one day around 32 weeks I had a TON of internal pressure and felt like he would just fall out. Went to the doctor still having occasional "braxton hicks" and i was 100% effaced, 2cm and the babys head was "right there". i was put on STRICT, do not get up unless its to pee, bedrest. No cooking, no cleaning, no bathing....no nothing! I could only QUICKLY shower every 2-3days. I've been contracting like no other with this baby since about 25ish weeks, been taking procardia and had a fun jaunt to the hospital about 2 weeks ago. So for me, the checks are completely necessary! I'd rather be getting checked at each appt than risk not knowing and end up delivering a seriously preterm baby. We are being very proactive to catch anything at the first blip and so far we've been "ok". But tomorrow is my 32 week checkup and I'm scared! As I've been having some of the same "trouble" this go around. So maybe I can see it if you're completely 100% sure you have no risk at all. But you just never know. My case might be the extreme but those "Braxton hicks" you are feeling could very well be just the tip of the iceberg. To me it's worth knowing :-/

Hnova86

kitchencolors said:

@Hnova86, I think when talking about declining cervical checks it's almost exclusively when they're routine cervical checks (after 36+ish weeks), so we're not talking pre-term labor - we are talking about very close to full term pregnancies where labor could start at any time regardless of cervical status.  

The conversation is obviously an entirely different one at 32 weeks.  At that point though the medical community seems to have decided that routine cervical checks aren't necessary because they're rarely offered that early.   If someone is getting them it's a medical situation that indicates them.

Which is exactly why I said I know my case may be extreme and also said I can understand if there aren't any risk factors So for me I don't decline checks for obvious reasons. Every persons situation is different.

SMM1986

My OB starts them at 36 weeks.

BeesKnees181

Had an appt today - midwife says I will be checked at my next appointment, which will put me at 32 weeks for my cervix check.  She said she didn't want to stir things up for me since I haven't been having contractions yet.  But I am also having twins and high risk...and my last measurement (which was done by the handy dandy ultrasound wand at 22 weeks) I was measuring 2.8-ish cm.

dragossoul84

I'm almost 33 weeks and I'm going to ask my Dr to start them. I've been in LD a couple times for preterm labor and today at my ultrasound they said Noah was measure really big (I have GD) and he's right against my cervix so I'm a bit nervous. They are going to be doing weekly ultrasounds to check for size and my BP but since DH works 2 hours away in DC every day and I'm home alone with DS1 all day I'd like as much warning as possible especially because I need a c-section 

iqwedding3

Hopefully never?  I had one when I had to go to L&D for what turned out to be BH, and it felt like the nurse stuck her entire arm in there *sigh*

Alexinav

spacepotatoes said:

I will be confirming this at my appointment tomorrow but I believe they start around 36 weeks. I know they are doing the Group B Strep swab at 36 weeks so it would make sense to do a check while they're down there. I am planning to decline them, though, unless/until I reach my due date with no sign of labour.

Just curious on why you would decline?

spacepotatoes

Alexinav said:

I will be confirming this at my appointment tomorrow but I believe they start around 36 weeks. I know they are doing the Group B Strep swab at 36 weeks so it would make sense to do a check while they're down there. I am planning to decline them, though, unless/until I reach my due date with no sign of labour.

Just curious on why you would decline?

See my response to that same questions a few posts below my original one, and the few from others that came after. They're not useful.

ETA: the responses are useful. Checks are not. Just making sure that's clear