Touching cervix - 12 weeks - so worried

[AOMum14]

Hello

I try my best not to, but ever so often get the urge to check my cervix as I have been worried about how low it is. I washed my hands throughly beforehand and I didn't realise how low my cervix was and accidentslly touched cervix enterence.

I spoke to my doctor today who reassured me about my cervix but really told me off for touching my cervix. She said the reason why sex was safe but not a finger was because a penis couldn't touch the enterence as easy. In my head I wondered about whether 'fingering' was safe or not?

I am now so worried I have caused myself an infection. I don't need telling off - I am telling myself off enough - just need some reassurence. Are there other pregnant women who have done this? Are the infections treatable? Will I lose my baby?

I am 12 weeks pregnant with my third child and lost a baby in third trimester in 2022

Many thanks in advance

You had clean hands and were gentle I assume, so it should be fine. Please leave your cervix alone now and let it do its job for you.

I'm so sorry for your loss, was there any cervix related contributing factor? Just wondering as that may be causing this level of worry now. If there was, make sure your midwife and GP know.

I'm so sorry for your loss, how heartbreaking. Cannot blame you for having pregnancy anxiety. Trust your doctor on this. If you develop signs of infection (fever?) go see the doctor again.
Best wishes for you and baby.

Just stop messing around - you'll be fine but you need to just let your body do its thing - sorry to hear about your previous loss, it's hard, but you need to leave be

I totally understand your worry in view of your loss - I am sorry - but if the Dr has reassured you why aren't you happy with that?
Do you really know what's normal/abnormal with a cervix anyway?

Sorry posted too soon.
The cervix isn't static - it is influenced by hormones so will move.

Don't worry OP, I remember around 9-10 weeks for some reason I was paranoid about it as well and tried to see if it was up. It was really low down and I thought not a good sign. I'm 20 weeks now and it's been up really high for a few weeks so I think it's common for it to move.

@MrsPatrickDempsey Thank you for your comment. I am very reassured by the position of my cervix now. It's more that I am worried that by investigating and touching the cervix, I have given myself an infection. My anxiety is very bad this pregnancy

Possibly tmi but I was curious during my pregnancy and had done this. Fwiw, early In pregnancy it was fairly low. The day before I had baby it was really high and I couldn't reach it at all so I think like PPs are saying, it changes with hormones and dosent mean there is something wrong! Totally understand for you why this may be harder for you to relax about though, and I'm really sorry for your loss x

Hey all I’m 5 weeks 5 day pregnant,
I had a scan Monday and say a York sac im booked in for an other one in couple of weeks, I have had a few chemicals and 2 20 week losses, and 11 week loss so I wanted to check my cervix and it’s really low I’m worried I’m going to miss carry or is it normal to be really low this early on I’ve worried my self now 😭

I am so sorry for everything you have been through. Pregnancy after loss is tough.

In my case, the position of my cervix had no ill effect on my pregnancy. I currently have a 2 week old baby. I spoke to my consultant who is very well known in fetal medicine who didnt seem concerned when I raised this with him. From my understanding, there are lots of hormones raging through your body which losens up your muscles down there - a lot of stretching has to take place. My cervix was so high in 2nd trimester I wouldn't have been able to feel it.

Im not sure where you are based but I know that in the UK, if you lost a baby to late miscarriage or preterm labour you automatically qualify for regular cervix measurements. From the little I know, the position of your cervix is not a concern and its more about the length of it, which if it were measuring short, there are things they can do. Only a doctor can measure, you wouldn't be able to tell by touch. Some private ultrasound clinics offer cervix measurements but not sure from what gestation.

This is very hypocritical of me to say but try not to touch it or investigate - you won't cause any harm but it will just add to your anxiety. All I did for myself was cause myself grief. I hope you have got a lot of support around you and good luck with everything - every pregnancy is different and it's okay to have hope!

I used progesterone pessaries for first 6 weeks of my pregnancy so had to 'finger' myself regularly. Some days I could get my finger high up, some days, my cervix was so low i could barely get any finger in at all. It changed frequently.

Oops just seen update so unnecessarily described my fingering - glad everything worked out op, congrats x

Sorry if I've misunderstood...you have a 2 week old baby but you're 12 weeks pregnant ?

Sorry! I was responding to a recent comment made by another user who had a similar worry - realised I forgot to tag them. When I wrote the first comment, I was 12 weeks pregnant but now that 12 week pregnancy has thankfully progressed to a 2 week old baby 👶