Vaginal exams during labor
Most women’s labors progress
normally, and usually, there is
no need to do a vaginal exam.
But a vaginal exam can be
useful because it is the
most sure way to know if
labor is progressing
normally. An exam can
show you how open a
woman’s cervix is and
whether the baby is
breech or head first.
Vaginal exams have
risks, so only do one
when it is truly necessary.
See page 186.
Your cervix is still closed.
You’ve been in labor for
12 hours with no
change. I think it’s time
to go to the hospital.
A vaginal exam can help you
decide when to get medical help.
WARNING! Any time you do a vaginal exam, even when you
have washed your hands and are wearing gloves, you risk
passing harmful germs to the woman in labor. For this reason
it is best to avoid vaginal exams if all is going well.
• N ever do a vaginal exam after the waters break unless it is late
in labor or there is an emergency. The risk of infection is
great (see page 175).
• N ever do a vaginal exam if the mother is bleeding from the
vagina (see page 183).
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