In this episode, I talk about Vaginal Exams. You may know them as VE's.

Vaginal examinations, or VE's, are a common practice in childbirth that involve checking the cervix for dilation and effacement.

However, there is growing evidence that suggests these examinations are not helpful in birth and may even be harmful. Here are some key reasons why vaginal examinations are not helpful in birth:

1. Inaccuracy: Vaginal examinations are notoriously inaccurate and subjective. Different practitioners may have different interpretations of the same examination, leading to inconsistencies in care. Additionally, a woman's cervix may be dilated or effaced in one moment but then return to a previous state, making the information gained from a VE unreliable.

   
   



2. Risk of infection: The use of gloves during vaginal examinations does not eliminate the risk of infection, and the introduction of bacteria can be harmful to the mother and baby. Research has shown that the risk of infection increases with the frequency of VE's.

   
   



3. Pain and discomfort: Vaginal examinations can be painful and uncomfortable, and can cause anxiety and stress in women during labour. This can lead to a release of stress hormones that can slow down labor and make it more difficult.

   
   



4. Distracts from intuition: The focus on dilation and effacement can distract practitioners from other important signs and signals that indicate progress in labor, such as the position of the baby, the frequency and strength of contractions, and the mother's intuition.

   
   



5. Potential for unnecessary interventions: VE's can lead to unnecessary interventions, such as artificial rupture of membranes or induction of labour, based on the assumption that the labor is not progressing as it should. However, these interventions can increase the risk of complications and interventions, such as c-section.

   
   

If you are a bit of a birth nerd like me and want to find out more here is an article written by my mentor Dr Rachel Reed

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

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