About Doctors behaviour

[SomeRandomNickname]

Went to the GP earlier to get DD (8wks) checked (worried about her breathing where she's had a cold).

I had her laid along my lap (knees together), and to examine her chest the GP put one leg either side of mine, and pushed in so that his crotch was right against my knees. I felt really uncomfortable and tried to edge back, he said "it's ok", but I really didn't like it.

AIBU to think that's a bit odd?

That's a very normal position in which to examine a baby on a mum's lap. Moving a baby to an examination couch is usually a recipe for disaster, unless all you want to hear is a crying baby

As a female doctor, I'd do this, and no I wouldn't be even faintly aware of where my crotch was, I'd be busy examining a baby.

I was in the stirrups once when pg and the doctor was sitting between my legs giving me an internal.

As he leaned forward his tie tickled my lady bits.

Now that was awkward (but I didn't phone the practice manager)

As a GP, I'd say that this sounds like a normal way of examining a baby and I very much doubt that it was done with any sexual intent towards you. However, the fact is that it made you feel uncomfortable, so it would be perfectly reasonable to let the practice manager know. You don't need to make a formal complaint (unless you want to) or accusations - you can just say that you felt uncomfortable and that it might be worth the GP adjusting his position in the future.

If I had inadvertently made a patient feel uncomfortable, I would want to know so that I didn't do it again

So some think it's a little odd and others think it's perfectly normal - fine no big deal, I just found it odd. I don't really like people in my space, don't think that's unusual. I just would have thought there were other ways of getting close enough to examine without any crotch contact going on. Don't think that makes me uptight.

I honestly don't think he would have be getting any thrills from it, and don't think it warrants a message to practice manager - no rubbing or anything involved, I just think it was a bit odd.

And thanks to the GP's who've chipped in. Not had baby examined before, so don't really know what's normal tbh. I'd probably just go to a different doctor next time.

OP it would be helpful if you clarified whether you think the doctor was purposefully rubbing against you or whether his crotch was accidentally near you knee. It is important to know because in the first case something should be done about this doctor, but in the second case it would be a shame if all babies ended up being stressed by being placed on the examination table because of one person's exaggerated worry.

Apologies OP cross post. I think you are right to let this go. A complaint may well lead this doctor to change standard practice which is generally beneficial to babies.

Another one here who has had a baby examined in a similar fashion and been a little uncomfortable ...aware the GP was in my space - but then I was sure there was nothing untoward.
Weird because if I was being examined I don't think I'd even notice ...maybe because I'd be 'expecting' it -if that makes sense.

Your tiny baby was comfortable on your lap, so dr understandably doesn't want to move baby.
Which position would you have preferred dr to assume to get best access to your baby's chest? I can't think of a better position than the one he opted for.

The only other way to get close enough would have been for the doctor to kneel on the floor. Not comfortable at all, and not conducive to giving a thorough exam when your knees are creaking and groaning.

Long time ago but when I took my baby for a six week check up she screamed and screamed - the only way to soothe her was to breastfeed, which I did, and the doctor (my age) examined her thoroughly while her mouth was firmly clamped round my left nipple. doctors sometimes just get on with the job.

If you put a sick baby on an examination couch, it will usually cry which makes chest examination very difficult (the crying drowns out the breath sounds). And examination of the ears and throat is impossible without the parent holding the head still. I always examine babies on the parent's lap, unless I need to check a part of the body where you have to have the child completely flat (e.g. hips). So the technique sounds perfectly normal. It really isn't possible to get close enough to the baby without invading the parent's personal space. But this does take a bit of getting used to, for both parent and doctor.

Anyoneforturps - don't know why that didn't occur to me - cry baby makes for challenging chest examinations.

You didn't think that crying would mask the sounds the doctor was trying to hear in the chest ?

I agree with Dragonfly - this was totally inappropriate and unnecessary. Yes, he needs to get close to baby. Crotch on knee, no way was that appropriate and there's no way he could not have been aware of this. As a health professional myself, I can clearly see there were so many other ways to examine the child in that situation.
Tell the practice manager. Nothing may come of this but at least if others mention being put in similar situations, who knows...