Checking your cervix yourself

discohiker

So... I am inserting my EPO tonight and decided to see if I could tell if my cervix was open/closed/etc....
I applied the EPO a little deeper than normal and got to feel the opening.  Surprisingly, it was actually open, or at least I think it was.
Google provided a little information about this, but I am wondering how doctors tell if you are 1cm, 2cm, etc... it seems that they hurt a lot more than I did checking myself just now.
I just couldn't believe I could feel it since I have always had one that was pretty much closed and deemed unfavorable.

lookame3639

It's not a good idea to check your cervix during pregnancy. In late pregnancy you could open yourself up to infection and/or irritate the cervix causing blood.

rockyrollgirl

lookame3639 said:

It's not a good idea to check your cervix during pregnancy. In late pregnancy you could open yourself up to infection and/or irritate the cervix causing blood.

This. I wouldn't try it personally.

BabyM82714

Yeah I'm not sure anyone should try this on their own.  Someone trained to do so needs to do this.  To answer your question, nurses and doctors just learn from feel and expierence....it's not an easy task to master.  It's all about feel.  

And also I'm shocked anyone can reach over there belly far enough to put anything in their vagina anymore. I can barely wipe, let alone think I  could reach my cervix!

nycAug2014

I think this is maybe a joke, no? There is no way someone thinks this is a good idea.

poofwok

Just no. Leave it to the pros.

Jennicillin

This is NOT something you should be doing yourself...... just no.

It's not safe, as I'm assuming you were not wearing sterile gloves nor were you in a sterile environment.

You run the risk of giving yourself or the baby infections by doing this, please don't try it again.

kashock-2

Doctors/nurses/midwives wear sterile gloves while performing cervical checks. Risk of infection increases the more you expose yourself to interventions like this.

Cervical dilation is measured using each individuals fingers compared to a standard "chart". For example my index and middle finger might be open two inches to indicate 5-6cm but a male doctor with larger fingers would not have a two inch space between fingers but still obtain the same measurement. It takes practice.

Jennicillin

andrea ri 80 said:

I wouldn't exactly try to determine if I was dilating, I don't see any thing wrong with putting your fingers up yourself if your water isn't broken. I felt just the position while putting my epo yesterday (I couldn't really help it since my cervix was low and forward. I can't see how you or the baby would get an infection in that scenario. Putting a clean hand up there is no different to me than having sex.

It's one thing to notice the position of your cervix, it's quite another to check for an opening.  When you have sex your SO's penis is not purposefully attempting to find an opening.... they are very different.  

discohiker

Ugh... I didn't mean to say I was actually checking my cervix... it just happened as I applied the EPO.  Not going digging around anytime soon, just certainly surprised that it was even there, as it hadn't been before.   

lookame3639

Jennicillin said:

andrea ri 80 said:

I wouldn't exactly try to determine if I was dilating, I don't see any thing wrong with putting your fingers up yourself if your water isn't broken. I felt just the position while putting my epo yesterday (I couldn't really help it since my cervix was low and forward. I can't see how you or the baby would get an infection in that scenario. Putting a clean hand up there is no different to me than having sex.

It's one thing to notice the position of your cervix, it's quite another to check for an opening.  When you have sex your SO's penis is not purposefully attempting to find an opening.... they are very different.  
Not only that but your husband's penis isn't boney and doesnt have sharp/hard fingernails.

BlueRidgeMama

Doctors wear gloves but not sterile ones!

mmazzarini

Doctors don't wear sterile gloves to check you. The purple/blue gloves at the doctors office/hospital are clean, not sterile. Big difference. Not that it matters but...

BlckRoses

mmazzarini said:

Doctors don't wear sterile gloves to check you. The purple/blue gloves at the doctors office/hospital are clean, not sterile. Big difference. Not that it matters but...

I've noticed at my OB's office when she's checked me the last couple of times she's pulled gloves out that are in a sealed packet and opened them and put them on to check me.  I assume they are sterile gloves and the regular pink gloves she uses out of the box on the counter are not.  I haven't been in L&D yet, but at my OB office it appears that she's using sterile gloves.