Thank you to all the STM+ for confirming what I told DH:This first one will be the easiest physically. Making another human will mean I'll need all the help!
@Gingermom15 I'm thinking I will decline this time around. I was never dilated until labor with DD and am assuming this time will be similar. They were really uncomfortable. (Unless I'm having contractions or something else concerning of course.)
Me: 30 H: 30 Dx: PCOS Married: June 2013 TTC#1: January 2015 BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16 TTC#2: June 2017 BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
@becausescience I sat at 2 cm and 70% effacement from 34 weeks until I got induced with my son. On the other hand, some women will go from 0 and 0 to a baby in their arms within hours. My old OB had the longest, roughest fingers imaginable. She did them from 34 weeks on.
@mdfarmchick I’m hoping my new OB will be on board. She’s been encouraging a vbac attempt so I have a feeling she will want cervical checks, as well.
@Gingermom15 I hadn't thought about it but now that you mention it, I just might. I was at 1cm for MONTHS (and they were being generous) even up to the day they induced me. And THAT was a long and slow dilation so...unless they tell me it's required, I might try to skip it too! I hope I remember.
@Gingermom15, I'll be refusing all cervical checks until labour. Unless there's a very specific reason for them. I have vaginismus, so cervical checks are unbelievably hard for me as it is. My OB asked at 38 and 39 weeks if I wanted one and I said nope. At 40 weeks she said I really should have one, and I said "Well when will you INSIST on one?" and she said 41 weeks. So I said "Let's wait then!", and then did everything in my limited power to induce labour haha!
I will 100% be refusing all checks again. I tried hard to limit them while in hospital as well. I know myself and if I'm told I'm 3cm and then hours later I'm still 3cm, I'm just going to be frustrated. Or if I go from 3-6cm super quickly, then I'll anticipate things continue to be fast. And that's just not how labour works sometimes.
@justkeeptrying with DS I learned that it varies widely from one person to another and everyone wants to “check” so when I went into labor, I told them to pick one person, whether that was the charge nurse or the attending, and that was the only person who got to check. I’m doing that again. None of this he said 5, she said 3 crap.
@mdfarmchick, I definitely wouldn't be able to handle that. My doula said the same thing. She was like "It's all subjective so don't take what they say to heart. Your body will know when it's time". I also had a nurse who was like "I think you're a 3". You THINK? Well that's not going to be very helpful...
@npkat, I think it depends on your OB. Mine didn't even ask if I wanted to be checked until 38 weeks, which I declined. A friend was telling me today that her OB checks at every appointment starting at 34 weeks.
I got them with my first, but is there a reason NOT to get them? I was always kind of interested in how dilated I was, but are there any risks or anything?
@ashleyf911, I think it's a personal decision for the most part. For example, some women may hear they're at 3cm and get super excited that labour is imminent. When really you can be at 3cm for several days/weeks before anything happens. Or vice versa, someone could be checked and be at 0 and then their water break hours later. I haven't looked it up recently, but I vaguely remember reading about risk of infection? I mean really, anything being stuck up your va-jay-jay more often than necessary just doesn't sound pleasant to me haha! For me the "risks" were more so emotional/mental as I didn't want to give myself false hope or frustration if things weren't progressing like I thought they would be. When that number can mean nothing for so long.
I’m not sure when my new ob starts checks. I haven’t asked. My old ob started them at 34 and another ob in the same practice started them at 37. I question the reasoning of doing them before 37 weeks, though. If a woman is having contractions strong enough to cause cervical changes that early, she will likely feel them. At which point it would be necessary to do a cervical check. Other than that imo they aggravate the cervix and introduce bacteria, which is my reason for declining. To each their own, I don’t believe they’re truly harmful, but that they’re generally not helpful
Oh man. Cervical checks are THE worst. I had my first one a few days before my water broke. I wasn’t dilated at all, and it was so painful. When my water broke and we went to the hospital, they took me to triage without my husband to ask me their required questions about abuse. Then once that was done, they went to get my husband as the other nurse gave me a cervical check. It made me yelp from pain right as my husband walked in, and he was like, “IT’S HAPPENING!” Nope. Just a lovely cervical check.
@justkeeptrying Got it, thanks. I think my OB only did it once or twice last time if I remember right. He did explain that it didn't really mean much, but it was nice to be have another thing to complain to DH about... "here I am walking around 2cm dilated, how can you expect me to do any cleaning?"
@ashleyf911 like @justkeeptrying said, there’s always a risk for infection every time something goes up there. I don’t know the likelihood of getting an infection from a cervival check, but it’s uncomfortable to me and not worth it. I was 3 cm dilated with my first for over two weeks, eventually my water broke and I was still 3 cm. But I went from 3 cm to the nurse saying “omg there’s a head” in about 2 hours and my actual pushing was less than 15 minutes. So for me, it really doesn’t feel helpful to be told that I’m only at a 3. Lol!
I agree with @heatherdubrow that I want to know ALL the things. It was a bit frustrating with my daughter to be at 1cm dilated for a full month and then to go from a 1 to holding my baby in less than 24 hours, but given the choice I will still opt to have the info. But it’s totally up to each individual.
