01/06/2026
๐ฟ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ค: ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฟ
Vaginal examinations (often called VEs or cervical checks) are commonly offered during labour to help assess what is happening with your cervix and how your labour may be progressing.
During a VE, a midwife or doctor gently inserts gloved fingers into the va**na to feel the cervix. They may be assessing:
โจ How open (dilated) the cervix is
โจ How thin and stretchy it has become
โจ The position of your baby in the pelvis
Vaginal examinations are usually offered during established labour to help build a picture of labour progress, but they are always your choice. Before any examination, you should be given information about why it is being offered and have the opportunity to ask questions, and decide whether you would like to consent.
๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ.๐ค
You have the right to accept or decline a va**nal examination, and you can change your mind at any point. Consent should be informed, voluntary and ongoing. A va**nal examination should never be carried out without your permission.
It's also important to remember that a VE only tells us what is happening at that particular moment in time. It provides a snapshot, not a prediction. While it can tell us how dilated the cervix is during the examination, it cannot accurately predict how quickly labour will progress afterwards. Labour is dynamic, individual and often unpredictable.
For some women, knowing this information feels helpful and reassuring. For others, repeated examinations can feel uncomfortable, disruptive or even discouraging. There is no right or wrong way to feel.
As with all aspects of birth, informed decision-making is key. Understanding the purpose, benefits and limitations of a va**nal examination can help you decide what feels right for you and your birth experience.
๐ Your body, your birth, your choice.
