https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:55:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740965 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:04:45 +0000 red_seattle 740965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had them pretty regularly or I had vaginal ultrasounds every 2 weeks starting at 29 weeks and going through 36 weeks (because of preterm labor issues). Then I didn't get one until my OB visit late in week 39, where I was told I was barely 1cm dilated. It was exciting to hear things were starting to progress, but frustrating 3 days later, when it turned out that it took me 21 hours to get to 3/almost 4 cm. Knowing I was starting at 1cm made me think that I should've progressed a little more quickly. </p> <p>Next time... I'll probably still want them because early progress/delivering on the early side could mean I'd be a better candidate for VBAC. But VBAC possibility removed, I'd probably do without. Definitely if I was looking at a planned c-section. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740809 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:41:14 +0000 Boheme 740809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FarmWifeGina: that's exactly why I decided to decline! I get sooooo hung up on numbers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740762 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:06:21 +0000 pl0508 740762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish I would have. Mine HURT </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740715 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:37:57 +0000 oliviaoblivia 740715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I skipped them until 39 weeks. And then the ones I had during labor just depressed me when I didn't make as much progress as I'd have liked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740697 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:27:05 +0000 tlcbaby 740697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just asked about this at my appointment yesterday! They said they won't do a check until 41 weeks unless I ask for it. My midwife said she has seen people at 3 or 4 centimeters for over a month or even at 6 centimeters for over a week.</p> <p>I think it will just make me over think things so I am not planning on having any checks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740677 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:13:47 +0000 Weagle 740677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had one. I'll never have one again. Not only is it useless, it hurt worse than contractions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740671 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:08:29 +0000 hilsy85 740671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got them, starting at 36wks. My 36, 37, and 38 wk checks were pretty discouraging and I did feel pretty depressed/upset after hearing how little progress I made week to week. BUT at 39 wks I had made progress, and my OB stripped my membranes, and knowing that I was already 2.5cm dilated helped me make the decision to go to the hospital quickly when my water broke 2 days later (good thing, because I had a short labor!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740640 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:48:36 +0000 FarmWifeGina 740640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't remember exactly the first time around, but I had very few pre-labor checks that time and only one at 36 weeks the second time around. Can't remember why I had that one then, there was no reason for it. This time I'll be refusing all checks, including checks during labor, as long as things seem to be progressing as they usually do for me. I don't need to be told I'm complete to know when it's time to push, my body just does it. Heck, last time baby came out before the doctor had a chance to confirm that I was complete and ready to push, lol. But I get really hung up on numbers when I'm in labor, especially during transition (last time I was only at 6 cm., but totally in transition and was completely crushed to find out I had 4 cm. to go- especially because it took me 7 hours to dilate those last 4 cm. with my first labor. Yeah, it took 20 minutes for those 4 cm. to happen the second time, haha) so is rather just listen to my body's cues as to what stage of labor I'm in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740576 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:15:02 +0000 Penny Lane 740576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I skipped them. My midwife didn't offer them either, but if she had I still would have skipped. I had 2 checked while I was in labour and that's it :)</p> <p>I don't think they're a standard thing to do here anyway </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740516 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:32:22 +0000 tysonja 740516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my OB only offered one at 39 weeks. I was kinda scared but she was great and although a bit uncomfortable, it was wayy better than the last pap i did recently (ahhh that midwife was so rough!). </p> <p>my only other ones were in the hospital during labour. </p> <p>i think this time round i'll decline because if the labour and delivery are anything like LO#1, it will be super obvious and super short. (for LO#1 i was at a 7.5 by the time i arrived at the hospital. 4 hours after labour began). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740497 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:21:28 +0000 Ree723 740497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They aren't even offered here as a standard practice so I didn't have my first cervical check until I was actually in labour and admitted to hospital. I see no point to them before labour and was so glad it wasn't even an option here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740417 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:29:42 +0000 pregnantbee 740417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: I skipped them until I think either week 38 or 39. Wasn't worth it because they mean nothing either way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740388 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:13:18 +0000 sslm 740388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have any until my midwife started trying a membrane sweep to get my labor started at 41 weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740331 