The Midwives' Cauldron

Vaginal Examinations

April 18, 2023 Katie James and Dr Rachel Reed Season 4 Episode 10
The Midwives' Cauldron
Vaginal Examinations
Show Notes

On this episode of the Midwives Cauldron, it’s just me and Rachel hanging out and stirring the pot discussing vaginal examinations (VE's)!

  • We take a step back in history to look at how midwives originally used vaginal examination during labour and for what purpose
  • We look at current guidelines 
  • Rachel goes on her history trail for us to find the original research which guidelines are based on
  • We talk about said research, the risks of vaginal examinations 
  • Language midwives could use to discuss VEs in preparation for labour
  • The importance of talking about vaginal examinations during the antenatal phase
  • How mainstream media influences us into thinking that vaginal examinations are an important part of our labour
  • How medical birth needs a different assessment from physiological birth
  • I ask whether there should ever be a timeline set in length for a labour 
  • We question how students can learn the skill of vaginal examinations if we “shouldn’t be doing as many as we are” 
  • And Rachel teaches me the word furtle! 

All this and more on this episode of The Midwives’ Cauldron

 

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