Is a pelvic exam necessary at 38 weeks? - Page 2

[cocoanib]

Originally Posted by Cativari

Not needed and if you're uncomfortable then say no.

No reason for anyone's hands to be in your buisness. Especially at this point with an increased risk of infection.

[jill16]

thank you

thanks, ladies, for all of the advice. If i had any concerns about the placement of the baby, or was having any complications, i think i would be a bit more open to it, but we had our last ultrasound last week, and he's in a good place. he just needs more time! funny how that works...

so, thanks for the reassurance to trust my gut... i will have to be brave when i talk to her, because i don't get a terrific sense that my dr. is super excited about my choices - obviously she would like to go unquestioned, and isn't wildly supportive of my desire to give birth naturally anyhow. i think next go-around, i will definitely ask more questions of my dr. before getting this settled in to her practice.

[Astraia]

You can definitely say no. I plan on saying no when I see my dr next week if he wants to do one (but he's pretty natural-minded and low intervention, so I don't expect him to want to do one).

I had a different doctor until 30 weeks. He wanted to do a vaginal exam, I said no, and he told me not to come back

I don't expect you to end up in the same sort of situation that I did, but I do know some HCP can get pretty snarky when you don't do what they want. Hopefully your dr is nice about it!

[DeChRi]

Have not read whole thread as toddler is climbing all over me...
But, mine does them, unless I say no, as a standard from about 37 weeks on to check dialation/effacement. Which is pretty pointless given my last two birth experiences. With #1 I was 40 weeks and 0cm dialated and barely, if at all, effaced. The next I went into labor and had a fast and smooth delivery. With #2 I had let her check me 1x at 37w3d due to a spurt of regular contx and such and I was between 3-4cm and 50% effaced. Baby come 2.5 weeks later.

This time I doubt I will get checked at all, as I find it is pretty meaningless for me.

Just my experience!

[gardenmommy]

Originally Posted by boheime

"I do not consent to a vaginal exam." Rinse and repeat.

You don't need an extensive explanation. You just don't consent to having someone stick their hands in your vagina. My MW doesn't do them; she will check for a cervical lip when I am feeling like pushing (which I've had with my last 3 births, so apparently, there is history there), but otherwise, she never sticks her hands inside me. There is no need for it, and considerable risk of infection, no matter how "clean" the Dr. is, or the gloves are. There is always the risk of introducing harmful bacteria.

[Dmitrizmom]

Originally Posted by Cativari

Not needed and if you're uncomfortable then say no.

:that: I didn't have a single VE with my most recent pg... not even while in labor.

[*KaiMom*]

A lot of the time obs and I've even heard of midwifes giving ve so that they can strip your membranes...where you want it or not. It really is a horrible standard of practice that seems to be getting more and more popular.

[mysticmomma]

a good way to decline is to ask why she thinks it's needed first. Also, keep your clothes on!

[Calee]

I am 39.5 weeks pregnant, and haven't taken off my pants yet at an OB appointment!

(And, thankfully, have not been asked to)

With my first pregnancy, they used the exams to discourage me and to pressure me to induce or go straight to a C-section. I am glad that this doc agrees with me that the exams are pointless except in cases of suspected pre-term labor or suspicion of some other medical problem.

[thefreckledmama]

I think the practice of VE comes from the medical model of care needing to be proactive; treating pregnancy as something that needs to be attended to and messed with, rather than just letting it take it's course as the natural experience it is.

VE's just for the sake of "checking" don't really serve any useful purpose. I think that more harm than good can come from them by transporting bacteria up into the vagina, and by irritating the cervix unnecessarily. As for stripping membranes, I had that done in two of my pregnancies, and it didn't have any effect in either, so it's better to just leave things alone. Except perhaps, in the event of trying to stimulate labor without a medical induction.

The truth of the matter is that none of the medical interventions available during pregnancy are necessary, and if you're uncomfortable with any of them, you're free to decline them.