Why are you against internal exams? - Page 2

[Maeve]

My OB also does them every appt from 35 weeks on. Luckily, I don't have another appt until 37 wks, which I might be rescheduling anyways. But I intend on declining the internal. I had one with the GBS test on Monday and I was horribly uncomfortable the rest of the day and night. It was awful, and the dr. I saw that day was not rough at all (thankfully not as rough as one of the other dr.s...ouch!). Plus, it really doesn't tell you anything. With my oldest dd I was dialated for a week or two and she came the day after her due date. With my youngest, I had had an appt. with no signs of going into labor and a day or 2 later she came (a week early).

[kleines]

With my last PG I let her do the exams a. I did not know better and b. I wanted to know. The last exam she did on me she stripped my membranes without permission. I didn't even realize it until a year later, I just knew it hurt. When I had someone explain to me how it feels, I knew she did that.

I see a different OB now, who lets me choose. I have been checked the last two times b/c I felt like the baby was in a funny position. I don't know if I will again though. I like to know, but it is also so upsetting when nothing is happening. Both times I had it done I was a hysterical, crying mess the rest of the day. I really think it was due to the exam and me feeling like nothing was ever going to happen. My doctor even says that is why he doesn't make you do them, it is too stressful and really any info you get doesn't mean anything.

I also want to add that I developed an infection my first pregnancy (after she stripped my membranes) and from there it was a downward hill to the emergency section.

sorry for the book!

[gottaknit]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_Blythe

My dr had his hand in me every appointment from 35 weeks on last pregnancy. It was never an "option" for me as far as I know.

I can't imagine a man putting his hand in my vagina without first explaining why he felt the need to do it, why it was for my benefit, and ASKING my permission. Otherwise, it just seems like..... sexual assault.

[gottaknit]

Kleines, how does the Dr tell the baby's position during an internal exam? Wouldn't he just be able to feel the top of the head (assuming you are dilated enough to get his finger in there)?

Why not feel the outside of your belly instead? Do Drs do that, or is that a midwife thing? (I've never seen a Dr during pregnancy, except when I transferred for a c/s.)

[Vicitoria]

Originally Posted by gottaknit

Kleines, how does the Dr tell the baby's position during an internal exam? Wouldn't he just be able to feel the top of the head (assuming you are dilated enough to get his finger in there)?

Why not feel the outside of your belly instead? Do Drs do that, or is that a midwife thing? (I've never seen a Dr during pregnancy, except when I transferred for a c/s.)

My midwife with my last pregnancy did both to make sure the head was down. It may depend on the actually woman. I mean, I've gained no weight with the pregnancty so I have less padding then I did with my last. It could definitely make a difference!

[naturalthinker]

My midwives are very hands-off; i think they did a check when i went into the birthcenter in labor last child just to gauge where i was in the labor process; i expect the same this time when they come to the house for a homebirth.

I have previous medical issues with my now-removed labia, so i've asked them to check the tissue, but the MWs even declined to do that saying that their area of concern didn't fall into mine - so i've gone to some other dr.s for special consultations (and vaginal exams - though near the perineum/labia only, nowhere near the cervix) and i'm currently doing PT for pelvic floor conditioning where i actually have to use a vibrator/dildo to reach where i need to. If anything is going to introduce bacteria, it is going to be my own PT! I'm on a plan to use probiotics vaginally (like a suppository) to help keep the beneficial bacteria in control and minimize risk for 'bad' taking over. I'm diligent to keep things as 'clean' as i can...

I know there are numerous people here that check their own cervixes and wonder if they let the midwives check too?

[thorn]

my old OB did them routinely - one at 28 weeks to check for preterm labor, and then weekly starting at 36 weeks.

my new OB doesn't do them at all until labor.

[Fyrestorm]

I knew there was no reason for them and my HB midwife agreed with me. I made it through 42 weeks of pregnancy without anyone sticking anything inside of me.

But then I had to transfer to the hospital. I refused a VE on admittance and the hospital CNMs held my legs apart and raped me. They repeated this assault at least 4 more times with me screaming and them grabbing my legs and holding them apart with their full body weight.

I did press sexual assault charges.

VEs when unnecessary (and IMHO 99.9% of them are) are sexual assault...end of story.

[Hippiemommie]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm

I knew there was no reason for them and my HB midwife agreed with me. I made it through 42 weeks of pregnancy without anyone sticking anything inside of me.

