How do they know how dilated you are?!

Question

FTM here and wondering how some of you ladies know how dilated your are or how effaced you are? Also, how does the doctor know how much the babies truly growing (besides measuring)? Confused..

Answer

Some doctors need to check early for whatever reason. Most will start cervical checks around 36w+ (some closer to 38, it just depends on the provider's comfort level, as well as necessity). 
As far as growth, they measure your uterus, and if there's anything off, they'll do an ultrasound. Both can be pretty inaccurate. I've measured both 4 weeks ahead and 2 weeks behind by my uterus. And when my uterus was measuring 2 weeks behind, the baby was measuring 2 weeks ahead by ultrasound. So, really they have no idea what the baby actually weighs until birth.

Answer

Many doctors have stopped doing regular cervix checks until you are actually in labor. Apparently it isn’t really all that helpful or necessary.

Answer

They use their fingers to check your cervix for measurements. They use the measurements from the ultrasound to estimate the babies weight. It’s not 100% accurate though.

Answer

Some docs do lots of cervical checks. Mine doesn’t. I likely won’t have one until I go into labor. He’s very anti cervical check which is exactly how I want it. He doesn’t do anything unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Answer

Ultrasounds are what’s telling them the weight which is largely inaccurate

Answer

And ultrasound checks growth of babies

Answer

They check you and they went to school to know by checking you. Inserting their fingers in your vagina.