question about cervical exam

i'll be 23 weeks tomorrow and am getting my second of my bi-weekly ultrasound appointments to check growth and fluids but this time they are checking my cervix too. i'm just wondering, what exactly do they check for at 23 weeks and what is the exam actually like? i mean, is this going to be like a pap smear or what? i'm a little nervous....i hate gynocologist exams!

 

Mine never did a "hand in" kind of exam but did check the cervix with the u/s wand. I'm not sure what else is done at that time, but had the cervix checks at every u/s.

 

how far did they put the wand in? i don't mean to get to graphic but it's not really the same "down there" if you know what i mean...intimacy is a bit painful and uncomfortable these days.

 

I wasn't intimate at that point in my pregnancy, but I had cervix checks twice a week and I don't recall any real discomfort. The only time it was really uncomfortable was during a manual exam. Try to relax

 

My ob checked with the 'wand' as well. It is just to be sure the cervix isn't opening prematurely I think.

 

They may just check you w/ the external u/s, too, if their machine is equipped to do so. That's what I had until about 29-30wks. That's when I had my first wand check. The best way I can describe the wand is that it looks like a vibrator. At my both OB and peri, the tech has me guide the wand in (and no, it doesn't need to go far). Once it's been inserted, they maneuver it (left, right, whatever) to get the picture they need. It's pretty quick and not at all painful or even uncomfortable, in my experience. The worst part was the sad realization that I could barely reach around my ginormous belly to reach that area!! :blink:

Eve

 

Up to this date, they haven't done the "hand" check at all for me! The cervical US check is not bad at all, just looks like a big rod with a condom on it and very lubricated.

 

they do put lubrication on it so it is not uncomfortable at all. I think I had just the external U/s at about 23 weeks-24 weeks.