Has anyone else opted out of exams?

We knew we were having a planned c section so i never went thru any of that, but my thoughts exactly no way is someone putting their hands inside me🥴 baby will come when babys ready

I’ve only had an internal once and only to eatablish how advanced my labour was. Totally up to you. Absolutely not essential. Never had one with my second and labour was fine! Best of luck!

I didn’t opt out but only had one on arrival and I don’t think it made any difference at all. I was 5cm when I got to hospital, got in the pool and then they didn’t bother again. Midwife wanted to check when I said I was ready to push (she didn’t believe me) but baby was crowning so it was obvious! I don’t think it should affect the whole process. Good midwifes have lots of other ways of checking progress.

I wish I had opted out! Baby was measuring 4 weeks ahead on growth scan so they started doing internals on me early (35 weeks). Literally 2 hours after my first internal exam, my water broke. When I got to the hospital my doctor made a joke like “oops, maybe I broke your water”. No idea if that’s possible or not BUT it is quite a coincidence that I had the exam that morning and had no other indications of labor until my water broke. Definitely not letting them do internals next time until closer to 40 weeks

I’m going to opt out.

I was going to opt out but glad I didn't as they found baby to be breech so needed a csection & might not have known without examination, but midwife did ask first and check I was ok with her doing it

I’m opting out. No benefits in my eyes as even if they tell you how dilated you are, doesn’t really mean anything in terms of how quickly you’ll actually have your baby and it’s an infection risk. Plus they have other signs of knowing and my midwives are very supportive of this.
The most important thing is to create a good birth environment- much like the way a mammal would give birth. Dim lighting, remain relaxed, breathe through the contractions, minimal people in the room, make sure you’re drinking lots of water, stay active and upright etc. Birth is the most natural thing in the world and it has become so medicalised which is why there are so many interventions these days

I had them and it was no big deal to me.. I feel like it gives your dr a better indication of what your body is doing. 🤷‍♀️

When do they start to do internal check my minds gone blank can’t remember with first x

I didn’t get any internal examinations with my last pregnancy until 41 weeks when they gave me a sweep which I asked for ... also for my last labour I didn’t have any internal exams at all, I was labouring at home and by the time the midwife got there I already knew I was ready to start pushing so when she asked to do an internal to check dilation etc I just refused as I was already in water and nothing was getting me out of there 😂

I’m 31 weeks but have to start going weekly until baby is here and no one has checked me yet so now i’m nervous if this is something they’re gonna start 😳

I didn’t opt out and didn’t realise you could, I had 7 sweeps... would 100% opt out next time! Xxx

I had internal exams almost every week after 36 weeks. Those were okay but when I was in labor they checked almost every 2 hours . It was so traumatic to me even when I go to the Obgyn now I get anxious & all I remember is that feeling. If you do have it done do it only if it’s absolutely necessary

I’m 37 weeks and being induced next week I haven’t been offered an internal examination and it’s totally unnecessary. 🤷🏼‍♀️
Obviously whilst I’m being induced they will need to examine me to see how the drugs are working and how the labour is progressing, but prior to that they have no need to be checking me. I think being in a hospital and actually being in labour is a completely different situation that being ‘examined’ at your local doctors office that 50 other women have already been Into today alone 🤷🏼‍♀️

My midwife didn't examine me internally once, until I was already in early labor

I didn’t have them before my labour, no sweeps but I asked for one after 18 hours of labour. Your body your choice 😘

If you have extreme anxiety relating to examination it might be worth raising with your midwife to put your mind at ease. They usually aren’t offered unless there’s a good reason but it might be recommended at some point in labour so may help you to be more prepared.

The only internal test I would still do is the strep b test. That can make baby super sick if goes untreated

I wasn’t checked during labor. I had my membrane swept when I asked for it at 41 weeks. It didn’t disrupt my birthing plan at all.

Hello! I’m in the exact same boat they have offered me an “epidural” as a way to cope so I don’t have to feel anything. You could also say that you need extra support when it comes to things like this. I’ve been put into contact with my hospitals maternity mental health team so they can prep you for things like internal examinations. Still haven’t decided If I’m going to agree for the examinations or not. But honestly there not mandatory and you feeling comfortable is the most important bit :) x

They don't admit you into labour ward until you're 4cm so not sure how you'd be able to get around an internal in the UK...
Do they hurt at all?

You can ask them to use the Purple Line method instead of an internal exam if that makes you uncomfortable. A purple (if you are white) or silvery white (if you are a person of colour) will appear just above your bum and increases in length up towards your back the more dilate you become. The midwife will estimate your dilation by measuring this line and it doesn’t require any invasive examination

Internal vaginal exams increase your chance of infections. I only did them when I'd been i labor a few hours and she wanted to see how far I was. It wasn't necessary but I wanted to know how close I was. I wasn't close. XD oi.

My doctor was super laid back about them and I said that I didn’t want an exam unless I requested it. I had no internal exam until I was in labor and asked to be checked as it was pretty intense and I was 10cm by then.

It’s completely up to you. Try and talk to your provider and say that you don’t want them unless it’s absolutely necessary or you decide you want one. If my doctor had given me a good reason then I would have considered it based on what she said.

