Declining cervical checks during labor?

TheThornBird · May 2016

I've been declining cervical checks at my MW appointments because pelvic exams have always been extremely uncomfortable and painful for me (even the GBS test was very painful, and that was just a Q-tip!). Does anyone know if I can decline them during labor? Of course I won't if they are absolutely necessary for LO's well-being, but just the thought of them is already stressing me out.

js8812 · May 2016

I could see where they might not be as keen on letting you decline during labor. Are you planning on getting an epi at any point?

JoMunson · May 2016

TheThornBird said:

I've been declining cervical checks at my MW appointments because pelvic exams have always been extremely uncomfortable and painful for me (even the GBS test was very painful, and that was just a Q-tip!). Does anyone know if I can decline them during labor? Of course I won't if they are absolutely necessary for LO's well-being, but just the thought of them is already stressing me out.

My birth teacher said you 100% can decline cervical checks- especially if you're planning an unmedicated birth because what they're really waiting for is that "urge". You're in charge! For me, the anxiety wasn't so much about the cervical checks as the dialating number since I know you can be "stuck" at a number for a long time and then rapidly go through a few (or the opposite- dialate really fast till 8-9 and then just stall) so I asked that they not tell me where I'm at.
Just let your doctor know that cervical checks are very uncomfortable for you and since you're focusing on relaxing during labor (maybe drop the word hypnobirthing even if you aren't technically doing it) you would prefer to only do checks every 3-4 hours or not at all.

Bltbear82 · May 2016

During my first labor I was checked in triage to see how far I was dilated in relation to being able to admit me. I was subsequently checked every few hours after being admitted both times, so I don't think that checks are entirely avoidable as they're used to gauge progression. As PP mentioned, if you get an epidural that's a positive because then they're painless.

Jenly17 · May 2016

I was induced because I wasn't progressing very well. I was checked maybe 3 times over the course of a 30hr period. I may be the odd one out, but knowing where I was in terms of dilation gave me the peace of mind that I only have "x" cms to go before I get to meet my baby. It was strangely reassuring. I'm not sure that you can decline them, but if you're really against it, it can't hurt to ask your doc.

sparkledonuts · May 2016

I think it all depends on doctors and nurses .. when I was induced I found it odd no one was checking me and I actually asked for it about 30 min after my water had broke because it has been a while & they said well normally we don't but we can if you want which I'm glad I did because at that point I was 10cm lol

JoMunson · May 2016

One thing I'd like to add is the idea of not being sure you can decline something...follow that thought to the end. Do you really think if you're in labor your doctor is going to kick you out of the hospital or force him/herself on you if you decline a check or are they just going to be a little put out? Any good doctor or midwife worth their salt will explain what will happen if something is declined, for example I attempted to decline the glucose test and my midwives told me that it's a condition of their insurance to have every woman tested.

araecasey · May 2016

I'm declining all but in triage. Although my midwife said if baby's crowning when I get there, no check needed for admittance LOL. Talk with your provider about their protocol AND the hospital/birth center's protocol. They might be different from each other. My MW is fine with no checks, but the hospital says we have to do one upon arrival.

Knottie64278661 · May 2016

Yes, you can certainly decline cervical checks (unless they are necessary because of an emergency). The phrase to use suggested in my hypnobabies workbook for sample birth preferences states " I would appreciate a minimum of vaginal exams and do not want to be informed of my progress in dilation." They will often use this as a reason to want to do an exam when actual progress in dilation can change rapidly.

Also a good rule to remember when faced with any procedure, find out why it is being used in your case, what are the short and long term effects on your baby, and what are your other options.

I plan on using that phrase a lot while in labor at the hospital or having my husband ask if I'm unable to speak for myself.

Dasha420 · May 2016

Is this something of a personal preference or is there something detrimental in having too many cervical checks? Curious for my own reasons.

Pascal86 · May 2016

You can decline absolutely any procedure in any medical setting. You're not in jail, they can't force anything on you. If you don't want cervical checks, don't get cervical checks. If you're asking if it's really critical you get cervical checks for some reason and it would be unwise to decline them... I don't know. But just remember even though the hospitals have it all laid out for you in terms of protocol, don't let them pressure you into something you don't want just because they're on auto-pilot!

saraleigh2 · May 2016

When you have cervical checks germs from out side (even in the hospital air) get pushed inside... It can increase risk for infection etc (obviously they attempt to minimize this w/gloves and other measures). they can also be very uncomfortable for a woman in labor who is already in pain and struggling to relax.

saladflambe · May 2016

You can always decline any medical procedure - it is your body.
I would speak with your doctor and also craft some sort of birthing plan document that informs the nurses what your plans are and why so that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. I would maybe work on some sort of compromise if they are super uncomfortable with it (e.g., cervical checks only every x amount of time, etc.) and maybe ask about more information for when a cervical check may be medically necessary. Such as if you're getting and epidural -- which should mean no pain for following checks, so there's that.

