Can I refuse another speculum?

[tigerbread20]

Was admitted last night after severe abdominal pain, had a swab that detects early labour which was negative. The speculum had to be done with no lube so as not to affect the result and it HURT and there was a lot of blood on the swab, then had a very thorough internal examination, basically I’m sore and I’d had all these tests the week before.
This morning when I stood up my water went with an almighty gush, no mistaking it was waters (it’s DC3) and they’ve just said they want to do another speculum and swab to confirm. Can I refuse? What will happen if I do? It seems like an unnecessary infection risk and I just don’t want anything else up there right now. I’m 34+5, waters went at 34 weeks with DC2 so aware I’ll need to stay in

Morning, you absolutely can refuse, however better to have this conversation with the team caring for you.

Follow the BRAIN method when making a decision. Ask for the
Benefits of having it
Risk of having it
Alternatives to having it
Inuition: what does your head and heart say
Nothing: what happens if you do nothing

Best of luck x

You can refuse anything you like. Are you still leaking waters? If so they should be able to confirm it from your pad.

I haven’t stood up again since they went so I feel wet down there, I’m sure if I stood up they’d gush again.

Thank you for the brain anagram, that will help me sound more rational (if that’s possible in large amounts of pain after no sleep)

You do not need to consent to anything you do not want too. I did the positive birthing company course and within that it said that doctors and midwives have as much consent to put their fingers inside you as someone at a nightclub. You need to give informed consent & if you don’t want too then that’s fine. There are other ways that the medical team can figure out if you’re in labour or what stage of a labour you’re in. Put a pad in and they can test that xx

As others have said. Consent is yours to give or withhold. All the issues in BRAIN above (except intuition) should be covered when seeking informed consent.

I had my big girl pants on, the midwife was amazing at advocating for me and commented she was confident it was srom on the amount on the floor. The doctors were insistent it was neccesary to ‘check progress’ but in the absence of contractions o politely but firmly declined.

Thank you for helping me convey myself more calmly and reassuring I don’t have to agree to things just because they suggest it!

Are they going to have you stay in? I'm glad you're not having contractions.

Staying in for 2 nights for steroids and check no labour starts, apparently it’s 50/50 and then home with antibiotics and 2 xweekly monitoring until delivery at 37 weeks

@Ginfilledcats

Morning, you absolutely can refuse, however better to have this conversation with the team caring for you.

Follow the BRAIN method when making a decision. Ask for the
Benefits of having it
Risk of having it
Alternatives to having it
Inuition: what does your head and heart say
Nothing: what happens if you do nothing

Best of luck x

This is so helpful! Thanks for sharing, I’ve never heard of it before.

I hope everything goes well OP.

Hi op, I know this was a while ago but I'm curious. Do you think the speculum exam is what caused your waters to go/ caused you to prom?

100% avoid any internal examinations now unless absolutely vital as they can cause infection especially with your waters being gone. Best of luck