Are cervix checks standard/ necessary ?

Question

Little back story..
Me and my girlfriend go to the same OB office..
I’m now 36w and haven’t gotten my cervix checked (not complaining) and she started getting them done at 32w when she was pregnant! 
I honestly don’t believe they are medically necessary unless you and the doctors need to make sure you are progressing to avoid induction or a c section! 
I thought maybe it was because she was breech.. but the doctor didn’t know that until she got her cervix checked. If that was a concern, wouldn’t an ultrasound be the “standard” route?  
What are your thoughts? Am I confused/missing something ?

Answer

You are absolutely correct on this one. Those checks aren’t at all predictive and seem to give lots of women on this app false hope or cause them to be discouraged. Doctors should tell them the numbers are pretty meaningless. I’m not being checked at all for the reasons you state. And it can introduce germs so why do it? I’m 39 weeks and this baby will come when she’s ready. 
Also a doctors worth their degree should be able to tell if a baby is breech just by feeling. And babies can flip very late so having this info at 32 weeks isn’t very useful. Baby could be head down at that point then flip to breech or vice versa.

Answer

No your right. You really don’t have to check at all unless your in the hospital Contracting to see if your progressing or your water breaks.

Answer

My midwife and obgyn doesn't even bother to check before the overdue control, unless medically necessary or you are in active labor earlier. They explained it exactly like you did: you can go around 4cm dilated for several weeks, and you could go from 0-10cm within hours. So what they measure is only "valid" there and then, and will not indicate when baby comes.

Answer

I started checks at 32 weeks bc I had the sensation of bowling ball between my legs!! Head super super low and had once a week checks to make sure it was causing any dilation or effacement bc that’s just too early for baby to come. And since baby being that low wasn’t causing any cervical changes it kept me off bed rest. Now I’m 36 weeks and he said he would check if I wanted to but not necessary now.

Answer

I started getting checked at 36 weeks because my midwife was already checking for something and said she might as well check, I was dilated 2cm, 75% effaced and she could feel his head. I progressed each week following, when I was induced at 39 weeks 6days I was 5 cm dilated and 90% effaced. 
32 weeks seems strange to me to be checked that early unless there was something going on, but ultrasounds can see if the baby is breech, idk why anyone would want to be any more uncomfortable by getting checked more times than needed but that’s just me lol

Answer

I never once had it checked until I was in the hospital when my water broke. In my third trimester with my second and haven’t gotten it checked either. I heard they don’t really do that much anymore.

Answer

I denied all until I went into actual labor

Answer

My doctor doesn’t begin them until 39 weeks, but I requested to be checked starting at 37 weeks so see if I had made any progress.

Answer

I denied all until 39 weeks. They are not necessary and even if you are checked and dilated 1cm, you could stay that way for days/weeks. It indicates nothing. All the checks did for me was cause discomfort and spotting.

Are cervix checks standard/ necessary ?

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