That’s revolting terminology. They are making it sound like some kind of sexual assault.Portugal’s resident banshee shared this. In reality, how many times does an internal examination take place during birth? This makes it sound as if the medics are mauling women from the minute they step foot on the labour wards.
Whilst it may be invasive- There’s a lot more skill involved in vaginal examination than any of the unqualified fuckwits who support free birthing appreciate. I’m not a midwife, but my job is inextricably linked to midwifery & I'm sure that reviews of clinical practice would have outlawed the practice, if it wasn’t a useful diagnostic.
Without vaginal examination, I wonder how many cord prolapses (a clinical emergency) would be missed, or undiagnosed breech presentation?
I had a call from the emergency bed service a few weeks ago near the end of my night shift to say that a lady was on her way in by ambulance- 24 weeks and ‘pushing’. That meant assembling a team in a hurry to go down to A&E, where she was about to arrive (not an ideal place to deliver a 24 weeker) & calling the consultant in- they attend all extreme preterm deliveries.
The team got there & on examination, the lady’s OS was closed- no dilation, not in established labour.
Imagine if they hadn’t examined her. I was left with one junior doctor for the entire NICU, whilst everyone else was a few floors down. Was the rest of the team supposed to hang out in A&E for hours until it became apparent she wasn’t going to deliver imminently?
Anyhoo, she actually delivered a few days later. Just as well she was examined so decisions could be made about her management, eh?
Dicks.
). An obvious ploy so when she is inevitably arrested for illegally staying she can show her disciples how her prophecies come true, therefore reinforcing her mystic/psychic capabilities to them. Silly born sods.