I had one when i first got to the birth center during labour they sent me home because i was only 2cm. I came back 30 min later after my water breaking and i refused the vi simply because i could not lie on my back. I was in my zone and in control of my labour and i gave birth 1 hour later just about made it to the pool....1st time mum!
I'm declining mine at the moment (38 weeks) and will avoid until labour. I got 1 done abruptly at 36 weeks and it discouraged me to hear 'closed up tight!' and it didn't feel so nice. so if it's not going to change my care, no thanks. In labour, I've put it in my birth plan to NOT inform me of progress, if they would like to do 1 and I consent. I don't want to hear a number that I don't expect (lower) after so much pain and work. I'm happy my hospital actually brought up 'you should limit cervical exams' during our tour so maybe times are changing!
This is a very interesting and important debate. I choose to decline vaginal examinations for my 4th birth. This was respected while I was at home - although I did agree to 1 internal examination to see if there was time to travel to the hospital or if I was better off remaining at home. When I arrived at the hospital however it was ignored. Multiple times during my labour (which was quite short after arriving in the hospital) I was examined during the final stages of labour, mid surge, without being given warning or asked for consent. I complained about this afterwards, but ended up feeling as though I had to drop it as the response back, was that this was such a serious allegation that if I was to take it forward it would result in people loosing their jobs. I didn't want anyone to loose their job, but I did want them to acknowledge what they had done, and maybe think more carefully in future about what they are doing. To be reminded that women in labour still have ownership of their bodies and should be treated as respectfully as they should at any other time. intervene
What an interesting/insightful topic and timing. Currently 38 weeks pregnant, last birth was an induction and yes, hourly vaginal checks.... it was extremely distressing, failure to progress, emergency c-section. It really did scare me to the point where it brings me to tears typing this. I also think a lot of women don't refuse because alot of healthcare providers don't say it is optional and do highly encourage it. It's very normalised in Australian public hospitals. I needed this, I already knew I would be refusing internals and this time, but, found this helpful and encouraging.
UPDATE: thank you again for this video and sharing your knowledge. I got my VBAC, I practiced hypnobirthing using some of your videos are resources, I refused all internals, except for one, from a really kind midwife, who made me feel extremely comfortable and was ever so kind. When she did check me out was 7cm and an hour or so later, I was ready to push. All best wishes, stay passionate, we need more midwives like you and her.
Thank you so much for this. Has made a big difference to me. I will be giving birth in a hospital in a few weeks. Really appreciate all your knowledge and thoughts 😀🙏
Great video! I hope I get a midwife like you! I'm currently looking into my birth preferences so this is really helpful. I think I'm happy for this to be done if there is medical concern but can then imagine doubt creeping in to do it incase it finds useful info. Definitely v interesting. Would also be great for a similar video about baby monitoring when in labour too
I'm worried now that when I decline an internal examination the midwifes going to ask why! I've got it in my birth plan that I only want one if I ask for it, but I didn't know that was such a rare thing
Thank you for this video! This brings up some really great points .... I'm about to give birth to my third baby...second baby went from 5-10 in an hr so I'm hoping this labor is quick enough that checks are not an issue....looking back on my first birth I was checked 4 times in a 12 hr labor and I do think the checks pulled me out of my zone a bit.
Induced at 38 weeks because of worries over baby's growth and did not really respond to the pessaries over 3 days... I found those vaginal examinations pre-labour particularly painful and stressful because my body wasn't ready. I also found it worrying because my body wasn't getting ready to give birth and I'd been told the baby needed to come out. However... Every time they listened to baby's heartbeat it was strong and steady. So we found that reassuring. During labour I don't recall many examinations... Maybe one early on after they'd broken my waters and put me on the drip.. And definitely one to determine I was at 10cm and ready to push. These were fine.
