Should i get a dilation check or not

So it’s been on my mind a lot that when in labour you have dilation checks which pretty much goes without saying (or so i thought) When i had my son in 2021 i had many dilation checks when i was in labour (took 12hrs to get to 5cm) and ended up getting an infection which then resulted in me having an emergency c section. Im now 30+1 today with my second baby and im so desperate not to have another c section (the recovery was brutal for me) so im trying to think of anything i can to avoid it or getting another infection in labour. I spoke to a doula friend of a friend not too long ago and she was saying how i don’t have to get dilation checks because baby is going to come when they’re going to come and no amount of checks will change that so im in two minds at the moment. Has anyone gone through labour without dilation checks or do you think it would be a good idea to get them?

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I’m sure you can request minimal checks like that in your birth plan. Your midwife will be able to tell you more accurately but I don’t remember having many with either of mine

Yes introducing anything into your vagina while in labor is going to bring risks including infection. Most doctors will not give you informed consent of those decisions at the hospital. Birth is your space. They will say it as you have no choice but you absolutely are and can deny anything you don’t feel safe with during your birth. Even if they pressure you. “I do not consent” works well to stop them. I had a vbac at home with my 11lb 42 week baby boy. I’m sure if I went to a hospital instead of my midwife they would’ve done another cesarean claiming baby was too big, which based on the statistics and percentages of complications of another C-section it would’ve been more dangerous for me vs the safety of my home and birth team.

You absolutely can decline. Sometimes they might be useful to understand the position of baby if labour seems to be obstructed, but routine checks are not necessary.

I think if you end up going into the hospital because water breaks or because you’re having contractions then have a check then. I personally liked getting checked because it helps me obviously know how far along I am. I take forever to dilate which sucks but it at least helps me. I think you could get check when you get in. And maybe before you get like an epidural or something. And then do another like way further into labor. To check if you’re ready to push. But I wouldn’t every hour or anything like that. I got check maybe 3 or 4 times throughout the two days I was in labor.

I had a really long labour and only had my cervix checked twice. They didn’t bat an eyelid when I said no, they were really respectful about it. It’s totally your choice and I think you’ll know when you actually want one and when you don’t.

Thanks all! Took me ages to dilate with my first pregnancy but my waters went when i was in the hospital. Ill just go with the flow on the day and see how i feel

With my first child in 2021 I wasn’t examined at all, no one as much as looked at my vagina until the baby was out 😂 but I did leave it pretty last minute to go to the birthing unit (feeling like I had to push) so the midwives must have known I was around 10cm, with my second feb 2024 I ended up needing induced for medical reasons and had so many examinations it was terrible I can see why you wouldn’t want them again

Gosh i hope this birth goes well! Induction isn’t an option for me because of my precious c section so its either naturally going into labour again or elective c section (or emergency 😬) i just don’t want another infection from being checked but thinking i may just have one when i go in and then another if things amp up more

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