Oye cervical check

am0138 · December 2013

Just had my first at 38w4d and I'm trying to gauge if I'm the biggest wimp alive. I thought it was torture!! What say all of you??

MrsGraham06 · December 2013

Mine are painful since my cervix is way up there. This time around, the baby isn't even head-down let alone engaged, so they can't even push him against my cervix to bring it down at all.

peanutmuse · December 2013

The normal ones have been uncomfortable but not painful. I think I've had 5 or 6 total because of all of the contractions I was having early in my third trimester. It's not like I like them, but it's really not that bad. And I have a very long vagina, FYI. So when they check my cervix, they have to basically put their fists up in there.

However, I had one 3 days after my stent placement surgery, a procedure which caused painful inflammation and other nasty urinary symptoms in addition to an awful infection. That one made me want to die.

EmeraldCity84 · December 2013

I just had my first this morning, at 36 wks. It was not pleasant but the part that really was painful only lasted maybe 3 seconds. So, not so bad as long as it's quick. I had heard it compared to a pap, and it was definitely worse than a pap to me.

SunflowersBride · December 2013

I found it to be very similar to a pap smear. Uncomfortable, but not painful.

precious72381 · December 2013

I had my first this past Friday and it hurt then I bled the rest of the day. I have had a shortening and funneling cervix half this pregnancy. The ob had big fingers. He could feel baby's head and my cervix was low, facing forward, and soft so think it was irritated by the exam. He shouldn't have had to go too far to find it! But he thinks I have less than two weeks to go. But who knows. These things are never accurate.

Stella2008 · December 2013

For me it has totally depended on the doctor that did it. This is my 3rd baby, and by now I know by now which doctors are more "rough" and which ones are more gentle. With last week's check, it hurt quite a bit (but I had been checked by this Dr. before and remembered what she was like). Honestly, I felt like she might have put me into labor--painful at the time, bad cramping and sporatic contractions later that night, and bleeding for almost 2 days. Today's check with my regular OB was much, much better--no issues so far.

Not sure if this is your first or not, but my OB warned me that with subsequent babies that you kind of start out dialating a bit because of the previous delivery and so the checks can sometimes be a bit harder.

am0138 · December 2013

She did comment that she needed to "find" it so I'm guessing my cervix is still high. I'm also completely closed. Maybe it's less painful of you're already dilating?? Also, I think it can depend on who does it. I was expecting something more along the lines of a pelvic exam, but the burning and stinging was so bad and it seemed like she kept pushing and pushing and digging! I was gripping the sides of the table trying not to cry : /

peanutmuse · December 2013

am0138 said:

Maybe it's less painful of you're already dilating??

As of my last check about 10 days ago, I hadn't started dilating. So I can't say for sure how it affects it, except that I wasn't dilated and didn't find it painful (except for the one extreme circumstance).

I think it's more dependent on the person doing it, your body, and yes, your pain tolerance.

OSUWifey09 · December 2013

Mine have just been uncomfortable, not painful. I've had three so far, and they haven't been too bad. My last one caused me to cramp for a few hours, though...that was worse than the actual check.

juliasmama2010 · December 2013

I find that if I make a conscious effort to relax and take deep breaths, it's not so bad. Mine are just uncomfortable. @LadyFilet, any time they're up in your business like that, it can cause some cramping/spotting. I usually don't experience spotting, so you may or may not. But don't freak out if you do!

runnergrl6675 · December 2013

They killed my first pregnancy so I know exactly where you're coming from. This time around, it's just uncomfortable. Dr said it depends on the position of cervix.

daltosostarby · December 2013

I can't say the two I've had were pleasant, but they weren't horrific either. The first was just uncomfortable, but I was able to move more since I didn't have an IV or other machines attached at the time. The second one was more uncomfortable, but I think it's because I couldn't help the nurse (who had smaller hands) with getting into a better position.

purplepenguin2011 · December 2013

I really didn't even think that the times i've gotten it done were uncomfortable. It just was. Maybe i don't have any nerves down there...

Jackapatamus · December 2013

I've had a few this time around and last- my last one was quite terrible. The nurse actually had to hold me- the pressure I was already having, combined with the check was more painful than uncomfortable. But I've had others that weren't painful at all. It'll vary, just like everything else.

km_md · December 2013

I had one done so far and it was when I was in L&D for BH contractions. It wasn't painful, but wasn't exactly a fun thing to do either lol I think that it was worse on poor DH who had no idea what was coming!

ccip82 · December 2013

I needed a SS option...

