Natural Birth

Re cervical checks and early contractions

Hi mamas, this is my first time posting here with this pregnancy, but I have a question and I'm not sure where else to go to get a quick answer. :) Just to give you a bit of an intro, I'm 32 weeks along with my second baby girl, and I am planning a HypnoBirth. I remember with my first pregnancy I did not want cervical checks at all until I was in labor. This time around I am going to a different team of midwives (not by choice), and I know they like to start cervical checks at 32 weeks. I go in for my next appointment tomorrow (32 weeks and 4 days) and normally I would refuse the check.

However. (TMI alert.)

This past week, I've had little (tiny) blobs of mucus discharged every day, and the other day there was a bit of blood it it. I also had very frequent uterine surges all day/night to the point where I was ALMOST feeling like I should call my doctor. Yesterday I only had a few, and so far today I'm feeling totally fine. I definitely want to mention it to the midwife tomorrow but I'm afraid her first reaction is going to be to want to check my cervix to see if I'm dilated at all.

What would you do? I normally wouldn't want to be checked at all at 32 weeks, but do you think the bits of CM and the frequent contractions are enough to warrant an early check?

Re: Re cervical checks and early contractions

  • I personally would do the check. Yes sometimes the number means nothing but as early as you are, it could help your MW know if something is going on. I've been contracting for weeks but it isn't doing anything. (I have a cerclage so we use my monitoring as reference, I had one internal check at 28 weeks in L&D.)
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  • I would have a check only b/c of the blood.  This is also my second and there is all kinds of cramping and BY that are happening this time that weren't last time, but the blood tinged cm would make me think maybe there is some dilation going on and at 32w, I'd want to be as prepared as possible if things were going to happen early. 

    Just out of curiosity, why do they start so early?
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  • I'm leaning towards not getting checked now. The last two days I had no mucus at all, and only 1-2 BH each day. I was busy because of the holidays AND the little bit of blood happened after going to yoga two days in a row. It was just a tiny bit of reddish brown...the entire clump was probably no bigger than a centimeter (stretched out, not diameter) and just had 2-3 little strands of brown in it. I'm debating on whether or not to even mention it at this point. I can always call them if it happens again. I really don't feel like anything is happening now, but I am going to be very watchful, just in case.
  • Preterm contractions absolutely warrant a check. My "I ate too many beans" cramps at 35w were really labor contractions and when I was checked, I was at 4cm and actually having regular, strong contractions 4-6 min apart that I couldn't feel. I got sent straight to the hospital.
    Six years of infertility and loss, four IUIs, one IVF and one very awesome little boy born via med-free birth 10.24.13.
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  • I lost my mucus plug also at 32 weeks and was told to go straight to the hospital to be evaluated as they were worried about preterm labor and wanted to do a fern test. When I was being evaluated, they saw I was having contractions every 5 minutes (which I couldn't even feel). They told me to stay extra hydrated and lay on my left side. The contractions eased and I was sent home. I was only 1cm dilated then and now I am 36 weeks. I haven't been checked since but I am sure I am more dilated now based on what I've been feeling down there. My advise is to just get checked since you were having preterm labor symptoms and then to hold off on future checks until you are further along. Knowledge is power and it's best to know what's going on with your body in these circumstances.

  • Thanks, ladies. It ended up not being an issue...they didn't even ask to check me, and all symptoms have stopped for the time being. I'll wait it out til my next visit and see how things go!
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