cervix, how to check yourself?

[kdinas]

Hi, in my quest to avoid another c-section, I think it would be best to stay at home for as long as possible.
The only way to know how long that is, is to be aware of how dilated I am.
So I thought I would start checking my own cervix, after all how different is this to DTD.
Well, I had a go, and I can't really tell what I am feeling up there.
Does anyone here do this?
What does the cervix feel like in pregnancy, labour and how can you tell how dilated you are?
I know midwives can tell by fingers, but how objective is this?

Can't help, but you go girl!

I think Pupuce knows

Hi there, really I would personally think that giving yourselfs internals is not the best way to go....trust in your own body and go by how you feel and how your contractions are etc....dilating is such a weird thing...I know they say it's a centimeter per hour, but this really is not true for to many women!
A good sign for transition stage is, that you feel worried and unable to do the Birthing thing...usually shortly after most women seem to be ready to push
Remember, you always could have a Homebirth, then you wouldn't need to worry about Hospital and when to leave for it...unless there is a medical need or you wish too, and you not in the process of pushing that baby out ;)

kdinas, you don't have to go to hospital at all if you don't want to. There are lots of people who've had home births after caesareans (me included) Transferring to hospital in transition or late on in labour isn't going to be much fun and might cause your labour to slow down or stop because of the stress.

Examining cervices is a skill that takes midwives and doctors a long time to perfect, I think it's going to be very difficult for you to make an accurate assessment of what's going on when you're in labour, trying to reach round your bump etc.

Good luck, you sound determined and I'm sure you will get your vbac.

it takes a lot of practice to assess dilation and it would be tricky for you to be able to feel far enough up inside with bump in the way.
Normally though cervix feels quite firm and long with small dimple in middle. When things get going towards end of pregnancy it gets very soft, thinner and the hole in the middle gets progressively bigger.
Think you're better off going by how you feel than by how your cervix feels though as a guide to when you need to go into hospital. And write VBAC all over your birth plan!

p.s if you can't feel anything different (i.e all feels soft and squishy) then maybe things are starting to happen?

Is it just me who thinks that giving yourself internal examinations during labour, or having any untrained person doing this, is dangerous?

I don't think you'd be able to reach high enough for it to be dangerous tbh. Think having someone else do it not a good idea. But (without TMI) how different is sticking some fingers inside and wiggling them about a bit to DTD?

I think you might struggle to find it to be honest, they're often very posterior.

But if you are going to try, stick a cushion under your bum to tilt your pelvis forward. The cervix starts off been slightly open if you've laboured before and thick like a funnel. It needs to get paper thin before it starts effectivly dilating. You'll feel it like one of the thin ridges in your ear. But if your waters have gone then please don't do it as at that stage anything going in needs to be sterile.

I don't see why touching one part of your body with another part of your own body should be considered dangerous. Obviously have a wash first but how can it be any more harmful than anyone else doing it?(i.e. doc or nurse) You are not going to be able to reach far enough in to do anything more than touch your cervix/baby with your finger tips unless you have Mr. Ticke arms.

With my last DD I was labouring in the bath and decided to have a feel to see what was going on down there. Imagine my surprise when I felt a head covered in hair! I shouted DH and MW who were having a cuppa downstairs and they dragged me out just in time for DD to pop out.

I think the issue is, that once the waters have gone, then anyhting inserted there has to be as sterile as possible, to avoid possible infection, and introducing germs unecessarily!
Personally still don't see the point in internals all that much anyway!But that is just me!

Mr. Tickle! Obviously.