For the life of me I can not remember if it was painful or not when I had them with DD...They must not have been that bad.

I remember that I bled a bit after my first cervical check (didn't notice until I got home). I called my OBGYN and they said that is common to bled after a check. The bleeding stopped relatively quickly.

cpm1223 · December 2013

Just had my first one this afternoon...I'm pretty sure the doctor was elbow deep inside of me @-) and it didn't really hurt but it was pretty uncomfortable.

housewifebecomesher · December 2013

It's pretty uncomfortable for me, but I had a different dr than my normal one the other day and it wasn't as bad. So I think it depends on a lot of factors like PPs have said. I did have a bit of spotting after one, and called the dr just to be safe.

Siblynika · December 2013

The doctor that did mine is a big man with very thick arms/hands so it was pretty painful. I much prefer when the tiny, 100lb woman does it.

LuGal623 · December 2013

I think they are just uncomfortable. I also bled afterwards for the rest of the day which was more alarming to me though I should've known that would happen. Damn sensitive cervix lol.

mkat10414 · December 2013

I've been getting them since week 30...I'm now at 37. Mine have just been uncomfortable. However, I almost came off the table today when the Dr checked me. Hurt so badly, but my regular Dr is on vacation so it was someone new.

jaclynwas17 · December 2013

I just had mine today also. It was mildly uncomfortable. The nurse practitioner said my cervix was closed but I guess she went past and told me she could feel the baby's head. She also said my cervix was about halfway thinned, which she said was normal at this point. I didn't think it was painful at all, and she warned that if I did have spotting not to worry.

sarahmarie2 · December 2013

I've had three so far, only one made me say "ouch" and tear up. FI says that ob had large man hands, but I think my position also played a role. The other two were uncomfortable, I felt pressure, but not painful. I've had minimal cramping afterwards and no bleeding.

Armyratt · December 2013

Never painful for me just uncomfortable. It's a walk in the park with my female doctor. The doctor that delivered my first two was a man but still with him it was never painful.

ashleywiz · December 2013

had to vote "just want to see results," because it wasn't even uncomfortable for me. Just a hand up my lady business... no big deal for moi. Sorry it was so painful for you

Mallory Monjot · December 2013

I didn't find anything uncomfortable about it. Just the same as a pap for me.

andie0190 · December 2013

I had mine at 35 weeks due to contractions. It sucked but I have had worse due to pre-pregnancy cervical cancer issues. (Biopsy's of your cervix are awful FYI)

chicki1012 · December 2013

I've had 3 so far and my last one is this Friday, I will then be 40 weeks. I didn't think it was painful at all just uncomfortable and lots of pressure. My cervix is pretty high too and they seem to have to push hard to get to my cervix. I guess everyone is different. I think trying to relax when their doing it helps a lot I know it's easier said then done, but that's what helped me

am0138 · December 2013

Thanks everyone for your advice! I definitely did not breathe through it and tensed up a lot. Next time I'll try to chill out as best as I can. Someone different will be doing it as well so we will see if that improves the process at all.

BuckeyeANG · December 2013

For me it depends on how posterior my cervix is. When it's still very posterior (way far back), it hurts like a bitch. Today it had moved forward and even getting my membranes stripped wasn't very uncomfortable at all.

ashybear · December 2013

I have my first tomorrow; hoping it's just uncomfortable! I was thinking it would just be like a pap smear?

am0138 · December 2013

BuckeyeANG said:
For me it depends on how posterior my cervix is. When it's still very posterior (way far back), it hurts like a bitch. Today it had moved forward and even getting my membranes stripped wasn't very uncomfortable at all.

I'm thinking this must have been my case. It felt as if she kept going and going and digging and digging! She never said "posterior" though, but then again, she didn't say much besides that I was closed. I sure hope it's more anterior next week! Oye I'm still hurting : (

ach298 · December 2013

My last one was on the painful side of uncomfortable, but wasn't awful.

mj0413 · December 2013

Silly question, but what position were you in? It may help to be in a different position for them. I'd imagine you're quite tensed up if you're in the stirrups or something. I've only had one, but the doctor had me with my feet pretty together and knees relaxed hanging to the sides. I think that probably helped! That said- mine wasn't painful. I felt a little sore after, like I had sex for the first time in a loooong time. But no cramping or bleeding or pain.

am0138 · December 2013

I wasn't in the stirrups thankfully. She just told me to bend my knees. After googling, it seems that laying with my fists under my hips may help next time. I'll definitely bring that up to the doctor.