Question about cervix?

Does anyone know when the cervix generally begins to move to the front and start the dilating/effacing stage? Is that something that varies greatly from woman to woman, pregnancy to pregnancy? I think that with the girls, by the time my OB started doing VE's at about 38 weeks, my cervix was at the front, 50% effaced. and 1-2 cm dilated. I tried to check myself the other day (don't worry - was very careful and everything was clean!) and I could reach the cervix, but it was still fairly far back, and thick, although soft.
Do later pregnancies tend to start that process later? Or is there not really any predictability? Or should I just disregard my own impression, since I don't really know what I'm doing! :rolleyes:

Hi cricket,

come back and say hi in belly buddies!
i tried to feel for my cervix thismorning and couldnt reach. so im thinking my body is not neally ready for this baby, if you can already feel cervix hoping it means things are approaching! when's you next OB appointment?

Hey Cricket

your not a secret midwife are you ;) just that every mw i have ever worked with (me included) have at some stage attempted to check their own cervix in pregnancy (and some even in labor)

every pregnancy is different though...and subsequent pregnancies the whole process of the cervix ripening occurs over a shorter period of time

xx yogababy

I can already reach my cervix, but it is still very posterior. Although in saying that I do have long fingers ;)

The position of your cervix is a poor indicator of when labour will start. I have seen many women in early labour with ther cervix so far back even I had trouble reaching it and my fingers are not short.

I wouldnt know what to feel for lmao

CelticMoon
If you want to try here is what you should feel. Most things in there should feel squishy and soft. If you reach in high and towards the back tou may feel something that feels a hard as the tip of your nose it will also have the shape of a small doughnut but will be long like a tube ( about 2.5cm long) This is your cervix. You should be able to feel a dimple or even a hole in this doughnut. That is the opening of your cervix and what we measure to see how dilated you are.
A few tips if you are going to try to find your cervix. Wash hands ensure that they are clean.
If it is uncomfortable stop.
Do not even think about trying to find your cervix if your waters have broken or if you think thay could be broken.
Do not try to find your cervix if you have any sign of infection.
And one last and very important tip.
Do not let anyone else try to touch your cervix unless they have some training or they are quite cute 
Letting a stranger touch your cervix when you are drunk is usually not a good idea.
Ok so that was 2 last tips

All I can think of is having a strawberry donut in my bits and then started thinking of donut quotes from the Simpsons LOL

I'll try to remember that last tip but can't make any promises :-P hehe jks

PMSL Alan, I love your last 2 tips hun. Maybe that was the problem in the first place ;)

Thanks so much for the responses everyone!

Nickers - I don't think my body is really ready yet either, but I sure am! I guess it's this stage of things that makes us look forward to labour, instead of running screaming the other way. :) Who in their right mind would be eagerly anticipating hours of pain!?! As far as being able to reach - my belly's not too big, really, so I can get around it, and I do have pretty big hands.

Yogababy - nope, not a midwife. Someday maybe. Was a nursing student, and loved labour and delivery! (Quit after getting married - we moved away, then babies, etc, etc. Maybe when the kids are grown up?) Thanks for the info though, good to know!

Alan - thanks! It's good to know that this doesn't necessarily mean I've got weeks and weeks to wait. Although I'd still love to see some indicator that I'm getting close! Hope all is well for you, BTW.

Trish - you better not be getting close, hun! Don't want that bub popping out this early!

Celtic - that's enough to put one off strawberry donuts! And to think, the pooper scooper ruined your breakfast. ;)

Anyways, sounds like I might as well just keep out of there, and wait for contractions to tell me when this baby is coming.

Cricket, I''m sure hoping bub doesn't come out anytime soon. I am always pretty much to date so I don't expect bub out until mid December.

Once that labour starts hun, I bet your thinking Why the hell was I begging for this to start ;)