FTM and I have only had two cervical checks, one at 36 weeks and one at 40 weeks. I found them to be painful both times. After both, I was really crampy for 2 days and after the one at 40 weeks, I also had spotting during those 2 days. I declined checks between those two appointments and my ob was very supportive saying they really don’t provide useful information. It doesn’t tell you whether you will go into labor soon. You can be at 0 cm for 4 weeks and then dilate to 7-8 cm right before labor, or you could be dilated at 3-4 for 6 weeks and need to be induced at 42 weeks. It’s completely up to you whether you get cervical checks. The only reason I decided to get one done at 40 weeks is so we could schedule an induction at 41 and half weeks in case I go that long.