checking your own cervix for dilation.

[Sherlock]

TBH you can gauge when to go to hospital pretty well by timing your contractions. If they are regular, sticking around and say 3-4 minutes apart then you could get ready to head in.

LOL i was told this too, pitty my contractions started at 1:30 mins apart and only got closer together, yet i was only 1cm when i got to the hospital!!

However, as said, you can pretty much tell when you need to go to hospital! It was a good job i went when i did as 2 hours later i was 8cms

See thats the standard advice the hossies tend to state about timing contractions and waiting till they are that close together before heading in I know every woman labours differently but its pretty universal for the hospitals to say this. Often women go in based on their contractions and are sent home due to not being dilated enough, but I think its the safest and easiest way for a woman in labour to judge rather than trying to examine their own cervix and risk infection or something.

If we were advised to poke around up there while in labour and to decide for ourselves how far we were dilated that would be unsafe. Hence the contraction timing. Its not ideal but the best of the possible solutions methinks Of course, subsequent labours tend to be quicker so women are advised to get to hospital a bit sooner if possible. But first time babies tend to be slower making an appearance generally.

Erm end waffle