[BarefootScientist]

<p>Mine is this afternoon and I just want to know, is it likely she's going to want to prod my nether regions, or not? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm really not in the mood to get my nether regions prodded today.    What was your experience?  I know they did at the OB I went to last time but that was also a Pap...</p>

 

[lynsage]

<p>DDCC to say a HB midwife is unlikely to want to do a vaginal exam at a first visit, but even if she does you can just say no.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My first HB midwife never prodded my nether regions; my second gave me a cervical check at 38 weeks when she came to my house to determine if I was in labor, and she asked me if I wanted to be checked before she did it.</p>

 

[BarefootScientist]

<p>Thanks lynsage.  I know I can say no, but I would let her if she had a reason...I just don't really feel like it... </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I hope my midwife is like yours.  She did say she doesn't do many checks in labor unless I want them.</p>

 

[Mamatoabunch]

<p>Mine never did.</p>

 

[amaayeh]

<p>Mine did not, but I am going to have a Pap at my next appointment because it's been three years. </p>

 

[tashantx]

<p>mine won't...I'll get a pap post pardum.</p>

 

[BarefootScientist]

<p>Update:  she didn't.  In fact, she didn't even touch me anywhere but my belly and my wrist to take my pulse.  What a difference from the first appt with an OB!  I actually got to talk to her for more than 5 minutes, she asked permission for everything, and she even let me test my own urine.  Wow, the things homebirth midwives trust you with that my previous OB never would LOL.</p>

 

[tashantx]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>BarefootScientist</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1283773/first-prenatal-appt-with-a-hb-midwife#post_16097522"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Update:  she didn't.  In fact, she didn't even touch me anywhere but my belly and my wrist to take my pulse.  What a difference from the first appt with an OB!  I actually got to talk to her for more than 5 minutes, she asked permission for everything, and she even let me test my own urine.  Wow, the things homebirth midwives trust you with that my previous OB never would LOL.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br><br>
hooray for non invasive providers!!</p>

 

[piopiopio]

<p>No vag exam here either!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Just a side note, I think the pap at prenatal visits is mostly a way to make sure women are getting their paps done and (during the vag exam) for STD checks.  Even if you do have an abnormal pap, there isn't much you can do until after delivery anyway.  All that to say, I don't think there is really any pregnancy specific reason to do a pap smear at all.</p>

 

[nikie23]

<p>I had a pap at my first MW appointment, but I'll be delivering at a birth center at home so maybe that's a factor?   I didn't mind much, though - during the exam she didn't use the stirrups (which, judging from the gyno visits I've had over the years, I thought was physically IMPOSSIBLE) and she said I had a "beautiful cervix".  I laughed for like 5 mins after that.  <span><img alt="ROTFLMAO.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/ROTFLMAO.gif">  Who knew? </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>But, that's the last vaginal exam I'll have.  She won't do an exam as I approach my due date unless I ask, and her approach to labor is pretty hands off, too, so she doesn't check dilation unless she thinks there's a problem.  Yay for speculum avoidance!</span></p>