One main concern women have during labor is vaginal examination. Some have asked whether something else can be done to substitute vaginal examination during labor.

It’s one of the procedures that just can’t be avoided once you are In labor as it’s significance can’t be underestimated. It can be done using a speculum or the fingers, sometimes both. There are key roles it plays. Vagina examination allows your midwife or doctor to check the following

🔴Vulva and vagina to make sure it’s can allow vaginal delivery. No sores, rashes, female circumcision etc

🔴Cervix-It’s dilation

🔴Membranes- Whether it’s intact or not

🔴Liquor- If the water around baby is clear r meconium stained

🔴Presenting part- Which part of the baby is coming first

🔴Pelvis- Whether it’s adequate or not

It is an uncomfortable procedure and can be a little painful. Your doctor or midwife will prepare you by informing, seeking your consent and reassuring you before its done

Its done usually after an abdominal examination. It is not done except it is really needed as frequent vaginal examination can result in infection if care is not taken. It is done under sterile conditions. During labor it is usually done every 4 hours and more frequently when it is very necessary.

Your midwife will communicate all finding to you after the procedure. Cooperate with your doctor or midwife for the best outcomes.

In some cases vaginal examination may be contraindicated. Example. Complete placenta previa previa.

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CERVICAL DILATION

Your cervix which is known as the mouth /opening of the uterus during pregnancy is closed. When labor sets in it will begin to dilate

Your cervix should be fully dilated before you push out your baby. Pushing through an undilated cervix can cause cervical tears.

Always cooperate with your midwife. Push when she has confirmed that the cervix is fully opened.

Having severe pains does not mean that cervix is fully dilated. Let your midwife confirm first!. Unless baby comes out spontaneously don’t be in a rush to push without it being confirmed.

And remember cervix is dilated when you are 10 cm full. Its a gradual process that can last between 8 to 18 hours. Its shorter for mums who have given birth before.

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Some times you wonder why you are still shouting, having all the pains and your midwife is still asking you to hold on!

She checks and says, it’s only 1 cm dilated.

After a long wait or 4 hours, she rechecks and says it just 3cm.

You feel it’s been too long and the pain is unbearable so you should push your baby out.

This is why you should cooperate with your doctor or midwife.

The cervix which is the opening of the cervix should open from 1cm to 10 cm to allow the baby’s head to be birthed followed by the body.

Cervix should not be felt any more when your doctor or midwife performs vaginal examination.

If it’s still felt and you push through it, you can tear your cervix which is difficult to repair and requires special skills. Bleeding can also be severe.

Only push when your doctor or midwife has confirmed that you are fully dilated. (10 cm and no cervix can be felt on vaginal examination)

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My EDD was 23/08/2024
My blue jet decided he wanted to ‘be outside’ earlier and arrived on 03/08/2024
I had quite a bearable pregnancy I’d say. I felt like I had terrible malaria between weeks 6 and 16.
After that I got almost all my mojo back but for some dizziness and extreme fatigue that surfaced during the 3rd trimester. And oh I could sleep. I neither experienced vomiting nor spitting.

On the 25th July I experienced some bleeding and rushed to the hospital. It was a bit more than a ‘ bloody show’ so drs suspected a number of things and said I ll be admitted till baby comes but after thorough assessment and scans I was discharged the following day with the assurance that I wasn’t in danger.
For some reason, I always felt baby will come at 37/38 weeks so I told hubby that after week 37 no traveling or staying at work for long I guess it was my instincts kicking in.

On the dawn of 02 Aug, I woke up to my underwear completely soaked. Initially I thought it was urine but I kept leaking and upon assessing the fluid I concluded my water had broken. I called my doctor and mw Sally and they both said I should report immediately.
I arrived at the hospital at 2pm and when I was checked I was 3cm but I was surprised cos I felt absolutely no pain and wasn’t contracting. After about 6 hours, still no contractions and I was given medicines to augment the contractions. Then came the most painful physical pain I’ve ever experienced. After more than 24 hours, and still leaking liquor with baby’s heart rate going higher than normal, I was taken in for a cs on account of failure to progress. In a few mins my baby was out and I smiled hearing his cry.

Somewhere deep within me I was mad at myself that I ended up at the theatre to the extent that I’ll skip anything that had to do with svd on social media and dealing with the pain post cs made me angrier. But I had to pep talk myself that it wasn’t my fault that things happened the way they did, and that God saved my life and my baby and that’s what matters most.
Thank you to all the midwives on here who made my journey worthwhile with all the valuable information shared.

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