When do DRs check you for dilation and stuff?

A lot of providers don’t do routine cervical checks. It doesn’t tell them when labor will start, you could be 3cm today at your 38 week appointment and 10cm two hours after you leave. Or 10cm 3 days after your due date. You can ask to be checked though if you’re curious

My last OB and my current providers never said they would do cervical exams, but they did them when I asked. Just like @Alyssa said, it doesn’t give an accurate indication of whether or not labor is near. Hang in there and ask all the questions!

@Alyssa that’s fine I am not exactly curious I just haven’t been thrilled with my dr office for this pregnancy and want to make sure I’m not being effed over or something lol.

I’ve found with mine I have to ask questions too, i have the whole time, if I don’t they’ll just ask how I am feeling, find the heartbeat and be all done. I also don’t see the same person at all of my appointments, I see like 4 different people. One is awful, one is amazing but I won’t see her again, the other two are iffy, I just don’t like them very much.

Definitely make a list of questions to ask them, especially in these last few weeks. Even questions you might think are dumb. This is my 4th and I always have a running list of things to just double check on, especially when it comes to additional appointments because I have zero time to do anything lol

We did it at 36 weeks, but my doctor said they're optional and don't have to be done. She said she will just ask me each week if I'd like one.

I’ve only had my cervix checked once at the very beginning of my pregnancy at my 6 week appointment and then in the hospital when I was having early contractions. My OB doesn’t routinely check for all the reasons mentioned above. I’m sure if you wanted to know, you could ask them to check for you!

@Alyssa it’s exactly the same for me. Haven’t had an appointment with the same dr or nurse etc once yet. I just feel like with my first they lead me a little more in terms of telling me what was needed and when (like how I mentioned the breast pump) but that was 9 years ago so I don’t remember it all and feel like a new mom again

You can ask at your next appointment, some don't ask or just don't check before labor. It's wroth a shot asking, the worst they can say is they're not going to

I’m 38+5 and haven’t been checked. My midwives don’t believe it’s necessary unless something appears to be wrong. They said they rarely check even during labor. But communicate with your providers. Feeling out of the loop is not good for your gentle nervous system.

I learned from my childbirth class that most times cervical exams are in the interest of the provider to help document for liability. That when asked if we would like an exam can choose to wait as there is an inherent risk that the dr could puncture water before baby is ready. Not common but possible. They really asked me to focus on if my water breaks naturally or contractions starts in a systemic patterned way every 4 min lasting 1 minute over the course of an hour. Caveat this is what my Weill Cornell OB recommends.

I kinda just don’t wanna know 🥲

My provider did one at 36w and did the GBS test then too. Then I was offered one every week after. I took them just cuz I was curious, but as some have said, it doesn't indicate how close labor is.. i was 1cm at 36, 37, and 38 weeks and when I went into labor I was 1cm when I went in and it took 4 hours for me to get to 3cm when they finally admitted me

i think you can just ask them at your appointment for a cervical check. i also called the medical center i was going to a few days before the appointment to make sure they knew ahead of time that i wanted to be checked

Getting mine checked tomorrow 36 wks