🐱 🧼 🪒

The only thing I had from a community midwife was on my 40 week app I had a stretch and sweep. They didn’t check at any other point.

Didn't happen until i was in labour. Stretch and sweep is optional (I opted out) x

They don't unless they're doing a sweep which you've asked for. In the US it's really common for them to check a lot but the risk of introducing infection is high so we don't in the UK.

Not unless you are having a sweep close to your due date

You’ll know! They’ll never spring it upon you - even when it’s a planned check, (40+ weeks) they will always say “tell me if you change your mind”. Each to their own, but I never shaved - they’ve seen it all I’m sure 😂

Tbh I’ve had to have 2 speculum tests, one a few weeks ago and one last night, both unplanned as I went into triage and so wouldn’t have had time to plan and prepare. Before my first speculum test I had never had any vaginal checks and felt the exact same, feeling like I needed to shave and the thought of not shaving made me a bit anxious. Of course these things will affect everyone differently but personally after having the first speculum test my fear of not being shaved completely went away! I think personally I might still try shave when it’s time to give birth, but honestly it doesn’t bother me anymore and won’t be disappointed at all if I don’t get round to shaving in time!! To be honest, when you have any kind of vaginal checks, in the moment you are only concentrating on what’s going on and you don’t even really care too much about what they are seeing down there!