Cervical Checks- Question

TugboatSheila · June 2014

My OB hasn't checked my cervix yet (except for the random one during the Group B Strep test) and at last appointment they said "any reason I need to look at your cervix?" and at that point I said no.

I'm going in today and plan on requesting a cervix check because I'd like to know if anything is happening down there but it got me thinking. Do your OBs automatically start checking at a certain week? Is this something you just request? I thought it would be something they brought up and started doing regularly, but wasn't sure.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

Mine doesn't really do checks until maybe 39 weeks, unless they have other reason to. I'm guessing if I requested one they might but I'd probably have to have a good reason like having a lot of contractions and stuff like that. Regular cervical checks aren't necessarily an indication of anything...you can walk around at 3 cm for weeks, or you could be a fingertip dilated on Tuesday and be in full-blown labor by Wednesday night, so a lot of doctors won't do them until closer to your due date, if that.

cakebatter27 · June 2014

Mine starts at 37 weeks. I have an appt Monday at 36w6d and I'm going to ask though. Especially because of the contractions and back pain I've been having. I don't want to wait a week because of 1 day off.

It's really a personal preference. Some people don't want checked ever and some are okay with it.

jnnfrrose6 · June 2014

I didn't have any cervical checks. I was offered one at my 38 week check, but this was after the u/s and when the dr came in with the results and decided I needed a cs the next day, the check was unnecessary and didn't happen. Last time around I think they started at the 38 week appointment too. I really don't remember having them.

Shelleybell · June 2014

they start at 37 weeks with my ob. FWIW they are basically pointless and just annoying. i went from nothing to water breaking within 24 hour last time.

cookieinva · June 2014

They offer starting at 38 weeks and I am free to decline. If yours does not offer but you are interested i would definitely ask about it, even if only a simple "When will you start doing cervical checks?".

iris427 · June 2014

It depends on the doctor. Mine started offering at like 34 weeks, which seemed really early to me, but she's fine with me turning them down and I haven't had any yet. I generally think having routine cervical checks before labor are pointless--they don't tell you when you will go into labor or how fast it will be--and they can be uncomfortable or painful and possibly introduce bacteria up there, etc. They have their uses (e.g. checking for cervical change if you are having possible PTL, assessing your Bishop score for an induction, stripping membranes). But if you feel better knowing what your cervix is up to, go for it.

BPer · June 2014

I think they started at 37w with my DD, but I was also having a lot of pressure & pain (with no progress in the end).

For me, they were just painful and annoying and discouraging.

kweaver123 · June 2014

Mine does do they until the very end. They said there is no point being dilated and effaced means nothing in terms of when you will go into labor.

mamaloaf · June 2014

My first was yesterday at 38 week appointment. There was no reason to check earlier. I also did not find it to be painful or uncomfortable and didn't have any cramping or anything like that afterward. I wonder if they'll get more unpleasant the closer I get to delivery?

Morgieloo · June 2014

My OB starts them at 36 weeks. I had one yesterday at 36w3d and found out I'm 4cm dilated. Like others said it could mean nothing but it's nice to know my body is at least somewhat preparing to get this baby out! Also, it was an awesome way to get my husband motivated to finish the nursery!

RJHarmon · June 2014

Mine starts at 37/38 weeks.

reelcelticdancer · June 2014

My doc does them every visit after 37weeks. He agreed it isn't an indication for when the baby will come, but it is nice to know I'm making progress (I'm sure if he ever says there is no change, I'll change my opinion on the matter ;-) )

lizzybeth13 · June 2014

My OB also starts at 36 weeks. She said I didn't have to do them, but she likes to do them so she has more information in case I call her if I think I'm having contractions, etc. I'm in the camp of being really curious about what (if anything) is going on down there, so I'll be getting them starting with next weeks appointment.

BPer · June 2014

mana84 said:

My first was yesterday at 38 week appointment. There was no reason to check earlier. I also did not find it to be painful or uncomfortable and didn't have any cramping or anything like that afterward. I wonder if they'll get more unpleasant the closer I get to delivery?

