Dilation checks

VS2016 · April 2016

Since I am only 32 weeks I won't get my first cervix check for several weeks yet but I am already dreading it. It was extremely painful every time for me for my first pregnancy (relatively speaking as obviously birth is worse...). Just curious if it is painful for anyone else.
Anyone dilated yet? I am one of the members lagging behind since I'm not due until late May

hellogoodbye2 · April 2016

They weren't very painful for me.

If you are anxious this time you don't have to be checked. All you have to do is kindly deny them. There's no need for them, IMO, unless your doctor is worried about preterm labor/frequent contractions/etc.

Par13 · April 2016

I don't remember my checks being painful, but it's possible I've forgotten since it's been over 3 years since I was last pregnant.

khochanadel · April 2016

Because I'm having twins, I've been getting them since week 28, where I was dilated 1 cm. I had another at my 30 week visit, where I was dilated 3 cm. They sent me to the hospital for 24 hours to make sure I didn't dilate more and sent me home on bedrest orders.

The 2 cervical checks my OB did were not painful at all. Less pressure than a pap, in my opinion. The one the L&D nurse did was SUPER painful. Was not expecting that. Somewhere between a pap and an HSG. The one the discharge doctor did also was fairly painless. So I'd have to say it depends on who is doing it. If your doctor does one and it's too painful, it will last shorter than a labor contraction and you can politely decline subsequent ones.

Just my take!

auntieembabes · April 2016

khochanadel said:

Because I'm having twins, I've been getting them since week 28, where I was dilated 1 cm. I had another at my 30 week visit, where I was dilated 3 cm. They sent me to the hospital for 24 hours to make sure I didn't dilate more and sent me home on bedrest orders.

The 2 cervical checks my OB did were not painful at all. Less pressure than a pap, in my opinion. The one the L&D nurse did was SUPER painful. Was not expecting that. Somewhere between a pap and an HSG. The one the discharge doctor did also was fairly painless. So I'd have to say it depends on who is doing it. If your doctor does one and it's too painful, it will last shorter than a labor contraction and you can politely decline subsequent ones.

Just my take!

I'm 32 weeks today with twins and had an OB apt today, haven't had any cervical checks yet. I'm ok with that lol! Not a fan.

Astraphobic · April 2016

I've had three checks. One at 25 weeks by on call doctor and the other two at 32 and 33 weeks. None of them have hurt but I wouldn't call them pleasant. Thankfully I get next week off from the check unless I start having issues. From what my coworkers say I am strange for it not being painful. I think the awkwardness bothers me more than the discomfort.

kbrands7 · April 2016

I'll have my first check next appointment...I try to schedule appointments when I know I'll be checked with the OB with the smallest hands so it's not too bad.

lionstigersbears · April 2016

My midwives don't even assume it's happening. If you ask for it they will but not standard whatsoever!

hellogoodbye2 · April 2016

lionstigersbears said:

My midwives don't even assume it's happening. If you ask for it they will but not standard whatsoever!

I think it just depends on your doc/midwife. At my OB's office they start checking at 35w which I think is ridiculously early (especially since I've had no problems). I plan on denying them until 38w or so.

LadySamLady · April 2016

I've had two checks and they didn't hurt at all, personally I find Pap smears more uncomfortable. The reason they checked was because I've been feeling pressure but my cervix is still closed and baby is at -1 station. I wonder if they'll be uncomfortable once I start dilating.

dsmith211 · April 2016

lionstigersbears said:

My midwives don't even assume it's happening. If you ask for it they will but not standard whatsoever!

This. If I let them know of symptoms that may indicate dilation or labor they'll check just in case, but otherwise they just let things proceed as normal.

lalala2004 · April 2016

You don't have to have them done. I'm declining until my due date. I don't see what the point is when you can walk around for weeks being a few centimeters dilated. If the information is meaningless, why check just for the sake of checking? I'd rather not know.

tripledaggerWed95976 · April 2016

I was checked in the ER, I didn't think it was painful- I found it to feel just like having a Pap smear. I was 1cm dialated, 50% effaced

lalala2004 · April 2016

I have a theory that women who say they hurt actually had their doctor sweep their membranes without their knowledge. I'm a bit paranoid, though.....

wamam027 · April 2016

I JUST had my first check due to some weird symptoms and my cervix is WAY up there, I didn't find it painful in the least bit.

slfezz · April 2016

With me it wasn't the check itself that was uncomfortable, it was the Dr having to push hard to get far enough up to reach my cervix.

