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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Did/has anyone else had a little 'feel' to see if they were dilated?

24 replies

BumsOnSeats · 23/02/2011 12:17

I have not spoken to anyone in RL about this, but before DS (dc2), while in the bath, I had a go to see if I could feel whether my cervix was starting to dilate. It freaked me out when I could quite clearly feel his head! It was very hard, and I could feel quite a bit of it - maybe 4cm or so. No wonder it felt like he was about to drop out!

Has anyone else done this, and is it usual to be that dilated and not be in labour - he arrived about 3 days later? My waters were intact at the time (they went with a huge gush during labour), and I was surprised his head was not more 'cushioned', and I could feel it so clearly.

Disclaimer - I am not advocating doing this btw, as I am sure it must increase risk of infection etc etc

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catinthehat2 · 23/02/2011 12:25

baabaapinksheep · 23/02/2011 12:35

How could you feel his head if your waters were intact??

clarabella18 · 23/02/2011 13:17

more to the point how did you get your ghands up there, do you have "go go gadget" arms?!
i'm 28 weeks and have trouble wiping when i've been for a wee!

MadreInglese · 23/02/2011 13:18

PMSL @ go-go gadget arms

TobyLerone · 23/02/2011 13:19

I did it too. My midwife actually told me what to look for and let me feel for myself under her supervision.

It's perfectly normal to be a few cms dilated with a second/subsequent baby without knowing it.

teenyweenytadpole · 23/02/2011 13:27

Yep with a 2nd or subsequent baby you could easily be 3-4cm dilated for weeks before labour begins. One reason why it is often quicker! I tried to have a feel but couldn't reach round my bump to get my fingers that far in - tried going in from the back so to speak but that didn't work either! It may well increase the risk of infection but if the waters are still intact, it's your own hands and you wash them well first it's probably okay, but you could increase the chance of premature rupture of membranes so probably not to be recommended unless there's a good reason to know. I did ask a friend of mine (a midwife!!) to have a rummage though when I was about 41 weeks and fed up, and I was about 3-4cm, went into labour about a week later (after a sweep done by my doc).

flootshoot · 23/02/2011 14:37

I haven't but I am tempted. This baby feels so much lower than DS I wouldn't be surprised if I am somewhat dilated.

I have been toying with asking the midwife for an internal next week purely out of interest!

Crawling · 23/02/2011 14:42

I did it during labor on DC2 and my waters were intact and my hand snapped back in shock when I felt her head.

Milngavie · 23/02/2011 14:42

I did .

I was huge with DS2 and I could feel his head everytime I sat down. Had a rummage and could feel his head very clearly, it was just sitting there and explained why I could not sit comfortably. He arrived soon afterwards (40+1).

Original poster

BumsOnSeats · 23/02/2011 14:44

Lol at the gadget arms! I tried to have a feel whilst squatting, if that helps (?!). I do remember being so big that wiping my bum was hard, but his head was really low, I didn't have to 'go in' very far to feel it iykwim?

I am pleased it isn't just me who was so curious, but it seems us diy-ers are in the minority . I was a few days overdue by that point, so wasn't bothered if I gave myself a sweep by accident . TobyL - did you feel your baby's head too, or just the open cervix?

OP posts:

TobyLerone · 23/02/2011 14:47

Just the open cervix. Neither of my babies ever engaged properly before labour.

NancyDrewHadaClue · 23/02/2011 14:47

Flootshoot how many weeks are you?

I will be 37 when I see the MW next week (4 days before I am due to be induced) and I am dying to ask for a VE so that I can see if things are starting of their own accord (was also rather hoping that a prod might bring things along naturally)

i assumed she would think I was mad though!

flootshoot · 23/02/2011 15:36

i'm 36 weeks. Booked in for ELCS at 39 weeks, but have said I'll go for VBAC if Labour starts before then. DS arrived on his due date and was back to back so never felt that low - i've a feeling this baby is going to arrive early, it just seems impossible for it to sit this low for another 3 weeks without coming out!

angelbabe1982 · 23/02/2011 15:41

Ok you have intrigued me. What should I feel for? Am 36+4 with DC2 and have thought about checking myself but didn't know what I should be feeling for.

mamatomany · 23/02/2011 15:44

Yes I did this with my last 2 baby's and could feel a massive gap (4cm's at most lol) and the hard skull, it was strange but not freaky.
However it did nothing to bring on labour as I was poking around for weeks up there The baby decides when it ready and nothing will bring it on in my opinion.

flootshoot · 23/02/2011 15:46

oh, I'm so tempted to have a feel now. Although not convinced I'll be able to reach....!

Adair · 23/02/2011 15:47

i tried but couldn't get far back enough!

catinthehat2 · 23/02/2011 17:09

"it seems us diy-ers are in the minority"

you're darn tootin' there

nancydrewfoundaclue · 23/02/2011 17:51

Ridiculously it makes me feel queasy to even think about doing it myself.

What does everyone reckon though will MW think I am freak if I request a VE???

Sparklies · 23/02/2011 20:10

I did it with DC1 because I'd had what looked like a show. Didn't feel open at all (I was quite used to checking as I used to do it as part of TTC)

Half an hour later my waters went. An hour later a midwife checked me (after half an hour of agony through one solid contraction, I hasten to add) and I was 7cm and feeling the urge to push and having a jolly old precipitous labour!

Second pregnancy I walked around at 4cm for weeks and ended up with an emergency c-section due to failure to dilate. I've decided it means sod all.

flootshoot · 25/02/2011 14:50

out of interest, several people have said it's common to be partway dilated for a while with second baby -does that still hold true if the first wasn't a natural birth?

teenyweenytadpole · 25/02/2011 22:47

flootshoot - no it doesn't, sorry!

teenyweenytadpole · 25/02/2011 22:48

Assuming you mean vaginal birth, that is.

pinkclouds · 26/02/2011 13:12

I did this too . With 3rd after the midwife had already given sweep. I was 5cm and his head was sitting on my cervix. It was easy to feel and required no effort .

He wasn't born for another 3 days after another sweep from the midwife (after I lied about having a show so she would give me a VE).

He was born within 2 hours of the second sweep and had a ring on the top of his head where he had been sat on my cervix (confirmed by midwife). I think he would have stayed there forever if he hadn't be poked at.

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