How to self check for dilation
Knowing how to self check for dilation can help you make decisions and alleviate anxiety as you prepare to give birth. You or one of your birth support people can measure your cervical dilation by taking these steps. If your waters have broken, it is best not to self check dilation. Have a medical care professional with sterile gloves check dilation, if necessary, to mitigate the risk of infection.
1. Wash your hands.
Clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water to avoid introducing bacteria into the vaginal canal and prevent infection. To help ensure your hands are clean and to prevent any internal cuts or scrapes, you may also want to trim your nails.
2. Get comfortable.
As you check for dilation, make sure you’re in a comfortable setting and environment. Whether you’re at home or in a clinical setting, make sure any clothes are loose fitting and comfortable. Some people find that claiming music or a scented candle can help them relax. Practicing slow, body-led diaphragmatic breathing can also help to calm your body prior to the check.
3. Get in position.
Try squatting with your legs wide open. Many people find this is the easiest position in which to access their cervix. Others prefer to sit or stand with one leg elevated on a table or other surface. If you need support, recruit a helper to steady you.
4. Carefully insert two fingers.
Push your index and middle finger as far as you can into your vaginal canal to reach your cervix. Be as gentle and slow as possible to avoid causing any internal cuts or bruising, and use a water-based lubricant if needed.
5. Check for dilation.
Try to insert the tips of your fingers into your cervix. If one fingertip fits through your cervix, you’re considered one centimeter dilated. If two fit, you’re two centimeters dilated. If there’s additional space in the opening, try to estimate how many fingertips would fit to determine dilation.
How do doctors check for dilation?
Learning how to check for dilation is a wonderful way to stay in tune with your body and understand more about the changes you’re experiencing. However, a pelvic exam conducted by a healthcare professional can also be important to ensure that you have all the information you need to have a safe and comfortable last few weeks of pregnancy. This is especially important if you’ve never given birth before, as you can experience what a cervical exam feels like prior to being in labor.
So how do doctors check for dilation? In most cases, they will check dilation manually. Wearing sterile gloves, they will insert two fingers into the vaginal canal to feel for effacement (thinning or stretching of the cervix) and dilation (the actual measurement of the opening). While doctors and midwives are able to get a pretty accurate estimate of how dilated you are, some OB/GYNs will opt to do a transvaginal ultrasound if they feel that a perfectly accurate measurement is needed. This method allows them to learn precise measurements and assess the state of the cervical opening and tissue. This is an uncommon practice, but you can ask your care provider about it if you’re curious or have a medical reason for a precise dilation reading.
When do doctors start checking for dilation?
Medical care providers such as doctors and midwives agree, the process of cervical dilation is different for everyone and it can be difficult to find a clear answer on how this process begins and how to keep track of it. So, you might be wondering: when do doctors start checking for dilation? Most doctors and midwives offer to begin checking the cervix for dilation in the last 36-40 weeks of pregnancy, although this varies depending on the individual and their specific needs. Some people dilate slowly over the course of a few weeks and others will experience rapid dilation right before their baby is born.
Generally speaking, most people don’t experience dilation until the last few weeks leading up to the birth. That’s why your doctor or midwife is likely to wait until you get closer to your due date before completing a thorough pelvic exam to check for dilation. While this is the typical timeline, it’s always a good idea to talk to your care provider directly so that you can plan out your exams based on your specific body and pregnancy concerns.
Does it hurt when they check for dilation?
When it comes to any type of vaginal exam, many people are understandably nervous that it will feel uncomfortable or even painful. So does it hurt when they check for dilation? If you have a care provider that cares about your comfort and wellbeing, then it should not hurt when they check for dilation and many people don’t experience pain during their exam. Of course, there are also many people who find that the process causes some discomfort, since checking for dilation manually can feel somewhat invasive in nature, especially if it’s your first time and you don’t know what to expect. However, if you find that you’re feeling any pain during your exam, don’t be afraid to tell your care provider so that they can make necessary changes to ensure you are as comfortable as possible.
Can checking for dilation cause labor?
A cervical exam performed by your practitioner or a self-exam to check for dilation can help you determine how dilated you are and (sometimes) the position of your baby. But can checking for dilation cause labor? Checking for dilation does not induce labor unless the exam is used in conjunction with one or more common labor induction methods.
A common intervention that may be offered during a cervical exam is called a “membrane sweep,” which is a procedure that can be performed if you are at least one centimeter dilated. In this procedure, the care provider will “sweep” their finger around the diameter of the inside of the cervix, in attempt to separate the amniotic sac from the inside of the cervix. This can cause a rush of the prostaglandin hormone, which can kick-start labor if your body is otherwise ready. Be sure to ask your care provider if they recommend this procedure, and what the benefits and risks are. Also know that if it is offered, you can decline if you do not find that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Although checking for dilation can give you helpful information and a sense of your body’s progress, dilation doesn’t necessarily mean you’re about to give birth. You could be three centimeters dilated and not give birth for several more weeks, or your cervix could be completely closed but you could be in active labor in just a few hours.
It is common to experience a small amount of bleeding in the hours or day after a cervical exam, as the cervix is made of sensitive tissues that contain many capillaries and some may break during an exam.
Measuring purple line dilation is another good way to estimate cervix dilation that often correlates with the stages of labor.
For guidance on how to check cervical dilation at home, get in touch with a doula.
Doulas are comprehensively trained on the physical, psychological, and emotional processes that take place before, during, and after birth. Working with a birth or Portland postpartum doula can be a great resource to help you learn about everything from how to check cervical dilation at home to the best supplements for lactation to the best childbirth class online reviews. For evidence-based information, guidance, and support, contact a Wildwood Birth doula today.