10/15/2025
✨ Let’s Talk About Cervical Checks ✨
It’s common during labor for people to focus on how many centimeters dilated they are, but here’s the truth: a cervical check is only a small snapshot of what’s happening. It doesn’t tell the full story of labor’s progress or how much longer things will take.
Dilation is just one piece of the puzzle. We also look at:
🌿 Effacement: how soft and thinned the cervix has become.
🌿 Baby’s station: how low the baby’s head is in the pelvis.
🌿 Position and flexibility of the cervix itself.
But even those numbers don’t always show what’s really happening.
When it comes to cervical checks, less is more.
Each check carries a small but real risk of introducing bacteria and increasing the chance of infection, especially once the water has broken. Beyond the physical risks, there’s also an emotional aspect. Hearing numbers like “only 3 centimeters” or “no change yet” can plant seeds of doubt, frustration, or discouragement even when progress is happening in ways that can’t be measured by fingers.
Stress and discouragement can cause the body to release stress hormones, which may actually slow labor down. That’s why a calm, supportive environment and patience are so powerful.
It’s also important to remember that a woman has the right to say no to any cervical check if she chooses. A laboring woman is always in charge of her body and her birth experience; she can say yes or no to as much or as little as she wants. This is one of the many reasons having a doula can be so valuable: to help build confidence, support her decisions, and remind her that her voice matters every step of the way. 💪💜
As doulas, we pay close attention to the mother herself, her sounds, movements, and energy. A birthing woman who’s allowed to move freely and follow her instincts will often begin to:
✨ Get lower to the ground- squatting, swaying, leaning forward.
✨ Turn more inward- eyes closed, breath deep, conserving focus.
✨ Make deep, primal sounds that help the baby descend.
✨ Sometimes, even a purple line that appears just above the buttocks, a natural sign that the body is opening beautifully.
Labor is a process that unfolds in its own rhythm, and no single check can measure the wisdom of the body. Trusting the process and the cues of both body and baby tells us far more than numbers ever could.
If you’d like to learn more about how to navigate birth with confidence and informed choices, reach out to begin receiving individualized education and care through Woven Womb Services. You deserve to feel supported, prepared, and empowered every step of the way. 🌿 www.wovenwombservices.com
Supporting Every Thread of Your Maternal Journey: Expert Birthing Doula, Postpartum Doula, and Lactation Counselor Care
