How can the progress of my labour be monitored?
There are different ways we can monitor the progress of your labour:
- By observing the frequency, strength and duration of your contractions
- By observing your behaviour and how it may change over time
- By offering vaginal examinations
What is a vaginal examination?
Vaginal examinations (also known as VEs) are offered to assess the dilation (opening) and effacement (softening and thinning) of your cervix during labour. They can also help us to assess the position of your baby. Your midwife or doctor would ask for your consent to perform a VE, then gently insert two gloved fingers into your vagina to make an assessment of the progress of your labour. They will use a small amount of lubricating gel to make this more comfortable for you, and you can ask them to stop at any time.
Your midwife can share the findings of the VE with you once its complete. Some women want to know how many centimetres they are dilated, whereas others prefer not to. Let your midwife know your preferences so they can best support you.
How can I feel more comfortable during a VE?
We understand that this can be quite a daunting part of labour and want to reassure you there are things we can do to make you as comfortable as possible during a VE:
- Offer a chaperone to be present, or ask people to leave the room if you would prefer privacy
- Offer suitable pain relief such as gas and air or an epidural
- Offer to dim the lighting and provide a blanket to cover you
- Offer to explain what they’re doing, or remain silent if you would prefer
How often would a VE be recommended for me?
We would usually offer a VE every 4 to 6 hours when you are in labour, as recommended by NICE guidelines. If there are concerns, you may be offered them more frequently to help you make decisions about your care in labour. You may also prefer to only have a VE when you request one, rather than on a set schedule.
VEs are not essential to our assessment of how your labour is progressing and if you would prefer to decline them all together that is completely fine – please let us know your preferences.
