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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Refusing examinations

46 replies

CherriesInTheSnow · 06/07/2017 12:36

Is it possible to decline cervical dilation checks in labour, does anyone know? :)

I'm not trying to be pedantic, I just found mine very uncomfortable, they made the pain a lot worse but was still sent home based on the results, and my midwife based the decision that I wouldn't be ready for labour for hours on how far dilated I was when actually I was dilating very rapidly, was in a lot of pain and was pushing DD out a few minutes later.

So basically for me they were useless, painful, inaccurate and caused more trouble than they are worth, but I know how textbook they are an am worried about broaching the subject of not wanting one with my midwife, both antenatally and in labour.

Has anyone had any experience with not having cervical examinations to check dilation? If so how did your midwives feel about requesting this? Thanks!

OP posts:
16middlenames · 06/07/2017 19:29

Thanks, I think I'll bring it up with my midwife. Feel a bit like I have little control over my birth since I'm having twins, I feel a lot of the options are limited and everything is decided for me. Its also my first time so not sure about a lot of things.

Original poster
CherriesInTheSnow · 06/07/2017 20:43

Gosh, reading the responses I am so angry on behalf of many of you and am realising what a farce this can be Angry

I was also told that I had be lying on my back on the bed to have an examination, even though the natural position I found best to cope with the pain was on all fours on the floor with a fan in my face. I literally had to keep throwing myself on the floor and then trying to get back on to the bed even though my contractions were clearly very intense and very close together Angry

I will update, but I'm not due until beginning of November :)

OP posts:
OhWifey · 06/07/2017 20:50

I gave birth in a midwife led birth centre where the policy is not to examine at all. So I arrived at 11pm, got in the pool about 12, gave birth at 7.30am. The only intervention was heart rate checks with an underwater Doppler and making me go to the loo every now and again. I have always thought I missed out on knowing how many cm I was (though you wouldn't have got me out of the pool for anything-I protested the loo visits), but reading this thread it sounds like I have a very very lovely unit.

WellTidy · 06/07/2017 20:55

During my first labour, I found examinations more painful than the rest of labour. As a result, during my second pregnancy, I had it written in my notes that I would only have a sweep if there was gas and air available (which meant that I would never be having a sweep as they're only done in the community here, which I knew) and would only have examinations with gas and air. Would that be acceptable to you?

I also had it written, as an aside, that I would only consent to an emergency c section if I would be given diclofnac to be discharged with. Policy in my area is to give nothing more than paracetamol from 48 hours post partum.

Waddlelikeapenguin · 06/07/2017 21:05

Please ask to speak with a SOM they can reassure you, discuss & liase with consultant if necessary. Icant tell how much the SOM listened & helped.
Nothing should happen to you without your consent (barring obvious emergency/incapacitated situations) during birth, pregnancy or any of the other parts of life!

Specifically regarding checking dilation there are actually clear external signs that can be used too.

KatharinaRosalie · 06/07/2017 21:50

Is it possible to refuse these when having twins? - you can refuse ANYTHING. At any time. You could be having octuplets but still nobody has any rights to do any examinations or other procedures on you unless you consent.

HubrisComicGhoul · 06/07/2017 22:03

I had twins and was only examined once, at my insistance because they didn't believe that I needed to push. Turns out I was 10cm and had to be rushed to the Labour ward.

With my son I wasn't examined at all, but that was because by the time I got to the hospital I was crowning.

Don't consent unless you want it, or if they genuinely believe that there is a serious problem. The best way to test how serious a request is, is to tell them you want to think about it for 10 minutes. If they are happy to wait, then it's probably not necessary.

YouCantArgueWithStupid · 06/07/2017 22:05

I refused all cervix/dilation checks and the midwife went by the butt crack line method. She was spot on.

ChildrensPartyNightmare · 06/07/2017 22:19

Op are you me?

My labour with my DS was just a farce from start to finish.

Day after due date, woke up at 6:30 for a pee to find my "plug" in my nickers

Strict house and deep at lunch said I was already 3cm

Went home and has a nap until tea time, at this point I just had period type pain.

Tea time came walked to the chippy with oh and then ate them walking round the park.

Regular, 6mins apart contractions started 2 hours later. I took some paracetamol and rung the hospital, they said I needed to come in.

Go there, in agony by this point! And needed to push. Was examined by triage who said I was still only 3cm and had to go home.

Tried to assure (plead that I was actually in labour) she assured me, she never gets measurements wrong.. and I must go home!

I demanded pain killers, she went off to find a doctor to prescribe some. Reluctantly.

An hour later I had DS in my arms!