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:47:40 +0000 MegWag 740331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They don't do them here at all. No one looked at my bits until I was in labour! I guess I don't see any reason for them, given that I never had one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740261 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:09:25 +0000 Arden 740261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have them, and I'm pretty against routine cervical checks before labor. They don't provide much information and aren't accurate predictors of labor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740260 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:08:13 +0000 avivoca 740260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now at almost 17 weeks, I plan on declining them later in pregnancy. I had my yearly exam at 10 weeks and it was so painful, so I'm not keen on repeating that experience. Things might change later on though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740253 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:05:46 +0000 Dandelion 740253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's not standard at my birth center. I was pretty much ok with it, but I started to get really curious towards the end! But, the first time I got checked was when I went into labor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740240 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:59:08 +0000 littlebittyhouse 740240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have any checks until I was induced at 38 weeks. My 3 day induction with multiple cervical checks ended with me having a 102 degree fever when LO was born and IV antibiotics in the recover room. Bummerville. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740200 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:42:51 +0000 lindseykaye 740200@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My midwife practice offered them starting at 38 weeks but I declined until I was a few days away from 40 weeks. I knew they didn't mean much, but I was so curious! I also wanted to know what one would feel like before I had to get checked in the middle of labor.<br /> Turned out I was 2 cm dilated and it was encouraging. Not encouraging that I would go into labor soon (it was another week) but encouraging knowing that I was 1/5 dilated and there was that much less work to do whenever labor did start. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740196 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:41:50 +0000 LazyLightning 740196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm getting them. I'm nosy. I like all the info, even if it doesn't mean much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-740178 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:33:17 +0000 JerricaBenton 740178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't but I think I'll skip most of them next time. They were painful when some of the drs did them and I bled after one. I'll probably end up with a scheduled c next time so hopefully they won't push me to get them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-739948 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:34:49 +0000 emg86 739948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My midwife has a very hands off approach as well, so I haven't had any checks and I haven't wanted any checks either. I've known way too many ladies who walk around excited about having a baby any minute at 3-4cm for WEEKS before going into labor, I didn't want to deal with that. Baby will come when she's ready! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-739940 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:33:06 +0000 Smurfette 739940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted them cause I wanted to know something was going on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-739931 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:29:27 +0000 brownie 739931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have them until until I was overdue and had a membrane sweep at the same time. They hurt (just the check) so I don't recommend them for that reason. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-739907 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:22:25 +0000 MamaMoose 739907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really wanted them because I'm the kind of person who likes as much information as possible! So I got them every week starting at 36 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-739898 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:20:13 +0000 plaidpants 739898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to the midwives and it wasn't their policy to do them unless you really wanted it done. They took a very hands-off approach with as little intervention as possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-739893 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:18:30 +0000 heffalump 739893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't skip them....and I do think it was helpful to have them. When I went into labor the contractions weren't bad at all, but they were consistently 4 minutes apart so I went to the hospital per my doctor's orders. When I got there they checked and saw that I hadn't dilated since my last doctor's apt so they knew I wasn't ready to be there, and sent me home. Without that they'd have no clue if I were progressing fast or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-739876 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:12:49 +0000 bunnylove08 739876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally skipped them. My doctor asked if I wanted one and I said no (it was because I was scared. I heard they really hurt). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-739872 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:11:45 +0000 birdofafeather 739872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i was going to skip, but curiosity got the best of me at my 39 week appt. i was 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated. i delivered 3 days later! so it doesn't mean much! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-skip-cervical-checks#post-739376 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:51:38 +0000 SugarplumsMom 739376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never had them only because they didn't do them. My midwife only felt around my tummy and pelvis from outside. She didn't even mention checking from the inside. </p>