I was induced with my first child due to preeclampsia at 37+6 and I had an vaginal examination done at 9am I was labouring back to back and my son was born at 9:21am
I wish I could find the article I read recently. It dispelled the earlier chart, which states the latent phase is up to 3/4cm and that’s when active labor starts. This study actually felt active labor began at more like 5cm. It’s an important distinction for mothers in the US because if you’re deemed “failing to progress” at 3/4cm you’re likely to face interventions to push you along, such as pitocin, having your waters broken etc. Once your water is broken, you’re on a 24 hour clock to deliver otherwise you’re headed to the OR for a C-Section. However, if active labor doesn’t start until 5cm, query whether these mothers in latent phase should be sent home or allowed to labor on naturally until 5/6cm before interventions are considered (assuming baby is coping fine.) This wasn’t an issue for me. I had a 2 hour precipitous labor with my first. I arrived at hospital at 10cm and was checked once and was then ready to push. I didn’t mind the prenatal checks, which didn’t start until 40 weeks. I had my last check at 1pm on the day I delivered and was 1cm. By the time I arrived at hospital at close to 8:45pm I was at 10cm. Baby was born at 9:13 (first contraction was 7pm.) I know friends found getting checked regularly (even hourly in the US) disheartening because they weren’t progressing. You want to hear what you’ve been going through has achieved something so it’s disappointing when that’s not the case (and can cause unnecessary interventions...!)
Caroline Specht they changed things in Canada now. 6cm is active here now and you won't even really be admitted until then. So you don't have anyone breathing down your neck and mumbling about 'failure to progress'. So happy for that!
I hated getting checked because it would be painful and cause me to tense up so much that at one check I got a surprisingly painful muscle spasm in my upper back. The last check was good because the Dr came and did a sweep i think, so i went from being stuck at 9cm for hours to 10cm in that instant. Next time, I will request less checks and probably won't want to know how dialated my cervix is. That way, maybe i'll be able to listen to my body a bit more and concentrate on getting through the contractions. I'd idealy like to realise myself when it's time to push instead of someone telling me it's time.
Half my previous comment seems to have been removed. I was also trying to ask if you could elaborate on the reasons why you feel that vaginal examinations may be necessary / beneficial in certain medical situations? I was sent to hospital because my babies heart beat was elevated and there was meconium in the waters. I know that meconium in the waters is a sign of distress, however this seems to be normal for me and my babies. All 4 of my babies have had meconium in their waters. The difference was that with the first 3 my waters didn't break until I was either already pushing or just before so there wasn't time to intervene. With my 4th my waters broke very early. All of my babies were born naturally and with high Apgar scores. Thanks
I reallllllyyyyy don't want more checks than are necessary. But my question is, how do you know the difference between when a check will be beneficial, and when they're just checking for curiosity's sake (for lack of a better term)? I don't want to put a monkey wrench in my doctor's ability to take care of me and the baby, but I also want to say no to extra checks--I don't think they're needed. I'll be talking with my doctor about this, but still I wonder..
I hope I don't need one. I have a private midwife but will be birthing in the hospital as I had a large pph last birth. I have a 45 minute drive to the hospital. I had a 29hour labour last time. I may ask for one to help judge when the right time is to go to the hospital.
Question... I’m a new doula and was just at a birth last week where the mother (5th birth, after week 42) had quickly progressing contractions, was found to be 7cm when she was originally checked, 9cm about an hour later, and the midwives decided to break her waters. After the waters broke, her contractions slowed way down and labor stalled for about an hour. Why do you think that happened? Doesn’t breaking the water usually speed things up? Thanks!
Its likely that the "delay" was actualy latent 2nd stage - the rest and relax phase. Breaking the waters is not evidenced based to "speed things up", if she was already at 9cm i wonder why they did this as from what you say she didnt need it.
I am 36 weeks pregnant and haven't had one yet. I will probably not have one until going to the hospital in labour, but there I will have one because if you are under 3cm you cannot be admitted (I'm in Germany), but from then on I hope I can prevent more examinations. I guess one more until birth is ok if necessary.
I had one when i first got to the birth center during labour they sent me home because i was only 2cm. I came back 30 min later after my water breaking and i refused the vi simply because i could not lie on my back. I was in my zone and in control of my labour and i gave birth 1 hour later just about made it to the pool....1st time mum!