The cervical checks I had in the hospital were the freaking worst. I imagine it is what fisting feels like.

ksspiff · June 2014

My cervical checks started when I began having weekly spots, at 36 weeks. No discomfort for me, and no post appt cramping. But like one PP said, having some indication that there is progress got the attention of DH. now he is actually curious about my appointments and what the doctor says. :P

mamaloaf · June 2014

BPer said:

mana84 said:

My first was yesterday at 38 week appointment. There was no reason to check earlier. I also did not find it to be painful or uncomfortable and didn't have any cramping or anything like that afterward. I wonder if they'll get more unpleasant the closer I get to delivery?

The cervical checks I had in the hospital were the freaking worst. I imagine it is what fisting feels like.

I told DH it was my first time being fingered by another woman, and it wasn't so bad :P

*LrCg* · June 2014

My provider never does them. There is no reason to- how far or not far dilated you are means NOTHING. Doing checks only run the risk of infection. In fact, there's no reason to do them in labor either. I've had 3 kids & was only checked once during labor and that's because my midwife asked because I called her late and it was my first birth and wanted to check for herself but asked me if it was okay first.

email2ash · June 2014

cookieinva said:
They offer starting at 38 weeks and I am free to decline. If yours does not offer but you are interested i would definitely ask about it, even if only a simple "When will you start doing cervical checks?".

My OB is the same. I went on Tuesday and said "of course I want to know" not realizing it literally means he's going to stick fingers in me and feel around. I stupidly thought he would put a speculum in and look with a light or something. Oh well... I'll still want to know if I made any progress next Tuesday.

baby+drumm · June 2014

I think it just depends on your preference and your doctor. At the OBGYN I go to, there are 5 doctors. They encourage you to see each one throughout your pregnancy due to the fact that any of them could be on call when you deliver. I've noticed that each of them does things a little differently. I was checked by one doctor at 35 weeks, and then another doctor only checked because I asked at 37 weeks.

squnkie · June 2014

My OB usually starts checking at 36 weeks - I had one, but then she said unless I'm having out of the ordinary symptoms or feel like something is wrong (or just want to be checked) that she won't check till I'm due. Which I'm all for, since it doesn't tell you a whole lot, and it's very uncomfortable!

taylorjeanne84 · June 2014

I had my first one at 38.5. I could have declined but I've been having contractions and was just curious. I wasn't offered one at 37 weeks or prior.

alyss0nl · June 2014

Mine started checking at 37 weeks as standard practice. But since I had an overnight stay at the hospital a couple days before he had to check to see if I made any progress from then. So I'm walking around at 5cm this time, and last pregnancy I was 3cm for the last 2 months before my water broke.

mamakiss · June 2014

At my office, they start placing the paper sheet on the bed at 36 weeks (TB check only), and at 37+ weeks it's there for every appointment. The nurse who walks you in always says something "ok and undress from the waist down, if you're still dressed when the doctor comes in they'll assume you are declining a check, it's up to you"... So essentially, you choose.

argonne · June 2014

My MW won't check me until I am late. I don't really care, either. Dilation/effacement has nothing to do with when a woman will go into labor. Some women go from 0cm/0% to full blown labor in a day. Some women can sit at 5cm/75% for weeks. One of the good reasons for being checked is if you're going to be induced and to see if the cervix is ripe for induction.