Bellodomani · May 2016

I labored for 30 hours with my first baby and the only time I had a cervical check (besides confirming my suspicion when I was at a 10), was when my doctor broke my water for me. I was worried that knowing I was only X cm along would affect my confidence in my body's ability to do what it needed to do, so I just told them when I went in that I only wanted them when they were absolutely necessary. Everyone was super cool about it even though I was at Stanford which is a super-medicalized, traditional, not hippy-dippy at all environment.

TheThornBird · May 2016

Thanks everyone! I won't be getting an epidural, so I'm pretty worried about the pain. Plus I'm GBS+, so I feel like it would be best to not be pushing my vag germs up there (even though I know LO will be rubbing all up on them anyway).

Does anyone know if they can they refuse to admit me if I decline the check when first admitted? I'm not too worried about later on- I know they can't kick out a woman giving birth. I'm a little afraid to bring it up with my MW practice beforehand, because they are known to kick people out of their practice and I don't want to be scrambling around trying to find a place to give birth at 39 weeks.

lizChesnut · May 2016

My dr hasn't even mentioned cervical checks and I'm thankful because I'd say NO! There really isn't much point to them. Baby will come when baby comes! I don't need Dr's poking around in my vagina because it gives them a fake sense of control over MY body! Just be polite, yet firm. If a medical reason comes up where they need to check then, yes go for it. Otherwise leave us alone to give birth

JoMunson · May 2016

TheThornBird said:

Thanks everyone! I won't be getting an epidural, so I'm pretty worried about the pain. Plus I'm GBS+, so I feel like it would be best to not be pushing my vag germs up there (even though I know LO will be rubbing all up on them anyway).

Does anyone know if they can they refuse to admit me if I decline the check when first admitted? I'm not too worried about later on- I know they can't kick out a woman giving birth. I'm a little afraid to bring it up with my MW practice beforehand, because they are known to kick people out of their practice and I don't want to be scrambling around trying to find a place to give birth at 39 weeks.

Ask them what kind of leeway/policy they have with checks, don't mention YET that you want to decline until you know their policy. They should tell you what their policy is and ESPECIALLY midwives will want to work with you if they're uncomfortable or stressful for you.

mumbolino · May 2016

I declined them and stated in my birth plan and to the midwifes, to let me know if they felt it would benefit me to do one and to discuss with me.
I ended up consenting after pushing without feeling any baby come down and it was good that I did consent then (and I felt I wanted them to check, too), as baby was malpositioned and I was not dilating (but still felt pushing urges). (and from then on I had to be checked 4 more times in the course of my labour, which ended in an emergency caesar).
I think this was a god compromise for myself. Declining the routine checks, but being open to one if needed.
Do what you feel is right for you.

SweetRhthm · May 2016

Dasha420 said:

Is this something of a personal preference or is there something detrimental in having too many cervical checks? Curious for my own reasons.

Our childbirth instructor warned that each cervical check is an opportunity to introduce bacteria, and checks should be kept to an absolute minimum. I can understand not wanting to get psyched out about progress, but the bacteria is the reason I'm concerned.

AdorkablePixie · May 2016

I don't want to be checked much during labor. When I first get there is fine, but other than that I want to be left alone as much as possible unless it's necessary.

I'm also not being checked now. My MW told me on Monday that starting next week they can start doing cervical checks, I said I'd rather not and she said that's completely fine, we don't have to do them.

lalala2004 · May 2016

Another reason to avoid extra checks is sometimes they can accidentally break your water, if it hasn't already, and contractions are generally much more painful after that. I think the best thing you can do if you want to avoid checks is to try not to go to the hospital too early if you can avoid it. By the time I got to triage I was almost an 8, so they didn't feel much need to check me until they thought I might be at the pushing stage. TBH I have no idea how many times my cervix was checked, but I don't think it was much. I was so out of it on the laughing gas that I thought they were checking my cervix during contractions when they were actually just holding the monitor on my abdomen. That was a weird feeling.

Dasha420 · May 2016

@SweetRhthm thanks. I didn't think of that at all. I'm at 38 weeks and 4 days - I haven't gotten a check at all. I was worrying about it but I'm glad I came across this thread.
Thank you everyone.

Knottie64278661 · May 2016

TheThornBird said:

Thanks everyone! I won't be getting an epidural, so I'm pretty worried about the pain. Plus I'm GBS+, so I feel like it would be best to not be pushing my vag germs up there (even though I know LO will be rubbing all up on them anyway).

Does anyone know if they can they refuse to admit me if I decline the check when first admitted? I'm not too worried about later on- I know they can't kick out a woman giving birth. I'm a little afraid to bring it up with my MW practice beforehand, because they are known to kick people out of their practice and I don't want to be scrambling around trying to find a place to give birth at 39 weeks.

I would just ask them what their policy is on cervical checks and go from there. I am GBS+ as well so that limits the amount of time we can labor outside of the hospital because we need antibiotics during labor. My doctor has told me I can labor at home until my water breaks or until I can no longer talk/laugh through contractions. Good luck to you!

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