Ok I need honesty right now

intdesigner925

What does having your cervix checked feel like? Is it like a pap smear? This is my first baby so I have no idea.

Im having mines done Monday, which I didn't ask for by the way, but they start them at 35 weeks and honestly after reading some things on the bump and doing research of my own im thinking about declining until they are actually needed. The doctor assured me that while cervical checks may be uncomfortable they are not painful and im thinking how the hell does he know how it really feels??!!!! Now I am high risk would that make them more necessary to have done? 

kerischrader

I just had my second one today... you can decline it if you want to. The nurse asks if I want it, and then the Dr. dbl checks right before he checks me. Makes me feel like I am in control, I LOVE my Dr.!! Anyways, I have had NO pain at all... I actually thought it would hurt this time due to everyone's comments on how painful it is for them.... not to mention my Dr. is male and does not have small hands... I am Avg size. I am 1.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced (and he felt his head!!). I am the type of person who needs to know what is going on in there :P Plus, if it throws me into labor, so be it! I find the annual pap more uncomfortable actually. Make sure you focus on relaxing everything down there if you go about it.... I am pretty sure that has a lot to do with it not hurting.

Cleo29

In my experience it can depend on the doctor doing them, in terms of how uncomfortable they are.  I personally do not find them really painful. It does not feel like a pap smear since they are sticking several fingers up and sometimes pushing down on your stomach at the same time.

I don't know, I don't mind them.  

star173

You can absolutely decline them, and a cervical check whether you are high risk or not will not help- they do not accurately tell how soon you will be giving birth. I was "high and closed" with DD on a tuesday, and she was in my arms on Thursday. I was 3cm for 2 weeks with DS.

I get the checks starting at 36w just because I'm curious and I know my doc doesn't hurt me (it's uncomfortable, but not painful), but there's no real reason for them.

If you don't want one- say no. It's your vagina.

rosebud218

I remember it being painful with my first son. I did not enjoy them at all. It helped to relax as much as you can, try to have your top half of your body lower than your legs (easier in the hospital whn you can move your bed) and hopefully it wont be bad for you. everyone is different. 

PsyDr04

I had mine checked for the first time yesterday by one of the other docs at the practice since my doc was out. It was painful and not at all like a pap for me (which I do not find painful at all). Not trying to scare you. A lot of women have said they are uncomfortable, but not painful so it probably just depends on your own anatomy and how far along you are or are not in terms of dilation and effacement. Guess I'm just one of the unlucky ones.

mkays25

I'm also a FTM, I had my 2nd check yesterday and it hurt! The 1st one was more just uncomfortable but this 2nd one was different and it HURT! Plus I bled a lot more with this one then the first and I cramped a lot and felt horrible for most of the day afterwerd with both of them. I don't mean to scare you, I wish I had just declined them, but I was curious. I was 1cm last week and 2 this week.

JWSchwarz

Mine didn't hurt at all during, but I bled a lot after and felt crampy.

FarmvilleLover

At this stage in the pregnancy, I just don't see the point of a cervical check for no reason. I had one at about 29 weeks bc I was admitted to L&D for some issues, and to me, it was painful.

 

spolan

They've been checking me since 24 weeks (just a different protocol).  I would say initially it was like a pap smear, this time was a bit more intense, for whatever reason and I felt a little crampy after.  I am also carrying super high which makes my cervix a little harder to get at.  This last time, he did say it was evolving some, but was still closed. 

I guess lots of pressure and the majority of the discomfort coming from the baby's head while he was fishing around.  

AfterAll

I think it depends on the person doing them. my check at with my check at 36w, it didn't hurt... the one the following week at 37w, the doctor was a woman with tiny hands and she killed me... I think she was in up to her elbow.

DEBBIE33CASEY

uncomfortable, yes.  painful? no. 

I don't really see a point of them until i'm like 39w or in labor, and neither does my dr.  But it's not so painful that I'd turn one down BASED on the fact that I was afraid it would hurt.

Stripping my membranes was much more uncomfortable and even became painful.  But like I said, the cervical check isn't painful. Cervical check does feel kinda like as painful as a pap.  And it seems like some women are more sensitive to pain than others.  I am one of those low pain threshold people and I can tolerate cervical checks. 

Annya26

AfterAll:

I think it depends on the person doing them. my check at with my check at 36w, it didn't hurt... the one the following week at 37w, the doctor was a woman with tiny hands and she killed me... I think she was in up to her elbow.

Ok this might be a dumb question, but as a FTM who has never had a check I'm not sure what to expect....

When you say "up to her elbow" do you mean there was a lot of pressure with the finger or two that she had in there, or do you actually mean that they put their hand in to check?!