I will get them, I sat on 3 with my first for weeks and everyone was "so sure" it would be any day but I went 40 +3. I was induced a week early with my second because my body couldn't physically handle any more abuse (and I think my OB was cool with me not delivering on Christmas which was fine with me) and I am hoping for a similar situation this time. The checks help my case that I am so ready for an induction and they should do it before my spine gets pushed out of place again. (Nothing crazy, I was 39 weeks last time, it's not like I am trying to get them to induce before the baby is really ready)
I'm a little late to this thread, but my MW doesn't do cervical checks until due date unless requested. She said it's not useful information since everyone is so different (as other ladies mentioned) so there's no need to do an extra procedure. My only cervical check with DS was at the hospital in triage as a 10 and basically there's a head. Not planning on starting checks unless I am told there's a reason I need it (and if my situation at the hospital is different, I will also ask for them to be limited there).
I sometimes feel like a FTM because my son was born 5 years ago and blocked out/forgot about all of this. Now that I'm at the point of appointments every 2 weeks she did mention yesyersay they start checking at 37 weeks. If rather not. It was so uncomfortable. My water actually broke on my due date. U have no idea what's in store this time!
I wanted cervical checks with my first and it ended up hurting really bad lol so I think I'll be passing on it unless I'm having contractions or past due. My water broke at 39+6 with DD so I don't think I'll be going past my due date though... Any 2+ moms move ther first into a toddler bed at 1 1/2 to use crib for baby number 2? DD just turned 18 months on the 9th and we bought her a Minnie Mouse toddler bed for Christmas I'm debating on beginning the transition soon to give her plenty of time to get used to her new bed. She sleeps so well in her crib and naps 2 or more hours a day I'm afraid it will throw her off completely. Plus I'm feeling guilty for kicking her out of her crib but I think he idea of buyin a second crib is crazy. Also any transitioning tips?
^^^ I'm finally getting DD to sleep in her pnp again (thanks colds and teeth!) but I still have to "get" her to sleep, and idk how she'll take the crib since she's NEVER slept in it...
Should I even bother? Maybe just let this one have the crib!
Did any STMs here use nitris for pain relief in a previous birth? I learned recently that our hospital offers it. I'm high risk for a CS so may not even be on the table for me, but if I do end up having a vaginal birth I like the idea of having pain relief that I can control and being able to move around feel the lower half of my body when I want to, so I'd be interested to hear your experience if you used nitris in the past, especially if you also had an epidural and were able to compare.
@vflux33 I’m a FTM, but a doc I work with told me her wife used nitrous and that it was kind of a weird experience. She said she just kind of dissociated from the pain without experiencing relief per se, and on top of that was straight up hallucinating and making no sense. Kind of a bummer, since I thought it might be a good option...
@vflux33 No experience with nitrous during birth, but I do want to say it's not a definite that epidural = no feeling or movement. A big disclaimer that everyone reacts differently to epidurals in addition to how an anesthesiologist goes about giving it. Mine had a very modest approach, and even after having to hit the button for a little more juice when I was still having hip pain, I still had movement and could feel pressure while pushing. Heck, at one point when the baby's HR fell off the monitor, they even had me get on all 4's to try and re-find the HB. I was also able to get up and walk around after giving birth to get cleaned up. Totally not what I expected! I have had nitrous while getting fillings at the dentist before. I didn't hallucinate or anything, but similar to what @orbmaker said, I was dissociated from the pain, but it was still very uncomfortable. It was more of a high than pain relief. I don't know if I would have liked that over an epidural to be honest, but I do get that it's more natural/less risk with gas.
my midwife hasn't brought up cervical checks yet, but I'm glad this topic came up. Part of my anxiety with a hospital birth has been around the number of people coming in to "check". I'm glad someone (sorry can't find it now) suggested putting in the birth plan that only one person does the checking. great idea!
Re: Questions for STM+ December Edition
Is anyone planning on declining cervical checks until labor or signs of labor? Unless there is reason for concern, of course.
ETA I am most likely having a repeat cs, but my ob still does routine checks for cs as she does when a vaginal is planned.
Dx: PCOS
Married: June 2013
TTC#1: January 2015
BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d
BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16
TTC#2: June 2017
BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
@mdfarmchick I’m hoping my new OB will be on board. She’s been encouraging a vbac attempt so I have a feeling she will want cervical checks, as well.
I will 100% be refusing all checks again. I tried hard to limit them while in hospital as well. I know myself and if I'm told I'm 3cm and then hours later I'm still 3cm, I'm just going to be frustrated. Or if I go from 3-6cm super quickly, then I'll anticipate things continue to be fast. And that's just not how labour works sometimes.
Pregnant with #2:
Any 2+ moms move ther first into a toddler bed at 1 1/2 to use crib for baby number 2? DD just turned 18 months on the 9th and we bought her a Minnie Mouse toddler bed for Christmas I'm debating on beginning the transition soon to give her plenty of time to get used to her new bed. She sleeps so well in her crib and naps 2 or more hours a day I'm afraid it will throw her off completely. Plus I'm feeling guilty for kicking her out of her crib but I think he idea of buyin a second crib is crazy. Also any transitioning tips?
Should I even bother? Maybe just let this one have the crib!