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Checked to be dilated?
Added: 1229 days ago.
Added by: patience21
Section: General.
Status: This question is Closed. (Questions will be closed after 10 days.)


Im am now at 38 weeks along, at my last doctor apt. my doc checked to se if i was dilated, which i was not. But it hurt really bad. Is that normal? With my first daughter i was never checked until i was in actual labor and i dont remember it hurting at all. Does it just hurt if you arent dilated??

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Debra - 1229 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) My midwife never bothered to tell me how dilated i was and I was thankful to her for two reasons. #1- Getting a vaginal check is very uncomfortable. I hated her doing it when i was in labour and she kept it down to 3 times. That was enough and towards the end of my labour, the check was more painful than the actual contractions and i needed the gas to just get through it. #2. You can be dilated for weeks before you go into labour- most women are. However, if you know you are dilated, you get more excited that you will go into labour and stick around the house. My midwife knew lots of women who would sit around the house for weeks because they were dilated and thought they would go into labour at any given time. This just creates anxiety and more stress is bad for you. In other words, there is no reason that you need to be checked for dilation. It doesn't predict when you will go into labour. The only thing it says is how soft your cervix is getting. Its a nice to know=but not necessary. And if you don't like it, i'd tell your doc that you would prefer fingers out for now until labour begins. If you want to create a nice environment for dilating, injesting evening primrose oil and inserting it vaginally will help to soften your cervix. EPO contains natural prostiglandins which is what is responsible for softening your cervix. When your cervix is soft, it will dilate easier. Sperm also contains prostiglandins- which is why sex :) is recommended to help kick start labour.

patience21 - 1229 days ago Thank you for your response!! Im glad to know its not just me, but on the other hand now im going to dread being checked..aw well...

juels101 - 1229 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) For me it depended on who was doing it. My family doctor checked me a few times before I gave birth but she had long thin fingers, but the guy who delivered me had little stubby thick fingers, and even when I wasn't contracting it hurt like crap!!!!!!

mommy-at-home - 1229 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I have been checked (in previous pregnancies) while undilated and dilated. It hurts me REALLY BAD either way.