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jenny, if anyone is stupid, its you... its not hard to check for dilation. its a matter of knowing the correlation between the size of your 2 fingers and a centimeter ruler. i do this all the time.. i am 39 weeks pregnant. i checked myself yesterday and i came out with maybe 3cm, i figured. i had a clinic appointment today, and thats exactly what my doctor said! so i say that its not stupid to check yourself for dilation, if you know how to do it. all you have to do is read up on how to measure your fingertips... so before you go calling people stupid and moron, like a juvenile, i suggest you look elsewhere in any other forum with actual MIDWIVES who easily say that you CAN check yourself and they even give you insight on how to do it.

p.s. sorry i posted so late, i know the "quarrel" is over, but i thought i would put in my opinion and my experiences... thanks

Checking for dilation is NOT recommended by doctors and although there are some brilliant women out there who believe they are geniuses and medically qualified to make a scientific a__sessment -Al, Maddie, Julie, Lindsey-checking for dilation is not something you should practice after simply reading up on it over the internet. NO doctor would suggest you check your cervix because of the risk of infection, in fact, many doctors avoid giving internal exams themselves because of the risk of pa__sing on infections and they know what they are doing and what they are feeling for given they have done it several times. So, for all you ladies who think you are so very clever, it is best to leave that to the doctors. If you have any doubt, ask your doctor himself if you can check yourself for dilation and see how he responds. It's likely he'll suggest you don't. Furthermore, if you bear in mind that many of us are not doctors nor qualified midwives nor have taken a course in midwifery nor taken a course in "cervix dilation", I fear that following the suggestions of the those who suggest we can a__sess our own cervix for dilation can lead to unnecessary risk and threat to the baby because we don't have the skills and practice to make such a diagnosis. So, DO NOT check yourselves for dilation unless you are an expert- so Al, Maddie, Julie and Lindsey all the power to you ladies, but you are the unique ones, the geniuses!

I have read this entire message board and must admit it has been fascinating! However, I am on the side that the question was a bit "stupid" and that you should NOT check your own dilation. Firstly, all I can do is speak for myself when I say I can't even extend my arm far enough back to wipe my a__s anymore, so checking for dilation would require superhuman arm extension, which I don't have. And also, no matter how much advice Julie gives, I am not confident enough to do it myself. I wouldn't know what to look for and what to feel for. So to LINDSEY who claims she does this ALL THE TIME, then good for her, but for those of who don't, 39 weeks pregnant is not the time to start taking up a new activity of which I know nothing about...sorry but no amount of reading would prepare me for that at this point!

My husband is an obstretician and he was extensively trained in med school to check for cervix dilation. When I asked him if you can check for yourself for cervix dilation, he laughed profusely. Firstly, you can damage your cervix if you don't know what you are doing, you can inadvertently swipe your membranes, you can pa__s on infections...the list is endless. Julie, I understand that you are trying to be helpful but giving us a mini course in checking your cervix is not the responsible thing to do given that it takes MDs years to learn what you think can be taught in 5 minutes. There is a technique for checking for dilation that is impossible for anyone who is not a trained expert to perform properly. I guess you could do it on yourself, but not 100% guaranteed you are doing it properly. You should not be encouraging pregnant women to do this...it is not healthy and we are not trained for this, no amount of reading can achieve this and doctors DO NOT approve. Furthermore, midwives go through extensive training themselves and are capable of checking cervix dilation, but unless you are a licensed midwife, I wouldn't go about doing it either. So for all of you who are promoting this, go ahead and check your cervixes, but GOOD LUCK and I hope nothing happens to you or your babies.

Is it really worth all the risk poking around up there just to feel "empowered"? Don't you feel empowered enough CREATING LIFE! Why do these women want to be checking this? I agree with the one woman who said its hard enough to wipe your a__s at this point and putting one leg up on the toilet seat...PLEASE...I'm sure not able to do any acrobatics at 36 weeks. What knowledge do you really gain even if you are correct in your estimate. If you read all the postings about dilation you will find that it tells you absolutely nothing! You can be 2 cm for 4 weeks and still nothing or 0cm and deliver next week so why risk getting an infection or damaging your cervix? Just leave well enough alone is what I say. As for wether this was a stupid question, I still say no, especially when it gets so much attention...I think it's important to talk about since there seem to be so many out there who like to poke and prod themselves.

EM, Trish, Kymmi, Heather,EAS and Jenny: I agree with you totally. One thing is to touch your cervix and another is to measure for dilation, which I could never pretend to know how to do and I consider myself a very intelligent person. As for people being "rude", yes, I think people can be "rude" but I also think people can be "stupid" and I'd rather error on the side of "rudeness" than "stupidity". So, to Jenny, I agree with you and would have said the same thing...(not that you are reading this anymore as you previously posted to know that I agree with you) But on the off chance that you do revisit, I'M WITH YOU!

opinions...opinions..everyone has one. :)

First of all let me start out by saying I have not told one person to go check thereself. I pa__sed on information obtained by a midwife. Was the question in this room about checking yourself for dialation or not? I believe it is. I was answering the question with a link to the website so that ppl who wanted to know how would be eduacted by the midwife and I copied and pasted the info for those that maybe new to the net and not know how to copy and paste the link and check it out thereself. I feel this is an individual decision.