I'm declining mine at the moment (38 weeks) and will avoid until labour. I got 1 done abruptly at 36 weeks and it discouraged me to hear 'closed up tight!' and it didn't feel so nice. so if it's not going to change my care, no thanks.
In labour, I've put it in my birth plan to NOT inform me of progress, if they would like to do 1 and I consent. I don't want to hear a number that I don't expect (lower) after so much pain and work. I'm happy my hospital actually brought up 'you should limit cervical exams' during our tour so maybe times are changing!
GREAT PLAN!
This is a very interesting and important debate. I choose to decline vaginal examinations for my 4th birth. This was respected while I was at home - although I did agree to 1 internal examination to see if there was time to travel to the hospital or if I was better off remaining at home. When I arrived at the hospital however it was ignored. Multiple times during my labour (which was quite short after arriving in the hospital) I was examined during the final stages of labour, mid surge, without being given warning or asked for consent. I complained about this afterwards, but ended up feeling as though I had to drop it as the response back, was that this was such a serious allegation that if I was to take it forward it would result in people loosing their jobs. I didn't want anyone to loose their job, but I did want them to acknowledge what they had done, and maybe think more carefully in future about what they are doing. To be reminded that women in labour still have ownership of their bodies and should be treated as respectfully as they should at any other time. intervene
What an interesting/insightful topic and timing.
Currently 38 weeks pregnant, last birth was an induction and yes, hourly vaginal checks.... it was extremely distressing, failure to progress, emergency c-section. It really did scare me to the point where it brings me to tears typing this. I also think a lot of women don't refuse because alot of healthcare providers don't say it is optional and do highly encourage it. It's very normalised in Australian public hospitals.
I needed this, I already knew I would be refusing internals and this time, but, found this helpful and encouraging.
UPDATE: thank you again for this video and sharing your knowledge.
I got my VBAC, I practiced hypnobirthing using some of your videos are resources, I refused all internals, except for one, from a really kind midwife, who made me feel extremely comfortable and was ever so kind. When she did check me out was 7cm and an hour or so later, I was ready to push.
All best wishes, stay passionate, we need more midwives like you and her.
@@AL-it6ru BRILLIANT!!!! I am SO Happy for you x
Thank you so much for this. Has made a big difference to me. I will be giving birth in a hospital in a few weeks. Really appreciate all your knowledge and thoughts 😀🙏
In the United States they LOVE giving painful checks, inducing meds, and c sections. Anything so they can just get things over with and get paid.
Great video! I hope I get a midwife like you! I'm currently looking into my birth preferences so this is really helpful. I think I'm happy for this to be done if there is medical concern but can then imagine doubt creeping in to do it incase it finds useful info. Definitely v interesting. Would also be great for a similar video about baby monitoring when in labour too
Thanks for the suggestion x
I'm worried now that when I decline an internal examination the midwifes going to ask why! I've got it in my birth plan that I only want one if I ask for it, but I didn't know that was such a rare thing
Stay Strong Holly x
I'd love to know how you got on when you declined.
Thank you for this video! This brings up some really great points .... I'm about to give birth to my third baby...second baby went from 5-10 in an hr so I'm hoping this labor is quick enough that checks are not an issue....looking back on my first birth I was checked 4 times in a 12 hr labor and I do think the checks pulled me out of my zone a bit.
Love this
Induced at 38 weeks because of worries over baby's growth and did not really respond to the pessaries over 3 days... I found those vaginal examinations pre-labour particularly painful and stressful because my body wasn't ready. I also found it worrying because my body wasn't getting ready to give birth and I'd been told the baby needed to come out. However... Every time they listened to baby's heartbeat it was strong and steady. So we found that reassuring.
During labour I don't recall many examinations... Maybe one early on after they'd broken my waters and put me on the drip.. And definitely one to determine I was at 10cm and ready to push. These were fine.
