Is it normal for cervical checks to be really painful?

[Anonymous]

I have vulvodynia so that might be a factor. But during my previous pregnancy, I fell and had to have a cervical check at the hospital and it was awful. I was screaming in pain and they had to pin me down. Same when they inserted the cervidil to induce me weeks later at 41w. It was so painful and traumatic I'm considering not trying for a VBAC just to avoid having someone shove their hands up my vagina ever again. But mainly I'm wondering, is this normal or is there something wrong with me?

If it matters: sex isn't painful unless it's a bad angle, transvaginal ultrasounds are uncomfortable but not painful, and anything involving a speculum is usually painful but not nearly as painful as the cervical checks were.

[Anonymous]

During labor? Absolutely horrible. Make sure you find empathetic and woman-centered providers. They shouldn’t conduct them too often.

[Anonymous]

Mine were the worst part of my first labor. And that was with a SIXTY HOUR induction.

With my second, I was also getting induced, and I basically demanded the epidural before I got one.

[Anonymous]

Cervical checks were 100% the absolute worst part of my first labour. Which was unmediated. Even pushing didn’t hurt that much. Second labour I only had to have one (I mostly refused them because they were so horrible the first time around) and it wasn’t nearly as bad. Not sure if this was because my body was in more used to the whole labour thing (which was overall less awful the second time around) or something to do with the baby’s position but that was my experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cervical checks were 100% the absolute worst part of my first labour. Which was unmediated. Even pushing didn’t hurt that much. Second labour I only had to have one (I mostly refused them because they were so horrible the first time around) and it wasn’t nearly as bad. Not sure if this was because my body was in more used to the whole labour thing (which was overall less awful the second time around) or something to do with the baby’s position but that was my experience.

Agree. They were the worst part of the entire thng for my twin delivery.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for sharing your experiences! I was really freaked out after what I went through. At least now I know it's normal.

[Anonymous]

I read somewhere that cervical checks are pretty inaccurate in addition to being uncomfortable. This checks out for me, as during my first labor I was told I was 6cm only to be told I was 5cm two hours later by a different doc. Is there literature on this? Any alternatives for determining whether labor is progressing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read somewhere that cervical checks are pretty inaccurate in addition to being uncomfortable. This checks out for me, as during my first labor I was told I was 6cm only to be told I was 5cm two hours later by a different doc. Is there literature on this? Any alternatives for determining whether labor is progressing?

They stick their fingers in there and splay them and guess by how far apart they are what the dilation is. It is not the most accurate thing in the universe.

You can decline cervical checks. The more they stick their hands up there the greater the risk of infection anyway.

[Anonymous]

A cervical check by itself shouldn't be that painful. I think some painful cervical checks are the provider sneaking in a membrane sweep without asking/informing. I've had uncomfortable checks when the cervix was still very high and the midwife really had to press on my perineum to get into the neighborhood but it wasn't contraction painful. It's not uncommon for women to have excess pain when they are freaked out and of course it is made worse by impatient providers.

OP if you only want two kids an elective C is perfectly reasonable instead of trying to VBAC. If the reason for your first C section was a failed induction that lowers your chance of a successful VBAC.

[Anonymous]

Antiquated, man-led medicinal theories from the last century had led to documented trauma among obstetric and gynecological patients.

My husband is a doctor (non-ON/GYN) and during both my pregnancies, could find no justification why cervical checks are done so often, why pregnant mothers are so often put on their backs, which is very uncomfortable, why so many things are done in gynecology and obstetrics, except that they are convenient for the medical team and there have not been enough female doctors that have risen to lead departments and conduct research, to effect change and rewrite medical textbooks. If men had to endure these procedures, you bet there would have been different protocols in place a long time ago!

There should be a sensible balance between medical precaution, provider convenience and mothers' physical comfort and psychological needs. Too often, that last part is brushed aside entirely.

I refused cervical checks, and indeed, went with a midwife practice, for my second pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

I know they can range from completely painless to very painful and it is all normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Antiquated, man-led medicinal theories from the last century had led to documented trauma among obstetric and gynecological patients.

My husband is a doctor (non-ON/GYN) and during both my pregnancies, could find no justification why cervical checks are done so often, why pregnant mothers are so often put on their backs, which is very uncomfortable, why so many things are done in gynecology and obstetrics, except that they are convenient for the medical team and there have not been enough female doctors that have risen to lead departments and conduct research, to effect change and rewrite medical textbooks. If men had to endure these procedures, you bet there would have been different protocols in place a long time ago!

There should be a sensible balance between medical precaution, provider convenience and mothers' physical comfort and psychological needs. Too often, that last part is brushed aside entirely.

I refused cervical checks, and indeed, went with a midwife practice, for my second pregnancy.

Women can be worse than men. "I went through all of this too, why are you being such a baby?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Antiquated, man-led medicinal theories from the last century had led to documented trauma among obstetric and gynecological patients.

My husband is a doctor (non-ON/GYN) and during both my pregnancies, could find no justification why cervical checks are done so often, why pregnant mothers are so often put on their backs, which is very uncomfortable, why so many things are done in gynecology and obstetrics, except that they are convenient for the medical team and there have not been enough female doctors that have risen to lead departments and conduct research, to effect change and rewrite medical textbooks. If men had to endure these procedures, you bet there would have been different protocols in place a long time ago!

There should be a sensible balance between medical precaution, provider convenience and mothers' physical comfort and psychological needs. Too often, that last part is brushed aside entirely.

I refused cervical checks, and indeed, went with a midwife practice, for my second pregnancy.

Women can be worse than men. "I went through all of this too, why are you being such a baby?"

PP you replied to. True, but again, that is a by-product of a world dominated by men. Women wouldn't need to rationalize it that way if medical care was tailored to the female body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Antiquated, man-led medicinal theories from the last century had led to documented trauma among obstetric and gynecological patients.

My husband is a doctor (non-ON/GYN) and during both my pregnancies, could find no justification why cervical checks are done so often, why pregnant mothers are so often put on their backs, which is very uncomfortable, why so many things are done in gynecology and obstetrics, except that they are convenient for the medical team and there have not been enough female doctors that have risen to lead departments and conduct research, to effect change and rewrite medical textbooks. If men had to endure these procedures, you bet there would have been different protocols in place a long time ago!

There should be a sensible balance between medical precaution, provider convenience and mothers' physical comfort and psychological needs. Too often, that last part is brushed aside entirely.

I refused cervical checks, and indeed, went with a midwife practice, for my second pregnancy.

+100 needless cervical checks and lying on your back is effing insane. Lying on your back is the absolute worst for laboring and delivery (unless you have an epidural, in which case it doesn’t necessarily hurt, but it slows things down and you could be pinching nerves in your legs without even realizing it).

[Anonymous]

Go with midwives rather than OBs. Much more empathetic, patient-led care, etc. Also hire a doula to support YOU - the doctors are there for the baby, and don't really support the mother.

2 healthy babies born with midwives and a doula, no drugs, no issues.

I remember feeling a burning sensation at one point, mentioned it, doula placed a warm compress in the area, instant relief.