TugboatSheila · June 2014

Thanks for the responses. I am in the "want to know what's going on with my cervix" camp. I knew that women could be dilated for weeks before active labor started but I am going to ask for a check today.

brittany&dain · June 2014

My OB started checking at 36 weeks. She will ask if I don't want it because it doesn't necessarily mean anything.minhad been 1 cm for the past 3 weeks and at my appointment Tuesday she said almost 2 so it doesn't really mean anything or give any signs of when things will start to happen

Lhalliburton · June 2014

I was checked last week (36+2) and I was closed off. Getting checked today (37+5) and if I'm dilated at all, my OB is doing a membrane sweep. I might decline the sweep, but her reasoning is that DD had fluid problems beginning at 38 weeks, and we're trying to avoid another low fluid/c-section situation.

jennp1979 · June 2014

37 weeks

drunkenhandstand · June 2014

Weekly checks begin at 36 weeks with my OB.

iris427 · June 2014

*LrCg* said:
My provider never does them. There is no reason to- how far or not far dilated you are means NOTHING. Doing checks only run the risk of infection. In fact, there's no reason to do them in labor either. I've had 3 kids & was only checked once during labor and that's because my midwife asked because I called her late and it was my first birth and wanted to check for herself but asked me if it was okay first.

I wouldn't say that there is no reason to do them in labor. It can be valuable information if labor is taking a long time or stalling, if there are complications or medical issues, if mom is trying to decide whether to get pain medications, etc. but I do think they can be limited in a normal healthy labor.

Cass533 · June 2014

My doctor checked my cervix at my 36 week appointment after the Strep B test. It didn't hurt, but I bled REALLY heavily afterward. It really freaked me out and had me running back to the docs office because it was so heavy. My doctor said spotting is usual after a check, but this was more like an extremely heavy menstrual flow. My poor DH was there with me and freaked out when I took off my blood soaked underwear so doctor could check to make sure I was okay. I stopped bleeding shortly afterward, but I think I'll be refusing future checks, despite how curious I am about how much I've dilated.

ashtonblair123 · June 2014

I just got checked today. I'm 35 weeks and 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced based on that and my contractions she doesn't think I'll make it much longer.

lindslalala · June 2014

My MW started checks at 36w last pregnancy, mainly because I was having a lot of contractions. I was 2cm for an entire month before my water broke. It just got my hopes up so I'll likely decline any until I'm in labor this time.

darkangel42 · June 2014

I had MW care both times so not an OB doctor.

Neither did/does regular checks.

The first checked once on her way in to do a membrane sweep when I was overdue and other than that, I was only checked whilst in the L&D unit in blatantly obvious labor. There wasn't really any need for her to do a check at the sweep since I wasn't in labor at that point but she couldn't really avoid it when she had her hand up there anyway.

This time I got checked once to see if there was any progress (in slow labor) and was offered a check at the next scheduled appointment but it wasn't pushed and I wasn't bothered for it so didn't have one.

The team this time will offer if there's a reason for it (like slow labor) but won't demand it. I think they will probably check once in labor 'properly' but that's about it.

With the risk of infection and the high likelihood of it not telling anything useful, I don't really see the point unless something prompts a check and that seems to have been both MW teams' stance as well.

Anyway, who in their right mind would WANT someone else to put a hand up their hooha if they didn't absolutely need to?!

jcartz · June 2014

I had one yesterday at 38 weeks bc I wanted my membranes swept if possible, otherwise I would have declined.

iris427 · June 2014

jcartz said:

I had one yesterday at 38 weeks bc I wanted my membranes swept if possible, otherwise I would have declined.

Did you have it done? My doctor won't do a membrane sweep until 39 weeks. If I'm still pregnant by my next appointment (39+4) I'm considering having it done.

splaster79 · June 2014

What does a membranes sweep do?

iris427 · June 2014

splaster79 said:

What does a membranes sweep do?

It releases prostaglandins to help your cervix progress or stimulate labor. I think the evidence on whether it works is mixed but there are some studies finding that it actually can help bring labor on sooner and prevent you from going past due.

splaster79 · June 2014

Thanks!

darkangel42 · June 2014

iris427 said:

splaster79 said:

What does a membranes sweep do?

It releases prostaglandins to help your cervix progress or stimulate labor. I think the evidence on whether it works is mixed but there are some studies finding that it actually can help bring labor on sooner and prevent you from going past due.

I think it's supposed to loosen/pop your plug out too and all the little things it does are supposed to encourage labor to start.

Not convinced it's effective though - did nothing for me

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