I didn’t realise until recently that internal exams were advised/suggested but not required. It’s fine to say no, and the medical team have other ways to check on labour and baby.
Tbh it feels barbaric that internal exams are so often given for little/no good reason. So pleased so many mums here have given alternative options, gives the rest of us courage to opt out 👍🏻

The internal exams are the worst. I was induced and you don’t have the option to opt out if you are getting induced. Unless you want to go straight to a c section. They have to put a pessary in to start you off. Then they had to check it after 24 hours etc and put another one in if needed.
Everyone I knew from NCT ended up having a dr delivery and couldn’t or didn’t end up in the midwife centre.
I also remember asking the midwife to check how far I was along during the birth, because I was getting a lot of contractions and it was bloody painful by this point.
It a great journey giving birth and loved every minute, some people have easy births and others, things just happen that you have no control over, you lose all dignity and you get poked and prodded some much that it all blurs into one. But at the end of the day you get to meet your beautiful baby and you forget everything else.

you’re in the UK and the NHS cannot force you to have a physical examination if you don’t want one!

I did, until 20 weeks sadly. I have to do a frequent vaginal ultrasound for a previa

I wasn’t examined at all with my labour in May. My midwife advised me not to and we just went with the flow. When I needed to push she had a look but that was it.
X

I never had any vaginal examination or interventions even in labour (at home)

How would they know what your dilation is if they don't do this?

I had one for pre-term labour last week (was 32 weeks). It was no worse than a smear test and I was happy to accept to ensure the best outcome for me and baby, but I was sure to ask about the pros and cons etc before making any decision x

This is a really interesting post. I'm pregnant with my second baby but with my first I also opted out of an internal exam. However, they ended up telling me if I wouldn't left them examine me I would have to go home as they don't know how established with labour I was.
It really wasn't a pleasant experience and I'm still pretty cross I was put in that position with seemingly no respect for my rights

Internal examination isn’t that bad, compared to contractions!

I will be refusing all internal exams unless I decide I want to know what is going on. There are other ways a skilled practitioner can know where you are at in Labour. Such as, how you are talking, a purple line that appears at the top of your but, your breathing etc.

I dislike the internal exams too and often opt out until labour time then I make sure to use gas n air to get through the anxiety of them.

When I had the pessary induction, the midwife gave me a sweep without asking. I felt this was very intrusive. I was happy to have it but I do think that I should have been asked or even told she was going to do it.

I’m probably going to give you some unwanted advice but i strongly suggest you take the internal exams whilst in labour, they are extremely useful for seeing the progress you’re making and also to see the position that baby is in to ensure both you and baby are safe, also they may have to attach a clip to the top of baby’s head to monitor the heart rate, please please speak to a midwife before you refuse any internal examinations, they can literally be life savers

I didn’t know I was in established labour till I was checked. I thought it was maybe braxton hicks and almost didn’t take my stuff to the hospital with me. When the nurse examined me I was 5 cm dilated and my waters were bulging. My baby was born a few hours later, and if I hadn’t have gone to the hospital to be checked it could have worked out very differently! I completely understand anxiety (I hate needles and refused any non essential) but this was my first baby and I honestly thought I was going to be in labour for hours and hours and probably be over my due date. But it didn’t work out at all like that for me, baby was born with a short labour and on his due date. My point is every labour is different and if like me you might not realise how close to birth you actually are xxx

It’s funny that you mentioned this! I literally asked my midwife if she was going to do one on me two days ago! She said the same thing it’s not mandatory and it doesn’t do anything except for making mom uncomfortable. It makes so much sense considering I was 3 cm dialated my last pregnancy for 3 weeks!!! And ended up having to be induced at 42 weeks. Honestly once I had known I was 3 cm dialated I feel like it caused me nothing but stress and anxiety as I was worried I’d be going into labor any day. I’m glad she doesn’t do them too! I would prob opt out too anyway!

I didn’t have any my second time because it was a planned cesarean

Hi!!! So, I have this same fear. I am a sexual abuse survivor and I am extremely uncomfortable with any internal examinations.
I started by finding a midwife that I was very comfortable with. I delivered at a birth center and the director was a wonderful, intelligent hippie mom that I was able to create a great bond with.
I was extremely transparent with her about my fears and she did a great job respecting them.
We avoided any internal exams where we could.
I was overdue with my babe and in prodromal labor. I was almost to the 2 week mark, where I would have had to transfer to a real hospital.
With my permission, my midwife did a membrane sweep and eventually had to break my water to speed things up.
Since she knew my history, she was very slow and gentle, talked me through each step of what she was doing and reminded me to tell her to stop if I wanted her to.
This was helpful as it kept me connected to my body and reminded me that I was in charge of the situation.

I’m always given the option regarding cervical checks as they really don’t mean anything. I’m almost 39 weeks and haven’t had one yet. I may get one at 40 weeks if I haven’t gone into labor by then.

I had a couple during labor but that’s cause I decided I wanted to know. It ended up helping me but originally I had planned to have none

They can usually tell by doing an ultrasound and then they make. Recommendation if they see anything concerning .

What?!?! Ur telling me they didn’t have to stick their hand up?!?!!! I’m madddd lol they did it to me like 5 times it was so uncomfortable at least I know if I have any other children wish I would’ve seen this post sooner

Only allow them if at due date or in labor. I was fortunate my OB only did 1st cervical exam at due date. Also it wasnt bad. My OB is female as were the other docs that check me during labor (i was sent to induction and delivered in 19 hrs) so idk if female OBs make exams more tolerable or I just had luck.

I’m so glad I found this thread! It’s the thing I’m most scared about with giving birth. I really struggle with smear tests, they said it’s because my cervix is high up which makes it more uncomfortable. I’m definitely going to try to avoid exams as much as i can! Xx

Just curious as can see you are studying to be a midwife how would u feel about doing internals on others does that not bother you ?

I opted out of internal exams throughout and in labour too. 👍