10/10/2024
Labor tip no. 63: understand that there are benefits and risks to everything. Following this account (or any other on insta or tiktok), hiring a doula, and getting your cervix checked all have benefits and risks.
The risks associated with routine cervical exams usually outweigh the benefits.
⚠️ exams are blind procedures. This means it’s not done by looking at the cervix but rather feeling it.
⚠️ exams are usually done with you on your back which can be super painful in labor
⚠️ the exam itself - regardless of the position you’re in - can be painful. This disrupts your labor by negatively affecting your oxytocin release
⚠️ it’s been proven that having more than 2 exams during labor increases your risk of infection
⚠️ one study also showed that prenatal exams dramatically increases your risk for PROM (the bag breaking prematurely)
⚠️ the “diagnosis” of dilation can be - and more often than not IS - not entirely accurate. Yet, many assume the exams are totally accurate and use the cervix as a crystal ball
⚠️ and my personal favorite “the info that you allow your body to give staff can and will be used against you.” Facts. If you don’t believe it, think back on all the “Failure to Progress” stories you’ve heard
⚠️ heartache and disappointment if/when the number isn’t what you hoped
Benefits
🙌 we can get a general idea where the baby is and then IF you and/or your birth team understands physiological birth, positions can be adjusted to help baby along
🙌 allocation of staff and activation of birth team
🙌 excitement and encouragement if/when the number is what you want (tho this can bite you in the arse real quick and turn into a risk)
You get to evaluate these and decide which carries more weight and then decide if you’d like an exam or not.
But yeah, no one is “just taking a peek” at your cervix. It’s quite invasive and often painful.
How do you feel about cervical exams. 🗣️ if you’re out there, lemme know in the comments.