Jbabylove2016 · April 2016

I just had mine checked at 35 weeks for the first time. It was definitely uncomfortable, but didn't really hurt. I was not dialated....yet.....

JoMunson · April 2016

I don't really understand why you would get checked anyway. If you aren't in labor does it really matter if your one or two centimeters?

JessicaB0627 · April 2016

JoMunson said:

I don't really understand why you would get checked anyway. If you aren't in labor does it really matter if your one or two centimeters?

There are a couple reasons to get checked. If your doctor is worried about pre-term labor is one. Also if you know that you will need to be induced for a medical reason it's helpful to know how favorable your cervix is for induction and make a plan with that information.

I was checked at 27 weeks and 32 weeks. I am 1cm but I effaced more between checks and baby is very low, so I've been told to take it easy and stay off my feet as much as possible just in case. I was only checked because I had pain and a lot of pressure.

JoMunson · April 2016

JessicaB0627 said:

JoMunson said:

I don't really understand why you would get checked anyway. If you aren't in labor does it really matter if your one or two centimeters?

There are a couple reasons to get checked. If your doctor is worried about pre-term labor is one. Also if you know that you will need to be induced for a medical reason it's helpful to know how favorable your cervix is for induction and make a plan with that information.

I was checked at 27 weeks and 32 weeks. I am 1cm but I effaced more between checks and baby is very low, so I've been told to take it easy and stay off my feet as much as possible just in case. I was only checked because I had pain and a lot of pressure.

That makes sense! Thanks.
no one has mentioned to me induction or pre term labor so that must be why no one has talked about checking me yet.

LovingLife! · April 2016

My doc starts checking at 36 weeks. The more painful checks for me were when I was in L&D which I don't understand at all!

mumbolino · April 2016

I will be refusing those checks, too. For me personally a stranger putting anything up there whilst I should try to relax and open up and get my baby out don't really mix. But as I said, that's just me:-)

megnwingate · April 2016

I'm refusing all cervical checks. I'd rather not worry about what's going on with my cervix and let it do its thing.

lisaren · April 2016

I have cervical checks. Always have. It's a good gage for my MW and I to decide labor goals.

KidShrink · April 2016

I had one last night and one this morning because of early labour. Not fun, but sort of a necessity in a similar situation. I was unlucky enough that the first one was performed by the one and only man OB on the team as he was on call last night. There's definitely worse pain than that though.

That1didntcount · April 2016

lalala2004 said:

I have a theory that women who say they hurt actually had their doctor sweep their membranes without their knowledge. I'm a bit paranoid, though.....

I had checks after my due date with my ob and they were uncomfortable! Then my checks at the hospital when I was in actual labor were completely unbearable! I think it depends on the Doctor! I had my membranes swept after my due date as well, and it didn't really feel like much??? Just my experience for your data gathering

Soontobejones33 · April 2016

My doctor is not starting checks until 38 weeks and thats more to see if i need to be scheduled for 41 week induction. I'm a FTM so no experience with pain of it. But pap smears have no bothered me even when the stick their fingers up and press on your abdomen. Thats about the same as a cervical check right?

nbgmom · April 2016

I have had cervical checks with my previous 2, dr starts them at 36 weeks. It's crampy but certainly tolerable. I also perform them regularly at work and they seem to bother women more the further they are from delivery. As your cervix dilates and thins, and the baby moves down more, we don't have to reach as much to get to your cervix.

avidkeo · April 2016

lalala2004 said:

I have a theory that women who say they hurt actually had their doctor sweep their membranes without their knowledge. I'm a bit paranoid, though.....

I only had a couple of checks - once I was overdue and they hurt. I was 0% effaced, 0cm dilated and baby hadn't hurt at all. My MW only checked because I asked her to see if she could sweep - but no luck. My cervix was so high up it was very painful.

onislandtime · April 2016

I had my one and only check last week, since I'm having a c section they only did one at the same time as the GBS swab. The internal did not hurt, the GBS swab did though.

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