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homebirth and vaginal exams - Page 2  

post #21 of 30
9/8/06 at 1:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kerikadi
I had ZERO in my homebirth labors. However, by the time my MW got there I guess it was pretty obvious to her that the end was near. She never even asked, not even when I started pushing.
I was honestly disappointed when I recently read Ina May's book and saw that every single woman had cervical checks and some of them had several. What's the point?

Keri
Yeah, what's the point? I wonder myself,too, I associate doing something just for the sake of it or to satisfy curiousity with OB care, not midwife care.
post #22 of 30
9/8/06 at 1:34pm
I think it's often done b/c if you start pushing before you're completely dilated it can cause problems (irritate cervix and make it swell). I know with my first labor I thought I was having the urge to push way before I really was (like at 8 cm) so having an exam was helpful for me then. When it came the real urge to push (which was less an "urge", more a "my body has started to push with all its might and I couldn't stop it if I tried") was unmistakable. I probably didn't need to have exams in my second labor, but I wanted them. I think I had three. I normally hate VEs but during labor I don't feel them (too many endorphins I suppose).
post #23 of 30
9/8/06 at 2:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by huggerwocky
But what was she hoping to find?
A white rabbit? A rope of colorful silk scarves, maybe?

Just kidding, of course. Honestly, I think it was because I had such a long and hard labor, she was checking to see what kind of progress I was making so that we had an idea where things stood. And yes, I know that you can go from 0-10 in .2 seconds, or stay at 3 for months and weeks and years (and I'm sure she does too), but at the same time I also think that VE aren't necessarily a bad thing during labor IF the mom is 100% ok with it. For me, especially as a first-time mom, it was easy BEFORE I want into labor to say that VE weren't necessary and to trust my body etc etc, but when the heat was on and the contractions were beyond my wildest imagination and I was 2 days in and counting, it was nice to know what the was going on and give me a little confidence that things were indeed moving along, kwim? Later in labor the VE were more because I had cervical swelling and ds' heartrate was going down and they were keeping an eye on things. We ended up transporting after 42-ish hours of labor.

Will I have VE in my next labor? I don't know. I'm pretty easygoing so I think if the midwife wants them or feels more comfortable using them that would be fine with me... I know that ultimately it is my body and my decision, she would never pressure me and I would never be forced into an exam I didn't want, but at the same time if it doesn't bother me I don't see any reason to refuse.

Now, vaginal exams during regular visits prior to going into labor I am not down with and would not consent to.
post #24 of 30
9/8/06 at 3:35pm
I had just one during my HB - my MW confirmed I was about 9.5 cm dilated, with really just a little lip. I was kind of surprised because I felt like I had no idea if I was 4 cm dilated or 10 or what (this was my first/only labor experience). And my childbirth class had made it sound like transition would be a big, crazy experience, which I didn't find it to be at all. So I'm not sure if she was checking me for her own info, or also possible to convince/encourage me that I was really close to the end of my labor.
post #25 of 30
9/8/06 at 5:15pm
I didn't have any during the hb of my 2nd dc. The VE I had during my 1st dc's hospital birth totally undermined me. I arrived at the hospital after 8 hrs of easy labor. I was at 4cm and not knowing I was hitting transition. Based on the 4cm, I thought I had at least another 6 hrs to go. If someone had told me I would be at 10cm in another 1 1/2 hrs, I probably wouldn't have gotten the epi.
post #26 of 30
9/8/06 at 5:32pm
I just figured the baby's gonna come when the baby's gonna come. I didn't want to be attached to a time frame or numbers. My MW didn't offer and I didn't ask. I was happier not knowing. And, looking back on it, the last thing I would have wanted during labor was someone's hands up there!
post #27 of 30
9/8/06 at 9:09pm
Didn't ask for any, didn't need any, didn't have any. I did, however, ask my midwife to do one at 38 weeks to see if she got the same things I did doing it myself. Same things

Namaste, Tara
post #28 of 30
9/8/06 at 10:13pm
alot of mws I know like to do an exam when they arrive and then "to see if a mom is complete".

I think both reasons are completely bunk.

I've been to many births - even first time moms! - that haven't had one single exam. There are many times where the first time I see a woman's vulva is AFTER the birth when we're looking for tears.
post #29 of 30
9/8/06 at 11:44pm
:

Never had one at my own homebirth. Only seen a homebirth CPM perform one once; seen homebirth CNM perform several times.

I think it's totally OK to not have one, but the midwife needs to know in advance and be on the same page.

Sweeetpea
post #30 of 30
9/9/06 at 12:15am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamamidwife
alot of mws I know like to do an exam when they arrive and then "to see if a mom is complete".

I think both reasons are completely bunk.

.
That's what I think...but I've read this so often in homebirth stories...and NOT because mom requested it. Always gives me a weird feeling.
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