Talk to me about anterior cervix position

RumbleLina

Someone talk to me about cervix positions.

I have no idea what it all means and I didn't think to ask my OB about clarification because I was kind of in shock at being almost 2cm, 70% effaced already (although I realize it indicates nothing). She just made a big point to me that my cervix was "right there" and anterior and I don't even know if that means anything.  Anyone know?

tokenhoser

Anterior just means "to the front" instead of posterior ("to the back").

It doesn't really mean anything until you go into labour. Could be tomorrow. Could be a month from now. Cervical checks aren't reliable for any real information. 

RumbleLina

tokenhoser:

Anterior just means "to the front" instead of posterior ("to the back").

It doesn't really mean anything until you go into labour. Could be tomorrow. Could be a month from now. Cervical checks aren't reliable for any real information.  

Lol. I didn't need a definition of anterior or posterior since I know what they mean and I also realize that cervical checks are pointless in regards to pinpointing labor. Only reason I allowed the check was because I have had progress since 33 weeks and continue to have timeable contractions.

I was more so hoping someone can chime in regards to what an anterior and posterior means in regards to late pregnancy. Is that something that usually happens when there is effacement and dilation or is it something separate on it's own? Or does it have more to do with the fact that LO is engaged already?

 I've never heard of anyone mentioning it which is why I was questioning what it is about and I suppose I could have directly placed the specific questions in the OP.

monalisa577

In a nutshell: for the majority of your pregnancy, your cervix will be posterior (in the back of your uterus, behind baby's head). As you get closer to your due date, the cervix moves to an anterior position (in the front, in front of baby's head.) When it does this, it's a sign that labor is very close. Honestly not sure if it has any relation to effacement and dilation, though.

jlaOK

monalisa577:

In a nutshell: for the majority of your pregnancy, your cervix will be posterior (in the back of your uterus, behind baby's head). As you get closer to your due date, the cervix moves to an anterior position (in the front, in front of baby's head.) When it does this, it's a sign that labor is very close. Honestly not sure if it has any relation to effacement and dilation, though.

All of this.  An anterior position just means that your cervix will have to move less when in active labor.

I have an extremely posterior cervix and in both my pregnancies I walked around 4 cm dilated and most of the way effaced without being in active labor.  It will take stronger contractions to move my cervix and put me into active labor because it has to travel more than someone with an anterior cervix.  This is why dilation and effacement aren't a good indicator of when you will go into labor.

RumbleLina

jlaOK:

monalisa577:

In a nutshell: for the majority of your pregnancy, your cervix will be posterior (in the back of your uterus, behind baby's head). As you get closer to your due date, the cervix moves to an anterior position (in the front, in front of baby's head.) When it does this, it's a sign that labor is very close. Honestly not sure if it has any relation to effacement and dilation, though.

All of this.  An anterior position just means that your cervix will have to move less when in active labor.

I have an extremely posterior cervix and in both my pregnancies I walked around 4 cm dilated and most of the way effaced without being in active labor.  It will take stronger contractions to move my cervix and put me into active labor because it has to travel more than someone with an anterior cervix.  This is why dilation and effacement aren't a good indicator of when you will go into labor.

 

Thank you ladies!

I didn't even know your cervix had to move until she commented about it. And here I thought I was so much more educated regarding pregnancy and labor/delivery this time around...lol. 

Mufflerlove

This stumped me too. At 38 weeks she said I was posterior and then at 39 she said anterior. I didn't realize it meant anything. But I'm now overdue so I'm glad I didn't think it meant something would happen