I was induced with my first child due to preeclampsia at 37+6 and I had an vaginal examination done at 9am I was labouring back to back and my son was born at 9:21am
I wish I could find the article I read recently. It dispelled the earlier chart, which states the latent phase is up to 3/4cm and that’s when active labor starts. This study actually felt active labor began at more like 5cm. It’s an important distinction for mothers in the US because if you’re deemed “failing to progress” at 3/4cm you’re likely to face interventions to push you along, such as pitocin, having your waters broken etc. Once your water is broken, you’re on a 24 hour clock to deliver otherwise you’re headed to the OR for a C-Section.
However, if active labor doesn’t start until 5cm, query whether these mothers in latent phase should be sent home or allowed to labor on naturally until 5/6cm before interventions are considered (assuming baby is coping fine.)
This wasn’t an issue for me. I had a 2 hour precipitous labor with my first. I arrived at hospital at 10cm and was checked once and was then ready to push.
I didn’t mind the prenatal checks, which didn’t start until 40 weeks. I had my last check at 1pm on the day I delivered and was 1cm. By the time I arrived at hospital at close to 8:45pm I was at 10cm. Baby was born at 9:13 (first contraction was 7pm.) I know friends found getting checked regularly (even hourly in the US) disheartening because they weren’t progressing. You want to hear what you’ve been going through has achieved something so it’s disappointing when that’s not the case (and can cause unnecessary interventions...!)
Caroline Specht they changed things in Canada now. 6cm is active here now and you won't even really be admitted until then. So you don't have anyone breathing down your neck and mumbling about 'failure to progress'. So happy for that!
I completely agree - 5 or 6cm is more like active labour. Thanks for your comment x
I hated getting checked because it would be painful and cause me to tense up so much that at one check I got a surprisingly painful muscle spasm in my upper back. The last check was good because the Dr came and did a sweep i think, so i went from being stuck at 9cm for hours to 10cm in that instant. Next time, I will request less checks and probably won't want to know how dialated my cervix is. That way, maybe i'll be able to listen to my body a bit more and concentrate on getting through the contractions. I'd idealy like to realise myself when it's time to push instead of someone telling me it's time.
GREAT
Half my previous comment seems to have been removed. I was also trying to ask if you could elaborate on the reasons why you feel that vaginal examinations may be necessary / beneficial in certain medical situations? I was sent to hospital because my babies heart beat was elevated and there was meconium in the waters. I know that meconium in the waters is a sign of distress, however this seems to be normal for me and my babies. All 4 of my babies have had meconium in their waters. The difference was that with the first 3 my waters didn't break until I was either already pushing or just before so there wasn't time to intervene. With my 4th my waters broke very early. All of my babies were born naturally and with high Apgar scores. Thanks
Have any live video please load
I’m being induced tomorrow and I don’t want an examination at all. I’ll allow for the pessary but after that not at all.
I reallllllyyyyy don't want more checks than are necessary. But my question is, how do you know the difference between when a check will be beneficial, and when they're just checking for curiosity's sake (for lack of a better term)? I don't want to put a monkey wrench in my doctor's ability to take care of me and the baby, but I also want to say no to extra checks--I don't think they're needed. I'll be talking with my doctor about this, but still I wonder..
I hope I don't need one. I have a private midwife but will be birthing in the hospital as I had a large pph last birth. I have a 45 minute drive to the hospital. I had a 29hour labour last time. I may ask for one to help judge when the right time is to go to the hospital.
Question... I’m a new doula and was just at a birth last week where the mother (5th birth, after week 42) had quickly progressing contractions, was found to be 7cm when she was originally checked, 9cm about an hour later, and the midwives decided to break her waters. After the waters broke, her contractions slowed way down and labor stalled for about an hour. Why do you think that happened? Doesn’t breaking the water usually speed things up?
Thanks!
Its likely that the "delay" was actualy latent 2nd stage - the rest and relax phase. Breaking the waters is not evidenced based to "speed things up", if she was already at 9cm i wonder why they did this as from what you say she didnt need it.
I am 36 weeks pregnant and haven't had one yet. I will probably not have one until going to the hospital in labour, but there I will have one because if you are under 3cm you cannot be admitted (I'm in Germany), but from then on I hope I can prevent more examinations. I guess one more until birth is ok if necessary.
These are hospital guidelines and everything is negotiable - including declining examinations AND staying in hospital x