Cervical Stretching During Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

Question
I had an OB appointment today. I am currently 39 1/2 weeks pregnant, 60% effaced and 2 CM dialated. My doctor, during an internal exam said he was going to "stretch my cervix" to help labor along. I gave him the ok since I have had many complications during this pregnancy and don't mind the help of moving this delivery along. How is it that this helps delivery and will him doing that possibly cause me to go into labor sooner? This is my second pregnancy in 7 years (son is 7 now) and the baby has been engaged in my pelvis for over two weeks.

Answer
Any sort of pressure put on the cervix can release oxytocin, which is a natural hormone that triggers and helps along labor. I think he is hoping that by "stretching" it and thus pressing on the cervical walls that it will release oxytocin into your blood stream and help move you along into labor. Nipple stimulation is another natural way of releasing oxytocin.

Please let me know if I can help you further or with anything else.

Best wishes,
Helen =)