Re: [ozmidwifery] any benefit to teaching women self examination?

[Alesa Koziol]

Hi Julie Really this is just an extension of the  info that is shared when talking about the difference between a 'ripe' and 'unripe' cervix. I encourage women to feel the difference within themselves  ( as an at home activity!!) when we discuss non medical forms of induction, and I for one think that info can be very useful.........not sure about VE in labour is this not another way of intellectualising the process? Cheers Alesa   Alesa Koziol Clinical Midwifery Educator Melbourne ----- Original Message ----- From: Megan & Larry To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 10:18 AM Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] any benefit to teaching women self examination? I checked my own dialation with my fourth baby (waterbirth at home), it was short labour anyway, but I just wanted to know where bubs was at. I was sitting on my toilet, just leaned back and as clear as day was a ring/circle of about 5 cm. I was impressed with how obvious it was, amazing. About an hour later I was greeting my baby.   With my third baby (waterbirth at home) I also checked for progress and was surprised to find a head about 3cm in, very inspiring to know that a hard, fast labour was in fact a quick one too, only 3 hours in total.   I guess its up to the individual, nothing wrong with offering the idea to women and then those who are interested can seek more info on what to expect. Some women don't even want to know they have a vagina, others embrace it.   cheers Megan. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Maxine Wilson Sent: Tuesday, 4 April 2006 9:31 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] any benefit to teaching women self examination? Hi Julie – an interesting concept and I have actually had this discussion before-  Was it with you? I think as a student midwife that vaginal exams were one of the most difficult clinical skills to learn, because initially everything felt the same – soft and squishy and it took a bit of experience to start to discern the different textures and landmarks.  This may be different for other midwives though – I may have been a slow learner!!  Though it did seem pretty universal at the time I trained for it to be a skill that took some practice for us students ( oh poor women in teaching hospitals).  Maybe teaching methods are different/better now.  So my initial response is it may be hard for a woman to feel how dilated she is but the descent of the head may be easier for her to feel but not necessarily relevant if she was in early labour. I was a support person at a client’s birth the other night and she spontaneously (ie noone suggested it) put her finger inside her vagina to feel where her baby was, she was in a bath and had slow progress when pushing so actually checked her own progress (descent of the head) and gave the midwife feedback. I am interested to see what others think.   Maxine     From: owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au [mailto:owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au] On Behalf Of Julie Clarke Sent: Tuesday, 4 April 2006 6:51 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: [ozmidwifery] any benefit to teaching women self examination?   Hello. It seems that women admitted to labour wards in the latent phase of labour are more likely to have interventions, and up to 80% of women presenting can have admission delayed (Lauzon & Hodnett 2001).  I have sought information on how to determine the transition from latent to active phase and it seems that the main physiological marker used in diagnosis is the dilatation of the cervix.  I am wondering if there would be any benefit to teaching women self examination as a method of delaying admission.  I would appreciate any feedback, comments, opinions, experiences. Thank you, Julie