Cervix... or uterus?

[Catcrazymumma]

So I’m curious... when I examine myself (I’m 39wks+3) I can clearly feel very soft, fleshy cervix, but a little further in it feels like a harder ring. Is this still the cervix or is this the top of the uterus? Does this need to soften as well as the cervix?

No signs of labour. Sweep and stretch last week. A lot of mucus and several bloody shows but everything seems to have stopped now. Very frustrating!

Anyone else felt this sort of anatomy when self examining near labour?

The harder ring is the os, neck of the womb. It’s the part that will soften, thin and open in early labour and then dilate to 10cm.

Suggest not checking yourself as you will introduce an infection. If you want to check how much you have dilated go to your mw

Thanks teddybear45 and Fastaway.

I thought this was the case Fastaway; thank you for confirming.

I always make sure I thoroughly wash my hands and nails prior to self examination. It’s a contentious subject I realise, lots of people of have differing views on self examination.