Re: cervical checks toward the end of pregnancy

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I am not a physician but I thought I'd give you something to think about.

What is the reason for the cervical checks? I know it is routine with many doctors (my own included) to do this near the end of pregnancy but why? Think about this for a moment. What will checking the cervix tell you, or the doctor? If you are checked at 34 weeks and found to be dilated 1 cm, what information have you learned (besides the fact that you are 1 cm dilated)? It certainly does NOT mean you will be in labor the next day. You may or may not. You may remain like this for WEEKS. And what will the doctor do to you/for you if you start dilating early? (Provided there have been no complications thus far in the pregnancy and you have nothing in your history to suggest possible problems.)

You do have the right to decline this exam if you choose.

Let's ask the doctors here to explain why these cervical checks are done, what info they gain (besides the obvious) and what they will do with this information. If it is only to log in the mom's chart that her cervix is X cm dialted (or not), X % effaced (or not), at X week/days, then why bother? Why not leave the cervix alone?

This is by no means meant to be offensive to the physicians. You all know how much I value your positions on the P&B EAB and volunteer efforts here on the forum. :) It's just one of those things I have often wondered "why?" about.

Thanks for bringing the topic up for discussion.

--
Mary Shoup
Pregnancy & Birth Coordinator
mary.shoup@obgyn.net
http://www.obgyn.net/pb/pb.htm

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• Maybe in reply to: Aimie: "cervical checks toward the end of pregnancy"
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