Cervical checks?

WanderingA · May 2013

At my appointment last night my midwife told me that at my next appointment they will do a group B strep test and would also like to do a cervical check. My sister who is 4 weeks ahead of me in her pregnancy said she just got her cervix checked and it was absolutely horrible so now I'm scared! Have any of you had your cervix checked at this point? Do you plan on allowing checks?

Bkuhman · May 2013

No, just the same as a yearly checkup. Fingers being out up your lady bits to see if you are dilate or effaced.

solsburyhill · May 2013

The 2x my doctor did a cervical check on me it hurt. I'd much rather have a Pap!

But then when I got to the hospital and the nice L&D nurses were doing them, it went much better.

The key is to relax. Relax and take slow deep breaths and it will be so much easier. The L&D nurses were really good at going slow and making me relax and then it was no big deal at all.

notaffected1 · May 2013

Mine have hurt like hell, however I've had an irritated cervix most of this pregnancy so maybe that's it?

reallylongusername · May 2013

I'm gonna be checked once I'm 36w.

hollandmama · May 2013

aylacbw:
you can refuse them. My midwives don't do cervical checks until you are past your due date, because knowing that you're 1 or 2 cm dilated doesn't really mean anything. Of course if there are labor symptoms, then they will check but many women walk around for weeks dilated a little bit and it doesn't mean that labor is imminent.

This. I don't see the use of them if there are no complications.

bobcee · May 2013

My doc didn't start them until 39 weeks last time and they didn't bother me.

However, I personally would decline this early on. It's really not going to tell you much and can increase the risk for infection. You're going to go into labor when you go into labor. Doesn't really matter if you're not dilated at all now or already dilated to a 3, but that's just my opinion.

meltoine · May 2013

My midwife doesn't do them either, even in labor. There are much more effective ways to tell if you're making progress. For my money all cervical checks are good for is pain and increased risk of infection.

santoriello21 · May 2013

They didn't hurt me. As others have said, they are uncomfortable like a pap.

MrsMcC.10409 · May 2013

I had one when I spent a few hours in triage and I was terrified. I did everything but flat out refuse to have one. I swear to you, afterwards, I looked at the Dr and nurse and said "That's it?!? What the he!! is everyone complaining about?!?" I'm not kidding, I didn't feel a single thing. And I have a pretty low pain tolerance. (I was freaking pissed off after my IV was placed on my next L&D visit.)

Maybe it's more painful if you're actually dialating, but honestly, I think fear is the #1 factor in the pain that most women experience with these. Try to relax, and let the curiousity of knowing if you're progressing over ride the fear of the possible discomfort.

Also, you can always refuse. Especially if you're term and/or have no reason to be concerned about early labor. They don't really tell you anything. Best of luck to you!

HayleyBaker1122 · May 2013

IMO it's a bit more uncomfortable than a pap (because they seem to go up higher), but it's nice to know where you're at. I've had SOOO many cervical checks already (because of the pre-term labor) and it's really not that bad (horrible seems a bit dramatic). I told myself that if I couldn't handle that, there's no way I could have a baby, and that made it easier to just let them do it and get over it. Lol.

solsburyhill · May 2013

sandraynic:

aylacbw:
you can refuse them. My midwives don't do cervical checks until you are past your due date, because knowing that you're 1 or 2 cm dilated doesn't really mean anything. Of course if there are labor symptoms, then they will check but many women walk around for weeks dilated a little bit and it doesn't mean that labor is imminent.

This. I don't see the use of them if there are no complications.

This.

Last time my midwife did one at 37 weeks because DH had an emergency business trip come up last minute and he wanted to make sure it was ok to go. From that check she thought I was "very favorable to go into labor early and on my own".

I ended up 2 weeks overdue, never progressed beyond 2cm and ended up in an emergency c/s.

CarlaAndJames · May 2013

depends on Dr. I never had any pain in any of my checks with him last time (i mean not super comfortable, but definitely not actual pain). But one week he was out and a partner Dr did it and OUCH.

valstulas · May 2013

I've had lots of checks in my day, and I think a lot of it depends on the position of your cervix and on the provider performing it. I have a high cervix and when it is very posterior, it can be quite uncomfortable to have it checked. I only recall it actually hurting once, and it was because I was very high and posterior and having my membranes swept and some misoprostil inserted. FWIW, you can refuse checks. I generally do this at the end of my pregnancy, not because of the discomfort, but more bc I get discouraged to hear that I am "a fingertip, and still long." Some women like to know, though, so it's totally up to you.

PrimRoseMama · May 2013

I am not allowing checks until active labor.

This is not true for everyone, but for me last time they were HORRIBLE. I'm hoping, if you choose to do this, that they are not horrible for you. You can decline the cervix check if you want to. They don't tell you much of anything anyway.

ECATX · May 2013

I think I'm having one at my next appointment. I'm not particularly worried about it, but I had a lot of tests and things done leading up to IVF that weren't super comfortable, so sometimes I think my perception is distorted. I had a LEEP procedure done a few years ago, and since the residual scar tissue can sometimes be an issue and can prevent the cervix from fully dilating, I want to have the checks to see how things are going. I know it won't initially mean a whole lot (I think the scar tissue will allow for some dilation), but I'm not opposed to having them.

RumbleLina · May 2013

I didn't plan on allowing but since I have had change already I will allow one about 36/37 weeks to see if any progress is being made. Depending on what that comes back with depends if I will allow it or not for future appointments.

They don't HAVE to hurt though. It is highly dependent on the OB. The male OB who checked me recently was so freaking rough I was clenching in pain and my body was automatically scooting up the table. BUT my old OB could check me without a problem and it was only slightly uncomfortable.

EVA116 · May 2013

They freaking hurt.

luvmyducks · May 2013

I had 2 checks (38w and 39w) before labor. They weren't a big deal at all. The biggest thing was my OB is male, so it was a little awkward for me at first, but overall, not a big deal. I don't remember them being painful.

kathleen02 · May 2013

If my midwife asks to to a cervical check anytime in the near future I'd expect to know why she would be doing it. If there is a reason or concern they can explain to me fine, but I never had them last time and there honestly was no need so I may refuse depending on the situation. I went into labor a few days shy of my due date last time so I'm not sure what it would have told me.

JCWhitey · May 2013

I will not be getting any cervical checks. From what I understand (from my MW) is that they don't really tell you anything. You can be 1-2 cm dilated for WEEKS and not go into labor or have any problems. So knowing if you are dilated or how efaced you are before labor starts or your water breaks isn't really information I'll need and that's really all cervical checks can tell you. And I'd rather not have the discomfort.

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