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Natural Birth
BBhopes15
member
CERVIX CHECK Q
BBhopes15
member
Hi Ladies.
Sorry I haven't updated siggy....I'm 21 weeks pregnant.
I am a constant lurker here and I love all the stuff I have learned so far. Regarding the cervical check-ups it seems some of you refuse these. Is there a reason? Sorry if this is a lame question!
My OB said they won't do check-ups down there until week 36 (if I remember correctly). Again, when the time comes, is there a reason to refuse these? And when should I let them check again?
I would love to hear back from the OB's I've seen post on this board as well! Thanks ladies!!
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: CERVIX CHECK Q
From what I've read it can possibly prematurely rupture your membranes, stimulate your cervix, and can cause an infection. Read here for further detail.
I will not be having them during weekly check-ups and I only want to be checked occasionally during labor.
many people refuse them for a variety of reasons:
1. unless your cervix is unhealthy or somehow abnormal and there is a reason to believe that abnormality or illness may impact your labor, there is no medical need to perform a cervical exam.
2. the information obtained by way of a cervical exam is useless. the observation is the current condition of the cervix: location, dilation, effacement. all of these indicators can and do change rapidly in either direction. further, a posterior, closed, thick cervix does not necessarily mean nothing is happening and an anterior, open, thinned cervix does not necessarily mean a birth is imminent. so, what's the point?
3. the introduction of anything that is not meant to be in the vagina increases the risk of infection, particularly after the release of membranes.
the point is cervical exams have become so routine, that no one ever stops to ask why they are being performed. it is a concession that many of us have made without any thought at all. this information is often used to intimidate you into an induction ("well, you've been 3cm open for 2 weeks now, i think we should induce" or, "well, it's your EDD and nothing is going on down there, I think we should induce") or other unwanted and often unnecessary procedure. Some OBs even use them to rupture your membranes "accidentally."
i was in that group of women who never stopped to think about it when i was pregnant with #1. my CNMs performed them routinely, beginning at 38 weeks. I am not sure whether they asked if i wanted one, but if they did, i must have said yes. what i learned, at 38 weeks, was that i was 3cm dilated and 60% effaced. the following week and for the next 3 weeks i was 4cm and 80-90% effaced. i was pregnant for 42 weeks and walked around that way for the last month.
with #2, i would have declined CEs, but my CPM did not do them unless requested anyway. she only had her fingers inside me twice: once when i requested a membrane sweep at 41.5 with my hbac baby and once when i had a cervical lip 30 minutes before my baby was born.
Ina May states in her book that it is pointless to do internal checks unless you are in active labor. That dilation and effacement can change rapidly, therefore it is pointless to find out that at 36 weeks you are 2cm dilated and 80% effaced. It gives women a false hope that they are progressing, when in fact, they are not.
With my first, my midwives did not do any internal checks until I was in labor at the hospital (I was already 8 cm).
I will request that my doctor do the same.
I declined cervical checks during both of my pregnancies. Cervical dilation isn't an indicator of when you will go into labor so I thought it was pointless. You can be at 3 cm for weeks or go into labor at 0 cm. Many providers, mine included, don't even do a check unless you ask for one.
There is a small risk of infection and many people find the checks to be uncomfortable. Doctors have also been known to strip membranes without asking permission and some don't even say anything afterwards. It might sound crazy, but it happens a lot. That can cause spotting, painful cramping, membrane rupture, etc. There's no reason to open yourself up to the potential risks and discomfort to get meaningless information if you don't want to.
ETA: I would have asked for one at 41 weeks, but I never went past my due date.
med-free birth x2, breastfeeding, baby wearing SAHM
My BFP Chart
I REALLY wish I had declined cervical checks. I knew all of the things all of the pps said, that it doesn't mean ANYTHING except whats happening AT THE CURRENT TIME, that it puts you at more risk for infection, that they could prematurely rupture your water bag, etc... I still allowed it out of stupid curiosity.
Here's why I wish I had declined. The first one was not painful at all, but I think my OB swept my membranes without asking me during my second check, because she was pushing and poking so hard, it hurt so much, and the next day I lost my mucous plug and have been having more BH contractions ever since. (That was Tues). I was only 38 weeks so I don't see why she felt the need to do whatever she did to "help things along" as she said. Afterwards I felt incredibly pissed off and betrayed.
So there's something to be aware of, and if you do allow the checks, make sure you tell your OB or midwife beforehand that you do NOT want any intervention, just a check cuz apparently they do sometimes do things without asking/telling you!
I did not see the need since they do not really tell you anything plus all the risks pps mentioned.
I don't want someone sticking their hand up my vag for no reason. Like PPs said, routine cervical checks when you are not in labor don't tell you anything useful. They don't tell you when you will go into labor or how your delivery will go. Plus, they are painful for me.
If you are worried about preterm labor or facing an induction, then they can be useful. Otherwise, I wouldn't get checked until labor and even then I would limit them as much as possible. I did not have a single cervical check done with my second delivery.
Could you explain the preterm labor part, please? I'm worried of going earlier this time when DD was born at 37 weeks and that's why I'm highly considering declining checks. But it sounds like you're suggesting the opposite? I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be snarky or anything, I just don't know what you mean!