6/8 week check on mum - what to expect?

[LKM]

I'm interested in other's experience at the 6 or 8 week check-up with your GP. I know there is a check-list for baby, but what about for Mums? One of the women in my NCT group didn't feel good about the way she was treated but is not sure whether her experience was normal. After asking her some questions about how she felt ("OK" was the broad answer) the GP (male) insisted on a full internal exam, a cervical smear (even though she protested that she was still sore) and asked her to test her pelvic muscles on his finger. None of the rest of us in the group have had any sort of internal examination unless we reported specific problems. Is she over-reacting?

I had to go back to the hospital for my 6 week check the first time as the OB wanted to check my 2nd/borderline 3rd degree tear had healed well - it had. A bit of a look at it with the lamp was all I got, no internal or anything. Like someone else said, I was all ready with best pants on etc.
At the check though I also saw the OB physio, who was great. She asked about incontinence ad revised pelvic floor exercises with me (I had had a 9lb12oz OP baby with ventouse and abovementioned tear) - and thanks to her I have no continence problems.
Also had 2nd postnatal check at hospital as I had had retained placental fragments (was borderline for D&C). Was worth going as I got my mirena inserted that day too (my GP can't fit coils) - and as I loved my OB had no problem in seeing him again. Felt he knew more about any pregnancy probs/results than my GP did, especially as I had spent so long in hospital woh kidney stones before ds's birth.
Wouldn't have fancied testing out my muscles on a GP though. Youcan complain if there is no chaperone! My GP dh travels round with the district nurse on the days he does old lady checks and replaces the ring pessaries for prolapse, as he needs her with him at all times for ethical and legal reasons.

My six week check with DS1 was a waste of time, Dr did nothing and asked very little, almost like the woman Dr on Smack the Pony (she did a post-natal check, v funny). After DS2, different Dr she gave me an internal (which I wasn't fussed about having) and badgered me about having sex with DH, felt like asking her if she had ever had children or breastfed, she was going on about how he would feel left out etc and I should make time for him, grrrr! DS2 had a carton of juice with him that I put down on the table and she looked at it and said "I assume you have given up breastfeeding then" ????, right, straight off the breast and onto cartons of blackcurrant!!! I asked her if she felt I was OK to resume my aerobics classes, and she looked at me as if I was mad and said she didn't know what they did at aerobics classes but if I felt OK then I probably would be OK. Waste of time!

There is absolutely no need to have an internal at your 6 week check unless you have a problem. As stated already, smears should not be done as the cervix can sometimes be inflamed and the result will be inaccurate. Everyone should be doing pelvic floor exercises for ever to ensure good muscle tone. At 6 weeks it is not uncommon for the tone not to be back yet. Pelvic floor exercises should become second nature being done any time, any place, any where ( sounds like a martini advert )

OK Mears - doing them as I look through Mumsnet!!

Now have visions of us all sitting in front of our PCs 'squeezing'!!

Lindy - you reminded me...
I was sat at a post natal class on something or other, and the subject of pelvic floor came up, and one mum said "oooh - it's bad. I used to do them a hundred times a day, and now I have the baby I hardly remember to do them at all." Then she stopped and looked around at us all and said "but I bet we're all doing them right now arn't we?" and we all creased up because we were!!!