when does your mw or dr start checking your cervix?

[2beauties]

At 40 weeks I was checked, and over several days after by my midwife. I was progressing with show for over a week and not in active labor. The only way I knew how dilated I was, was to be checked. I finally went checked in the hospital, was 7cm, the doctor broke my water and I still didn't get into hard labor until I was 9cm. So while I didn't want to be checked so much, my atypical labor made that the only option to see how I was progressing.

[JennTheMomma]

They don't

[songbird516]

With my first the OB group started checking at 36 weeks, although I declined cervical exams and made it through the entire labor with no exams at all since we barely made it to the hospital. One of the reasons I declined with my first was because I was afraid that the doctor would try to strip my membranes without consent.
I asked my midwife to check with my second at my 39.5 and then 40.5 appointment. I then learned from experience that dilation really does mean nothing. 3 cm posterior cervix at 2 am, which was the same as it was at 39 weeks, (thought my water was about to break so I had her check), then baby born at 8:30 am after 2.5 hours of labor.
Labor is about the descent of baby through the pelvis, not dilation!!

[rosefall]

With my first, my very mainstream OB didn't check until almost 41 weeks. With my second, my midwife didn't check until I was pushing.

[Tia]

With my first, I saw an OB and thought it was just normal. They started at 35 weeks after some preterm labor concerns. And every single week after. I was 4 cm dilated at 37 weeks, and my daughter was born at 40+4. Imagine how crazy that made me feel.

With my second, I had a HB midwife and she checked me for the first time when I was 8cm because I was begging to transport because the baby was never coming out. (In hindsight, I was about in transition and had only been in labor for 1.5 hours.)

I'm pregnant with twins this time, and am seeing an OB to deliver in a hospital with the highest level nicu, and he mentioned he normally starts at 36 weeks if requested by the patient but is fine not doing checks, too.

[SaraElise]

They started at 36 weeks with my 1st and 2nd, I know they don't have to mean anything, but for me with all 3 of my kids, I went into active labor once I got 4cm, so knowing I was 3-4 at 36 weeks was very helpful for me to get things ready and take it easy. I know it's not the norm, and some people walk around dilated for weeks, but that has not been my experience at all. I usually go from 2-4 in about a weeks time.

With my 3rd they noticed on an ultrasound that my cervix was thinning pretty early on, so they kept an eye on it, I was also checked for dilated at 31 weeks for possible preterm labor.

[songbird516]

yeah as long as you don't put too much stock in the measurement, cervical checks before labor don't bother me too much. I really don't like them during labor, though. They mean just as little during labor and I really think that they can hinder the birth process. And no, I don't think that a woman needs to be checked before she starts pushing just to see if she's really "ready". Don't even get me started about cervical "lips". lol.

[Puimomma]

I'm 35 weeks pregnant with my first right now and the doctor told me to do it when I turn 38 weeks.

[isaacsmum]

With my first, I think my midwife checked around 38wks, and then each week after that. With my second, the only cervical check I had before labor was when I asked her to strip my membranes.

[MunkyCrazy]

My OB started at 39 weeks (and I never made it that far). Not that it would have made a bit of difference as both times my water broke in the early morning and on days I ended up having appointments scheduled. I was sent straight to the hospital, contractions hadn't started and both times I was not dilated or effaced at all, baby was born the next morning.

I'm sure my MW has said she won't do them and from my past experiences I don't care. With my first I was upset at my 37 week appt when I asked and he said he wouldn't check until 39 and it seemed like everyone else on my BB was getting checked and finding they were dilated. I wanted some hope I'd be going into labor soon and that my body was getting close but like I said I would have been disappointed to find I wasn't and I still ended up having him before his due date anyway.