Horrible experience, really horrible! I felt like I was made to be a hypochondriac, not prioritised etc etc. Gave birth just in gass and air.

Had a peth injection. 1 minute before he was born! Waters still in tact too, so very fucking painful.

Sorry that was long, but yes! Refuse and demand to be admitted if you are hunk your father b labour xx

ChildrensPartyNightmare · 06/07/2017 22:21

Stretch and sweep! Not what ever random auto correct above!

chupsmelad · 06/07/2017 22:24

if you are hunk your father b labour

Got to admit I got lost here Grin

chupsmelad · 06/07/2017 22:25

Ah - if you think you are in labour?

Couldn't figure out what Dad has to do with anything Grin

YoullNeverWeeAlone · 06/07/2017 22:29

I had one exam in 3 labours. If I hadn't been 10cm on arrival at hospital with dc1 might have been more.

Dc2 (home birth) and dc3 (MLU) policy was not to examine, just go on behaviour. So hopefully you'll be able to find a midwife or birth centre where you don't have to battle to get your way. Good luck.

Goldenbuzzer · 07/07/2017 09:45

I had none in my second labour - midwife (who was amazing ) just said, let's just see how this goes, we'll be able to tell if your progressing or not. It was obvious I was progressing ( closer contractions , more painful etc) and ended up not having any.
With third labour I put on my birth plan no consent given for internal examinations as i felt it made a big difference to my 2nd labour not having them.

The midwife got a bit stressy and started saying, well if I'm worried about progression we might have to and I just said well we can discuss that if we need to.
An hour later I was making jokes about the possibility of labour not progressing at it was very obvious it was - again pain, frequency etc, just lots of other signs that labour was progressing well. And again I didn't have any.
If things had been different & things didn't seem like they were progressing I would have taken advice of the midwifes and prob would have been happy to have one. But in my last 2 labours they would have been completely unnecessary.

I think Maybe some Midwifes just panic in case things don't progress, me saying ok I'm not completely ruling it out helped her calm down a bit!!
And not having them made a massive difference to the labours. Felt they were allowed to crack on uninterrupted and obviously lessened discomfort for me.

Josieannathe2nd · 07/07/2017 10:03

It's up to you. Have you got a birthing partner- if the midwife gets annoying get them to deal with them.

Having said that- I had a recent home birth & wasn't going to have any vag examinations but was having contractions 10mins apartthe midwife was very calm & listened to me, said would I like one, but I didn't have to at all & could say when was a good time to have one and stop at any point. So I did have one, turned out I was 8cm so it gave me some time to fill up the pool. So I think it's massively important, how you are asked and treated during them.

Original poster
CherriesInTheSnow · 07/07/2017 10:23

Childrens that sounds so similar to my labour!! I think they assume as a first time young mum I must have no idea what I'm talking about Hmm

Josie yes I have prepped my DF(iance) to be aware of what I want and he is ready to assert my needs for me. He will also be keeping an eye on the heart monitor if I am monitored as last time baby's hearth rate was consistently dropping and not recovering according to the monitor (turns out it was actually because clips had come off but she didon't know that!) and my hospital has a bad reputation for avoidable newborn deaths due to inadequate heartrate monitoring so that was very disappointing and I am on high alert this time :(

OP posts:
Reema2017 · 08/07/2017 00:07

First at all , I would like to thank you about this question and all the helpful answers because I am worry too about this examination . When I attend antenatal educational class the midwife told us that you have a right to refuse the internal examination, but i really want to know if itis necessary for admission to the hospital ? Also before the epidural request? Thanks .

Original poster
CherriesInTheSnow · 08/07/2017 07:45

Hi Reema :)

It is tricky, because according to official guide lines, you should be able to stay in hospital at any stage you feel necessary, and similarly the guidelines say you should be able to request an epidural at any point regardless of dilation, but in practice many hospitals don't seem to operate this way.

If I were you I would discuss with your community midwife and request in your notes for there to be no cervical examinations unless it's an emergency. And then be quite firm, tell your birth partner as well to stick up for you :)

I know it's hard, because although guidance is on our side, the attitude of midwives is going to be empirical to us feeling happy and confident, so just remember as the other ladies on this thread have wisely pointed out that just because you are giving birth, doesn't mean you lose your autonomy and rights over your body.

OP posts:
Brummiegirl15 · 08/07/2017 19:55

Absolutely you can refuse internals. Or you don't have to have them every 4 hrs. To be internally examined just because the Magic 4 hrs has passed is not a good enough reason on its own.

Sometimes you might want one because you want to know how far you are, but that's different, that's your choice.

Reema2017 · 10/07/2017 15:05

Hi cherries in the snow😊
Thanks a lot . 🌹

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