Cervix Check

I don’t even know why this is a thing. Cervix checks that far before due date isn’t even a common thing in the U.K. it’s not at all important, your due date is your due date, if you get to your due date and want to be induced then fair enough, check your cervix, do a ‘stretch abs sweep’ (usually 40 weeks for first birth, 41 weeks for second I believe) but before then if there’s no medical need at 35 onwards then what the hell!! I can’t get my head around this cervix check thing 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

That’s ridiculous!!! A cervical at 39 weeks will tell them nothing if you go overdue and if at this stage there is no reason to think you need an induction then there is also no reason to be preparing for one!!

There is no reason to need a vagainal examination, so you can continue to decline 100%. If you do go over your 'due date' and decide you would like a VE then that's absolutely your choice. A VE must be consented to, as it is a form of intervention and induction and there are other ways for midwives etc to establish whats going on, without doing an examination. The language they have used is appalling, and if it was me i would be putting in a complaint! Your body, your choice!

Can’t advise much here.. but I just wanted to pop on and say something I was told today.. they want to induce me at 40 weeks and I don’t want that for myself either they’ve stated it’s not something they can enforce. Xx

I don't see the point and we don't do them here until we are in labour, or if we need to be induced. You can decline to have this done if you dont want it at this stage.

I said no to pretty well everything. Didn't do the steep test, there was no way I was having antibiotics while giving birth, had no cervix checks. It's all a recommendation and not a must. Be strong and firm.

So they medically assaulted you and are now coercing you? Did they gain consent before performing a cervical examination? Tell them plain and simply, "No. I am not permitting for or paying for a cervical examination until I feel comfortable with one. Which might not be at all. If you cannot respect that and comply with medical consent laws, then I'll need to terminate your services that I'm paying for."

Inductions go up around the holiday season.

I would say very firmly, "listen, I'm aware of the importance and what a cervical check entails. I am refusing to get checked at this time."

Stay strong girl!

They checked me upon entry at the hospital and then probably every 3 hours or so after that to make sure I was progressing. Just FYI

I don’t have anything to say other than set your boundaries, you should be discuss exactly what will happen down there beforehand, and have them narrate what they are doing. Anything not included in the prior discussion is done without consent and should be considered assault.

I do want to say that if anyone has any risk factors for cervical insufficiency (abnormal cervix, cervix surgery, any sort of damage to the cervix like D&C, pregnancy loss, terminations, exposure to diethylstilbestrol, multiples) should be getting cervical measurements as early as 16 weeks and often onwards.

Not getting a cervix check killed my babies. Even if it had been offered, I would’ve been just like all of you and said no way.

There are reasons to have cervical checks. This is not the case in this scenario and I understand that. Every time they come up as a topic, I have to advocate, so that nobody else experiences the living nightmare I’ve gone through. All the love and wishing you well, OP.

You are totally right and should keep you instance. I communicated to my midwife that Ill wait until baby is 42 weeks for any checks - they can tirelessly call me and I wont concede, and she secretly agreed this is the right thing to do and my right.

My midwife was the opposite she didn't want to do it until 40 weeks them doing it at 35 is way too early so good on you for declining fingers crossed your little one is like mine and comes on their own I was only 4 days over 12 hours away from being induced xx

I’ve never had it checked in 3 pregnancies (only a sweep once I was a week overdue). Know they can’t make you do anything even though it can be tough cause they seem to really push for things (like induction). Stand strong and decline, you got it 💪🏻

Say no!! I had my first baby and I have to say the most painful thing to me while in labor was the cervix checkup. It is horrible and didn’t know I could say no😞 they checked me like 3 times while I was being induced.