But then I had to transfer to the hospital. I refused a VE on admittance and the hospital CNMs held my legs apart and raped me. They repeated this assault at least 4 more times with me screaming and them grabbing my legs and holding them apart with their full body weight.

I did press sexual assault charges.

VEs when unnecessary (and IMHO 99.9% of them are) are sexual assault...end of story.

OMG I'm so SO sorry this happened to you! How horrible!

[homemademomma]

Originally Posted by Devaya

I was wondering though, what about internal exams during labour? I had read that a good midwife doesn't need to do them , to see how far you are progressing, and can judge by your behaviour, but when I mentioned this to my MW (as I'm planning a home waterbirth and internal exams would involve getting in and out the pool), she said no, they do need to do internal exams. There was a tone of 'no discussion'. (she's otherwise very pro-home birth and comfortable with water birth). what are people's thoughts?

i attended a birth last night- no vag exams. however the birth before that, i did 5 or 6 (or possibly more. long story).

if a labor is progressing normally, i dont feel that i gain much info from a vag exam. if it is NOT progressing normally, knowing if there has been change (in dilation, descent, position etc) can be really helpful. lots of times moms just want to KNOW and i am fine with that.

the only times i am really reluctant to check is if mom is ruptured (avoid infection), or if she is in transition or pushing (sooo disruptive to check at this point IMO). most of the time i only check if/when mom wants me to. although i like to check when i admit them (unless they are obviously close to the end) for a baseline and in case of transfer (aka CMA ).


i am not against vag exams at all, per se. i think they are WAY overused and relied upon and dont yield as much info as "we" (midwives and OBs) tend to think they do. they can be helpful in specific situations.




eta : woops didnt realize this was a ddc thread

[Fyrestorm]

I think a lot of medical people involved with the female end of reproduction are in a similar situation as Peds when it comes to intact boys...they have this uncontrollable desire to pull on the foreskin and 'take a peek' I just don't get it.

ETA: Sorry, didn't see that this was a ddc thread either

[Banana731]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm

I knew there was no reason for them and my HB midwife agreed with me. I made it through 42 weeks of pregnancy without anyone sticking anything inside of me.

But then I had to transfer to the hospital. I refused a VE on admittance and the hospital CNMs held my legs apart and raped me. They repeated this assault at least 4 more times with me screaming and them grabbing my legs and holding them apart with their full body weight.

I did press sexual assault charges.

VEs when unnecessary (and IMHO 99.9% of them are) are sexual assault...end of story.

I just can't believe that happened! What happened after you pressed charges?

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by Banana731

I just can't believe that happened! What happened after you pressed charges?

You can read the whole sordid story in the link in my siggie

[Vicitoria]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm

I knew there was no reason for them and my HB midwife agreed with me. I made it through 42 weeks of pregnancy without anyone sticking anything inside of me.

But then I had to transfer to the hospital. I refused a VE on admittance and the hospital CNMs held my legs apart and raped me. They repeated this assault at least 4 more times with me screaming and them grabbing my legs and holding them apart with their full body weight.

I did press sexual assault charges.

VEs when unnecessary (and IMHO 99.9% of them are) are sexual assault...end of story.

holy cow! I'm so sorry!

[Jenlaana]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm

I knew there was no reason for them and my HB midwife agreed with me. I made it through 42 weeks of pregnancy without anyone sticking anything inside of me.

But then I had to transfer to the hospital. I refused a VE on admittance and the hospital CNMs held my legs apart and raped me. They repeated this assault at least 4 more times with me screaming and them grabbing my legs and holding them apart with their full body weight.

I did press sexual assault charges.

VEs when unnecessary (and IMHO 99.9% of them are) are sexual assault...end of story.

that absolutely breaks my heart and terrifies me at the same time... I am so sorry for what you went through

[bygones75]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm

You can read the whole sordid story in the link in my siggie

I cried and cried reading this. What a horrifying experience. While I'm so glad you won the lawsuits, I so wish I could turn the clock back and let you have the birth experience you deserve.

Healing to you, Mama.

[lovebug]

:

[kleines]

That is so sad, I am so sorry that happened to you.

As for the position of the baby, I don't think OBs are as skilled in that as MWs are. At least around here they don't seem to be, IDK.