Is it normal for cervical checks to be really painful?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go with midwives rather than OBs. Much more empathetic, patient-led care, etc. Also hire a doula to support YOU - the doctors are there for the baby, and don't really support the mother.

2 healthy babies born with midwives and a doula, no drugs, no issues.

I remember feeling a burning sensation at one point, mentioned it, doula placed a warm compress in the area, instant relief.

OP. This was with Physicians and Midwives.

[Anonymous]

Went with a midwifery practice and they weren't painful at all or uncomfortable for that matter. However, my midwife was a mother of 5 herself and a grandma. Her priority seemed to be putting me at ease as much as possible. I have found the handling to be uneven with OBs..some are extremely gentle while others really couldn't care less about my comfort.

[Anonymous]

Actually my experience with midwives was that some of them
Are very tough love and callous, and for a few their checks were horrific. My awful midwife delivery with my first baby was so painful and so bad. I was suffering immeasurably (I was in active labor for over 24 hours with a malpositioned baby and back labor) to the point that I was dreaming about opening the window or escaping to the roof and leaping to my death to end the contractions that literally felt like drowning. I was stunned by the lack of empathy for my pain and continued encouragement from them to labor unmedicated. It felt like I was the bull in the bullfight slowly being murdered while they all watched and cheered. Needless to say I had PTSD from the whole experience - not diagnosed by the midwives of course - they told me to be grateful I had a healthy baby - but a year later. They are one of the reasons I opted for a male OB (far more empathetic and compassionate) and a scheduled C section for my second birth. It was
Hands down a great choice for me and I did not
Have a single cervical check by him the entire pregnancy and I only had one or two pelvic exams. So this idea that other posters have about midwives being so great is not always true, by a long shot.

[Anonymous]

Horrendous (induced with Cervidil). OB on rotation (an experienced old man who has now retired) backed off because I was screaming too much in the middle of the night. Couldn't feel a thing after the epidural, thankfully.