Dilation

Your OB usually doesn’t start to check until 36/37 weeks because they don’t want to risk infection or early labor

@Kaleigh Thank you for the reassurance. I’m 31 weeks tomorrow so I’m sure I am just getting ansy!

@Jalin I completely understand with my first I wanted cervical checks but my OB actually was against them I didn’t get checked until I was 39w 6d at my appointment when I got a membrane sweep I was 1.5cm & I ended up going into labor that night at 12:50am

You can be dilated a few cms and no where near labor starting. But at 31 weeks that’s alarming. Checking it yourself is not a good idea because of the risk of infection and the fact that even seasoned birth professionals sometimes struggle to figure out dilation. I don’t know how you’d comfortably check on yourself anyway.

@Kaleigh it’s crazy how differently each pregnancy can be! I was not worried at all with my first and ended up delivering at 38 wks but this time I’m just so much more seasoned I would like to think that’s making me more aware of my body!

@Madeline that’s what I was wondering if I am being honest my husband has visually checked me which prompted a quick Google search to realize you check by actually inserting fingers. That seems invasive but I see online women are able to check themselves which is why I was curious if any women ACTUALLY had seems far fetched lol and clearly I was right 😂❤️

To be honest I would steer clear from the cervix because anything can trigger contractions prematurely or cause infection. It’s not a matter of ability it’s a matter of safety and precaution. That’s my opinion 🙂