Checking your own cervix.

[flubdub]

What do any midwives (or anyone really) think about this?
Is it do-able? Or even safe?

uummmmm - maybe i'm a prude but somethings are best left to midwives

sorry

Not a mw but I don't see why not if you can reach it...as long as you are careful, keep your nails well trimmed etc...not sure if it would be a good idea if your waters had already broken (infecttion risks etc).

I check mine every day as part of charting my cycles so don't see why I couldn't check it when pregnant?

I think I would be tempted to try it if I got as big and uncomfy as I did with last preg to see what happens but the mental image of anyone 9months gone, in that position on the loo?!!! Would you even be able to reach?

it is safe with clean hands, short nails and if your waters are intact. don;t do it if you have had any bleeding that is to do with position of placenta

it is helpful especially in the last few weeks of pregnancy to feel the changes as the cervix ripens and the body gets ready for birth

it is your cervix, fine to touch it !

Well Im 38+2, and have been having pre labour type pains, so was just interested to know whats going on up there really.

The link makes it sound easy! I'm 34+ atm and can't imagine being able to reach it (or get into the position described) even now

I'd be up for it if I could manage it though. Maybe I'll give it a go in an idle moment.

Ewwwww

sorry but that grosses me out. I'm not repulsed by my vagina but I am squeamish and hate smears etc, the thought of touching my own cervix is horrifying!

kat2907

It isn't as easy as all that to feel dilatation tbh. I'm a second year student mw and my peers and I still struggle to be sure of what we are feeling a lot of the time. Even experienced midwives get it wrong. I'm all for it if you can reach and waters haven't gone etc. Not sure what you would do with the information gleaned tho...

i suppose, it is good to feel the change in texture of the cervix, from firm ( like the end of your nose) to soft as it ripens, and as it moves forward and is easier to find

as for assessing dilation, i guess it would be harder to check for that

am slightly baffled that women would be repulsed by their own cervix, and not want to touch it, but would allow a complete stranger ( MW or dcotor) to have a good rummage !

and you are not usually on first name terms either !!

my NCT teacher (a midwife in her dayjob) actually suggested we could try this. She said to wash hands but that any bacteria we had on our own hands would likely be harmless to us because we'd already have exposure to it and because we'd be gentler on our own bodies - not like having a stranger examine you.

In the event I didn't try it, partly because I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be feeling for and partly because I was induced in hospital and felt embarrassed about the possibility of a midwife walking in and catching me in amateur rummaging!

If I was at home next time I would totally give it a go. I think it would be v interesting.

I would have to say if you could reach your cervix when you are term then good luck to you!! I could barely bend enough to put my socks on. I suppose if I had had arms like Mr Tickle then I might have managed it

Am just intrigued as to how you can reach it if you are quite pregnant. It's often hard for MW to reach!

If you have a mirena you become quite au fait with your cervix!

squatting or left lateral.

i cannot reach mine now, fingers too short and cervix too posterior...

Its no good, I cant do it.