How to know how far dilated you are?

[Gabi]

Bumping with a question...(or maybe just asking for some encouragement)

I'll be 40 weeks this weekend, last week my cervix was posterior and closed and hard (I had a feel too so I would know it felt like). Then yesterday, following the tips in this thread, my cervix seemed further forward, and I could feel the rim open a bit on my finger. This morning it has moved a bit more, seemed a bit softer, and I can easily fit my finger in! How far would this make me? I think my finger is about 1-1.5cm...

My 'period pain' has stepped up a notch, but nothing regular. Send some labour vibes my way! I really don't want to go two weeks overdue!

[paradise lost]

If you can get a finger in you're about 1cm, BUT the inner about outer parts of the cervix can dilate at different rates, so if you can put a finger in and feel the membranes then you're a 1, if you can get your finger in but not feel bubs you might still be closed inside.

Effacement plays a big part in dilating for that reason, the thinner the cervix gets the more the inner and outer openings match up, kwim? It's hard to judge effacement unless you touched your cervix a lot before, but you can guesstimate by how much fingertip is inside the cervix when you've inserted it as far as it'll go. The whole fingertip to the first knuckle would be about 2cm, so you'd be about 50% effaced, the bottom of the fingernail would be about 1cm, so you'd be about 75% effaced.

I was 1-2cm dilated and 50% effaced at 40 weeks and went to 41+4! I'm sending the good vibes your way, but if you PLAN to be 14days overdue, you can only be happily surprised

Bx

[Gabi]

Hmm. I didn't think of that. I didn't try to put my finger in...I was too scared!

I'm just so excited that my cervix is doing anything.

[rose]

Thanks for bumping this. I read this earlier in preg but now I am a lot closer, I should familiarise this more. Something I found interesting, I could feel cervix quite easily earlier on and in pre preg, but it is almost out of reach. Also I have prolaps prob and thought by know would be easily reached.

Just a few thoughts

[Gabi]

I decided to go back for another look. And now I can't find my cervix at all! All I could feel was this gelatinous blob.

[Meluchja]

Gabi, it's all very interesting in there during the late stages of pregnancy isn't. I was wondering after reading the part about your gelatinous blob, could you not feel any cervical lips at all?

[Gabi]

Gabi, it's all very interesting in there during the late stages of pregnancy isn't. I was wondering after reading the part about your gelatinous blob, could you not feel any cervical lips at all?

No I couldn't find it. Could it have moved back up again?

[tan32]

i had a feel last night , my cervix is still quite a way back but i can reach it, over the last few days it has become very squishy and has thinned a little.
I can get 2 fingers in. If i had longer arms im sure i could fit more fingers in as there is plenty of room to move.
Ah well i just keep on getting braxton hicks hopefully i'll go soon.