When you are taught to do a VE on a labouring woman, are you taught to check if she will probably do a bowel movement when pushing?

Reason being, a friend was telling me about her birth experience and how she said to the midwife she was worried about pooing and the midwife told her not to worry, she didn't need to as she had checked when doing her last VE.

I just wondered whether this was routine but you generally don't mention it to the woman?

thanks

__________________
Applying for September 2009 intake at West of Scotland Uni

You can feel if a woman has got a full bowel.. Some are particularly noticeable... But no I've never been taught to specifically feel for it!

__________________
Duel X
3rd year student midwife
SM.NET Stafford University Representative
Moderator

in ye olden days they used to routinely do anal examinations especially when baby was OP. From what i remember they used it as a way of pushing/pulling baby down!
I read this in The Kings Midwife - also used to bathe babies in warm wine straight after birth, and used chopped onion to stimulate breathing if baby was slow to respond. Thoroughly recommend it for a good historical (french) perspective on midwifery.

These days, in my limited experience, i have never (so far!) been specifically asked to check a womens bowel!!
x

__________________
Site Administrator, Student Mentor Scheme Manager

STMW 2nd year - no, really!

Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x

No thankfully! there is enough for me to worry about! I have never noticed if her bowel is full either to be honest.

Oooh that reminds me of what happened on one of my nights shifts! I'll save that for another day!

__________________

Never been told to specifically feel for it, but I have felt a 'loaded' bowel. Only because I was confused as to what I was feeling during a VE, and my mentor asked me to desribe what it felt like .. as soon as I started telling her, it reminded me of an earlier conversation of the first time she felt one, and I knew instantly what it was. Will never mistake that feeling again, it feels 'bony' and my mentor mistook it for a limb the first time she ever felt one.

__________________
Catches: 2 assisted.

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/michelle-susie