Soft Cervix? TMI!!!!

[rooks14]

I'm 34 weeks and pre-pregnancy i had a small cyst near my cervix which i thought i'd have a poke to see if it still was there/ had got bigger or something.

I accidently poked my cervix in the process and found its gone really soft and my finger could easily fit in it! (sorry really TMI! you should of seen me trying to tell OH how i found this out, pretty embarassing!)

I've read online (I know, I know!) That it can happen this early if you've been pregnant before or had sex as semen softens the cervix. But this is my first and me and OH have been doing other things rather than actual sex because it's been too painful. And when you're cervix is soft, labour usually starts within a few days!

I'm sure no one else has been poking their cervix recently but does anyone else have any experience of this?

[squiggleywiggler]

I don't have personal experience of this though did have a rummage towards the end of my pregnancy too.

As you're still 34 weeks I reckon you should think about calling your midwife/maternity helpline and seeing what they think.

I imagine they'll ask you to come in for some routine checks which will probably just reassure you. Even very experienced midwives and doctors find it hard to accurately assess cervical change sometimes (as a doula I recently had a client told she was 3-4cms by 2 people and then found to be not quite 1 cms by a 3rd) - so it could just be nothing.

But as you're not quite ready to pop yet I think it's worth getting checked out just in case.

[rooks14]

Thanks for the advice. Just rang my local maternity unit, they made me feel like a right idiot! She said i shouldn't even be able to feel it at this stage! Am just going to ask my usual midwife tomorrow, she probably won't be so patronising! Thanks again :)

[squiggleywiggler]

Well I can feel my cervix even when not pregnant (sticks tongue out to maternity unit woman)!

You aren't an idiot and I think speaking to your usual MW sounds like an excellent plan.

[Catsycat]

I think things can start to change and "ripen" (!!!) a few weeks before the birth. Try not to worry, it could just be your body getting ready in advance for the big day, and probably better than having a cervix of cast iron (like me - nothing gets out once it's in there!!!).

[maisie215]

I did exactly that with my first pregnancy but I was a bit earlier (around 20 or so weeks I think). I was just interested because I had done the whole natural family planning thing so know what my cervix normally feels like during different parts of my menstrual cycle. I was totally freaked out that it was soft and as open as it ever was. They treated me like a freak at the MFAU but checked it out and said all was fine so I was reassured (although felt a bit of an idiot but it was worth it ) Hope that helps!