Emy, I forwarded your response to the midwife I have been speaking with and I wanted to send you her response. Well, exactly the same thing would probably be said by a nose and throat specialist is you asked his advice on picking your own nose. They'd tell you about infections, people bleeding profusely, how you've never had proper training in the anatomy and physiology of your nasal pa__sages, etc and advise strongly against it. Now, how many people a day in N. America are digging around in their own noses! Most pregnant women are perfectly at home letting their s_x partner do whatever feels good inside their v____as during pregnancy. This woman needs to get over her enamouration with her ob/gyn husband's powers. I was married to a dr, too, and he is the first person to admit that he never had a clue what he was doing when he was examining women's v____as. Every dr had to do a first pelvic exam. Every "medical professional" was a lay person to begin with. Sometimes when people have a lot of experience with doing pelvics, they make the most mistakes and do the most harm because they get arrogant about what they're doing. Thanks for referring those women to MT website. We love having more participants on these forums." Page: 1 2 3 of 3 Topic Previous Page New Topic Reply to Topic Subscribe to this topic Send Topic to a Friend Printer Friendly Jump To: Select Forum Announcements What's New Online? Product Specials New Products Conferences About the Midwifery Today Forums Frequently Asked Questions Ordering Information and Questions Finding a Birth Pract_tioner Editorial & Content Questions Advertising with Midwifery Today Community Discussions Well-Woman Care Waterbirth VBAC Tricks of the Trade Technology in Birth Shoulder Dystocia Rape/Abuse Survivors Pregnancy/Prenatal Care Preceptorship/Apprenticeship Postpartum Parenting and Families Online Study Groups Midwife Chat Legal Battles and Birth Politics International Midwifery Homebirth Herbs and Natural Remedies Grief and Loss Español Doula/CBE Chat Circ_mcision Breastfeeding Birth Aspiring Midwife Chat Other Forums Suggestions for New Forums Just Testing URLs and Other Resources Student Midwives Package Sales and Specials Midwifery Today Homepage Midwifery Today Conferences Midwifery Today Birth Market IAM (The International Alliance of Midwives) Check out the New Items Birth Information - Midwifery Today Magazine Birth Art Belly Cast Kit Aspiring Midwife? -------------------- Home Active Topics Frequently Asked Questions Member Information Search Page Quick Reply Message: * HTML is OFF * Forum Code is ON Include Signature

I really don't think this should of been any kind of arguement it was a valid question and the person just wanted an answer. As many other women wanted and want. To agree with it or not is a personal opinion, I don't think it is right to down grade a person and put them down because they have a question and you don't agree with it.

Julie, you just DON'T get it! Emy hasn't responded but I will. Firstly, you CANNOT compare nose picking with measuring cervix dilation--that is a lame comparison! Try comparing a cervix with something else that is INTERNAL that we do to ourselves (not exposed at all) and then we'll an accurate comparison...I've never heard of a doctor telling his patient to not pick his nose...do you really think we are that gullible that we believe nose picking equates cervix touching? Please. Furthermore, midwives are TRAINED in these things, we ARE NOT! To learn a lesson over the internet about something so potentially dangerous and then applying it to yourself is ludicrous. I would rather have some practice on something, anything first before I go poking around in MY body, when I am 9 months pregnant. I would rather NOT have the first time I do this be on myself, thank you very much! If you thought you had a lump in your b___st, would you do the necessary "procedure" to determine whether it was cancer or not on yourself? What if the internet gave you a step by step instruction guide on how to do, would you? What if a midwife told you how, would you do it then?

Just checking what's been posted and once again this topic is first on the message board. Julie, are you not bored with writing essay style paragraphs already? You've got a few of them in this posting and who the hell has the time to read all about it...obviously not Tee who has probably already had her baby by now! Congratulations TEE! Anyhow, no need to preach to me, whatever you tell me, whatever you write, I think I'd rather leave it up to the professionals, as do many of the ladies who have posted on this message board. And, furthermore, if people have the right to ask a question, then we have the right to respond, whether you like the answer or not. As for downgrading a person, I think you've TRIED to do that now by writing these long, dry and boring responses with your wealth of knowledge and richness of mind; however, for all your effort, it has been in vain, at least on me. I still feel that no woman should check her own cervix and that it is irresponsible to do so! That's my opinion, one you don't agree with, one you may even find stupid, but such is life.

This is pointless, we can come up with a___logys all day to compare to. The information I have posted has came from a midwife and she is a trained professional and doesn't seem to think it is so stupid. Leanne, unless someone put Emy's name on there that was her response about her husband being an OB. That was the anology given by the midwife. About the nose picking. I admit I am no midwife or doctor I have never claimed to be. I am not going to argue with any of you nor will I try to defend myself anymore. Women if you have questions ask your doctor and if you are to embarra__sed to ask them ask the midwives on the midwife forum and they can help, at least help you in the right direction. Obviously replying in this room with only get you critisized if you don't share the same beliefs. And Jenny, after some of the things that have been said on this bored why would they want to ask a question? they are made to feel stupid if they do. Your right your ent_tle to your opinion, thats the great thing bout living in America. Good luck all.

I think that lady was just a little over dramatic. I did tell my Ob/gyn that I had checked my cervix a few times and he thought it was fine as long as the membranes were intact. And further more, if it takes them years to learn about cervical dialation, that worries me. I don't know anyone who trains for years on just cervical dialation. Oh and Gloria is right, if your partner can put things in your v____a, why cant you? Last time I checked, this body still belongs to me... As if you would acually be so rough with your self that you would hurt yourself. I think someone else would be much more likely to hurt a womans cervix. JMHO

I told my dr I was feeling the babys head and my cervix and he said it was ok and to make sure my hands were clean hes also been an ob for 39 years! And to the b___st cancer thing you ARE supposed to know how to check your b___sts for lumps didn't your dr teach you that when you got a pap smear?