In what pregnancy week should the doctor start checking your cervix?

Cervix During Pregnancy

Going through an entire pregnancy is one of the most beautiful natural experiences that one can be a part of, and eventually looking down at the small and delicate body of the baby is one of the most rewarding parts of the entire pregnancy term. It is especially rewarding because of the fact that the mother has been through nine odd months of substantial change within her body in an emotional as well as physical capacity. When natural delivery is being attempted, the doctor or midwife will, on a regular basis check a woman’s cervical dilation in order to determine the approximate date of delivery. The rate at which the cervix dilates varies from woman to woman with the dilation being a little slower in the first few pregnancies. When the cervix dilation reaches about 10 centimeters, she will be asked to start pushing the baby out of her womb. Apart from the instances where the cervix is checked when the woman is pregnant, it is also helpful to check the cervix in a non pregnant woman in order to help her identify the most fertile period of her cycle in order to boost chances of a pregnancy. See also friable cervix during pregnancy

On the day of the pregnancy when the expecting mother has been taken to the hospital, a nurse or the midwife will regularly check the cervix in order to establish whether the baby is ready for delivery or not. The most common position for the woman to have a cervical exam conducted is for her to lie down on her back with her knees bent. The contractions will cause certain changes in the cervix such as a change in the position, effacement, dilation, and even, in some cases, the position of the baby. Just before the woman goes into labor, the cervix will drop, at an angle, into the vaginal wall and seemingly point towards the back and therefore allow the baby to drop into the vagina or birth canal. Some attendants will also use a cervical exam to be able to check the position of the baby in the pelvis by feeling the bones present on the baby’s head. Although it is one of the most commonly practiced ways of identifying whether the woman’s body is prepared for delivery, one should remember the fact that a cervical exam is not always in line with true labor progress. To elaborate, traditional progress would be for the cervix to dilate one centimeter every hour, but actual cases have seen a number of mothers experience absolutely no dilation for a few hours at a time. While it is not a necessary part of a physical examination, the doctor may suggest a cervical examination from week 36 of a pregnancy.

Submitted by N on June 1, 2010 at 02:57

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