CHECK DILATION WITHOUT VAGINAL EXAM

Neshama · #1 03-23-2007

I read about this trick in Midwifery Today's Tricks of the Trade, Wisdom of the Midwives
You gauge how far dilated she is by the "contraction ring". Its used in Russia by midwives instead of having to do vaginal exams. What an amazing trick! To not have to do cervical checks, to be able to simply look at how your belly is contracting and say "you're a 5, 5 1/2" would be... very beneficial to your clients, AND to your buisness.
Does anyone know more about this trick? Does anyone know someone who does? I really want to be trained to do this, and would go to Russia for a while to learn if from a midwife there.
What are your thoughts on this?

loveslabor · #2 03-23-2007

I haven't heard of this one before, but there is another trick in "Heart and Hands" to estimate dilation without an internal based on a purplish line near the perineum, I think. I don't have my book in front of me, but I've always wondered how that works out.

CbirthRev · #3 03-26-2007

There is way to check by gauging fundal height in relation to the xiphoid process, it is detailed in Anne Frye's Volume II. I don't have it in front of me, but I believe it is three fingerbreadths = 8 cm. Less fingerbreadths = less dilation. Ha I know that isn't exactly technical, but like I said it's not in front of me.

Neshama · #4 03-28-2007

^
I'll have to look it up in AFII... thanks!

DeniseAK · #5 03-29-2007

I have read about the one in Heart and hands, and I plan on checking this for myself when I have my baby in Octoberish with a mirror and correspond with my midwife with cervical checks. If I remember during labor anyways...lol I figure better on myself than on any clients that I may have in the past. I am curious about other methods tho, and I would love to learn them. Maybe we can plan a workshop one of these days.

CbirthRev · #6 03-29-2007

Ok here is the info from Anne Frye Volume II, p. 376. Determine how many fingerbreadths of space are between the fundus and xiphoid process at the height of a contraction.

5 fb = no dilation
4 fb = 2 cm
3 fb = 4 cm
2 fb = 6 cm
1 fb = 8 cm
0 fm = complete

I have used this method only once so far, but it seemed pretty accurate then. Just thought I'd post here for those who don't own the book! Source included for reference.

Delightful Doula · #7 03-30-2007

Please excuse my inability to understand this. I am confused because I think that if there is more space between the fundus and the xyphoid process that would mean that the baby is lower and cervix more dialated, not the other way around. I don't have the Anne Frye book to reference, but it seems backwards to me. Please help me understand.

If I can touch to xyphoid proces from the top of the fundus with only one fingerbreath, then would the baby/uterus still be really high? wouldn't that indicate less dialation?

CbirthRev · #8 03-30-2007

Here is what Anne Frye says:

As the space between the xiphoid and the fundus shortens (becomes narrower), dilation avances. This occurs, in part, because the uppersegment of the uterus thickens as labor advances. The uterus also rises more as contraction intensify.

Remember too that you would check this only at the height of a contraction.

DeniseAK · #9 03-30-2007

Thats really cool!!! I hope to use it in the near future.

Delightful Doula · #10 03-30-2007

Thank you for the explanation. That is amazing and definitely something I will pay attention to. The midwife I work with just bought me Holistic Midwifery Vol. II as a birthday gift, but she won't give it to me until she has had the chance to read it herself.

When I get it, I am going to read this section. Fascinating!

beautiful*birth · #11 03-30-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by CbirthRev

Ok here is the info from Anne Frye Volume II, p. 376. Determine how many fingerbreadths of space are between the fundus and xiphoid process at the height of a contraction.

5 fb = no dilation
4 fb = 2 cm
3 fb = 4 cm
2 fb = 6 cm
1 fb = 8 cm
0 fm = complete

I have used this method only once so far, but it seemed pretty accurate then. Just thought I'd post here for those who don't own the book! Source included for reference.

Thank you for the interesting info. I, too, will have to try this method out with my next mommie in labor! How exciting that you don't need to be invasive!

Neshama · #12 03-31-2007

Yeah... That's great... thanks Candi!

CbirthRev · #13 03-31-2007

No problem wise women!

beautiful*birth · #14 04-04-2007

There is a mom in labor right now and we were going to try this as she has had some abuse issues and VE are problematic.

However, since I don't have the book, is there a certain position that mom should be in to check this space? Do you think it matters if she is lying vs squatting, etc.?

She is going natural, but we were wondering how inductions with Pit may vary. What do you all think....

Thanks....
Jackie

momdzn · #15 04-04-2007

To use the fingerbreath method, it should be the height of the contraction and she should be on her back

But it is effective.
Another tip from Anne Frye
Many women have a bloody show as the presenting part passes through the fully dilated cervical os. This show should be quite mucilaginous and stretchy; a trickle of brighter blood near the end of dilation, accompanied by lots of suprapubic pain, can also mean a cervical lip is being pulled down with the presenting part.