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I got regular checks (one at 36 weeks one at 39) so I guess only 2. At 36 weeks I was 2 cm and 50% and at 39 weeks I was 3cm and 70%. She did a membrane strip at the 39 week check. When I found out at 36 weeks I was 2cm I thought I'd go into labor sooner than 39 weeks. However, I did like knowing that my body was doing something.

I've been getting them because my doctor says it's important to have a "baseline" so that when i get to the hospital, if I'm still at a 1 or 2, they have a gauge.

I'm of the opinion that the more info the better. I found it uncomfortable but my doc is ULTRA quick about them.

@aprk, i told my doc i was crampy and she said braxton hicks can resemble menstrual cramps. but my cervix is at 0, so it doesn't mean something's happening down there!

I got a check at 38 weeks bc the curiosity was killing me. My cervix was, in the doctors words "doing a whole lotta nothing." It did make me feel better, though, when I went to the hospital in early labor 5 days later and was almost 1 cm/ fully effaced; I knew my 14 hrs of early labor were actually productive.

My OB wouldn't do it until my 39 week appointment. I was definitely curious before then, but it was nice to know finally that I did have some progress, and then a little more when I went to the hospital.

I was solo curious. I got them every week starting at 36 weeks. But... My cervix was extremely posterior and it HURT

my doctor does it routinely starting at 39 weeks and it HURT, probably because I was only a "generous 1cm" and about 50% effaced.... the next week at 40 weeks I was 2cm and 70% effaced - had her strip my membranes and this week it hurt much less.
I went into labor the next day at 40w1d!

it was good knowing & not at the same time - whatever you are dilated is NO indication of when you are going to go into labor. I had a friend at 3 or 4 cm for 3 weeks prior before she went into labor and she kept thinking it would start.... it'll drive you nuts!

I got checks from 36 weeks on per my OB's office practices. I think the 38-39 week ones were the worst. I bled on one of them which she warned me about. I think I was pretty close to delivery by that point. Beyond that, the initial ones yielded no information.

I've had them all along since 36 weeks (I'm over 40 now) and they are very frustrating. I have been at 1 cm and 50% effaced since 37 weeks and nothing is happening. Everyone thought I was going to go early and here I am late and still waiting with no "progress".

My doctor starts them at 36 weeks, and I planned on refusing them. But she convinced me to do just that first one, because she was unsure about the baby's exact position. The exam was no big deal, other than the fact that the baby's head was nowhere to be found. Turned out that he was breech. So you can always decided to just have the first one done, and then refuse the rest. She said it wasn't a big deal if we didn't do anymore after that first one.

I'm firmly in the NO camp, and I'm 39+1. I'm interested to know, but not enough to mess with my body. Oh well!

I never got any cervical checks either and was quite happy to not have them. Like you @aprk, my MW could tell from the outside what position the baby was in - and at my 38 week appt, she was "locked and loaded" with her head firmly engaged in my pelvis. That was more encouraging to me than knowing whether I was dilated or not. I had my first check when I got to the hospital in active labour (I was at 3 cm) and holy heck did it hurt! I plan on refusing any cervical checks in the future as having that information, which really means nothing, is definitely not worth the pain of the check!