Routine cervical checks are often started toward the end of pregnancy, around week 36 or 37 of gestation. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam of your cervix to assess how “ready” your body is for labor. There are both pros and cons to these routine exams, which are discussed below.
The Pros of Cervical Checks
Cervical checks, both before and during labor, can provide answers to several important questions. As you approach the final weeks of pregnancy, your body prepares itself for labor.
Some benefits include:
- Assessing dilation and effacement:
- Dilation measures how open the cervix is (in centimeters).
- Effacement measures the thinness of the cervix (in percentage).
- If you are 10 cm dilated and 100% effaced, your body is fully ready for your baby to move through the birth canal.
- Monitoring labor progression during induction: Cervical checks help your doctor track the effectiveness of induction methods.
- Assessing overall cervical health: Checks can give insight into your cervix’s condition toward the end of pregnancy.
- Satisfying curiosity: Some women want as much information as possible before labor begins.
The Cons of Cervical Checks
While cervical checks provide useful information, there are some drawbacks:
- Discomfort or pain: Cervical checks can be uncomfortable, especially for women who have experienced pelvic floor pain.
- Risk of infection: Frequent checks can slightly increase the risk of infection.
- Unreliable as a predictor for labor:
- Every woman progresses differently.
- Some may remain at 4 cm dilated for weeks, while others progress from 4 to 10 cm in hours.
- Relying solely on cervical checks to predict labor can lead to unnecessary interventions.
- Alternative labor markers: Signs such as how vocal or focused you are and the intensity of contractions can also indicate labor progression.
Conclusion
Cervical checks can be a useful tool for monitoring the end of pregnancy and the progress of labor, but they also have limitations. Discuss with your healthcare provider whether routine cervical checks are appropriate for you and consider other indicators of labor alongside these exams.