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A pelvic exam will be conducted during your first visit and thereafter as needed. Most women have one pelvic exam in the first trimester and then are re-examined later in the third trimester. Regular pelvic exams at every prenatal visit are not necessary unless a particular medical condition warrants them.

The pelvic exam is familiar to most women of childbearing age and consists of lying on your back with knees raised so that the practitioner can perform an internal evaluation of your pelvic area. Your uterus, cervix, pelvic size and shape, and vaginal secretions are assessed during the exam.

Your uterus is checked to see if it is the right size for your estimated date of delivery. The height of the uterus is also measured to assess the age of the fetus. This measurement is taken from the top of the uterus, or fundus, to the pubic bone.

Your cervix is checked early in pregnancy to make sure it is fully closed. Later in pregnancy it may be checked for firmness or softness and the amount of thinning is evaluated. In active labor your cervix begins to thin and shorten, which is called effacement. The widening of your cervix is called dilation. When you become completely dilated at 10 centimeters your cervix is fully open and ready for the pushing stage.

The size of the pelvis is assessed to make sure it is adequate for a baby’s head to pass through during delivery. Before you begin active labor the size of pelvis will be measured again to make sure it is large enough for your baby’s individual head to pass through. It is possible but uncommon for the baby to grow too large during gestation in relation to the size of the mother’s pelvis.

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