Childbirth, vaginal birth, Parto natural, vaginal exams

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Vaginal exams during childbirth have become our normal and traditional way of assessing a woman during her labor and it’s also used as a marker and means for establishing interventions.
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The information collected during vaginal exams varies from stats on effacement, dilation, station, position of baby and the amniotic sac. What we do with this information is where the problem lies. If the mother is not progressing to the “standard”, interventions will more than likely be imposed and suggested without any real medical need. Even though recommendations say that the mother and baby should be left alone when they are doing well because unnecessary interventions can create bad outcomes.
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In the U.S., and many other countries, the vaginal examination has turned into a ritualistic procedure where the mother may feel pressure to “perform” accordingly, she feels like she has to pass a test, while undergoing the pain, discomfort, and even shame/embarrassment of having a provider place their fingers inside her vagina. Not to mention the trauma that a mother relive if she has ever experienced abuse in her lifetime.
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All of these exams and talk of progress and number crunching can directly effect a mother emotionally and physically. Directing hindering a mothers normal physiological birth. There’s a big gap in our system that dismisses the facts of normal physiological mammalian birth and just expects birthing mothers to perform to their textbooks.
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In a “normal” birth setting, a birthing mother can expect to undergo a vaginal exam by 1-3 or more providers, anywhere between 2-17 times.
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The same respect, bodily autonomy and consent that we expect people to abide by in everyday life should carry over into the birthplace. If you are not comfortable being touched by this many strangers, this many times in everyday life, why are we accepting this in the birth room? Any other day and time, we would call this rape/assault.
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The reality is this: many providers are not asking for consent to vaginal exams. Saying “I am going to check your cervix now for progress” is NOT CONSENT. That is someone telling you that they WILL be placing their hands inside your vagina whether you like it or not.
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Vaginal examinations should only be done when necessary and with the consent of the mother after being given the risks vs benefits.
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The birthing mother in this video refused any vaginal exams/touch during her whole birth AND she chose to birth on her back(yes, some women feel comfortable in their backs). Those were her wishes and rights so they were respected. They all just stayed away and let her birth her baby on her own because she was progressing beautifully and needed nothing but space and watchful waiting.
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Childbirth should not involve requiring the mother to pass very intimate “tests, exams, or pop quizzes” when her and the child are doing well.
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VideoCred: @obstetra_bianka_manhaes on IG