Pregnancy is the most striking and long-awaited event in the life of every woman. At this time, I want to enjoy every minute spent with the unborn child. New sensations of the presence in the stomach of someone, the first stirring of the baby - all this is not forgotten, but remembered for a lifetime. But the expectation of a small miracle can overshadow the poor health of the mother, therefore, in order to prevent bad consequences, it is necessary to conduct a systematic examination of the pregnant woman, namely a vaginal examination that will help monitor the condition of the child and its development.
Regardless of the causes of malaise during pregnancy, there is a special procedure for examining women who enter the hospital with complaints of bleeding, pain in the abdomen, general malaise and other nuances. In this article we will study in detail all the stages of the survey and find out why they are needed.
Palpation of the uterus
Palpation is necessary to determine the condition of the uterus, for example, to find out if it is in good shape. Such a vaginal examination is simply indispensable in determining the height of standing and the shape of the bottom of the uterus. The patient is placed on her back, the doctor is facing the woman and begins the examination. To make the palpation process less painful, the woman needs to relax.
The doctor must wear latex gloves for hygiene. Gently pushing the labia, the doctor inserts two fingers into the vagina. The first lifts high up, the fourth and fifth presses against the palm of your hand, thereby emphasizing the crotch. With these actions, the specialist receives information about:
- the condition of the internal muscles of the pelvis;
- the walls of the vagina;
- its arches;
- the length, shape of the vagina;
- closing / opening the external pharynx.
When is it necessary to conduct an inspection?
Vaginal examination should be performed if it is detected:
- bleeding;
- fetal retardation at birth;
- confusion of presentation of the fetus;
- the danger of the umbilical cord falling out during the discharge of water;
- long time of expulsion of the fetus;
- the need for surgery;
- eclampsia;
- painful contractions;
- signs of premature detachment;
- intermittent fetal heartbeat.
What the doctor does before the test
- Prepares all the necessary equipment and materials for the procedure.
- If you have a cytological study, then the specialist will first tell you what it is and what results can be obtained from it.
- Before the procedure, the doctor may ask to empty the bladder.
- Next, you have to undress completely below the waist and sit on a gynecological chair.
How is the examination
The technique of vaginal examination has its stages. The midwife puts on a sterile mask on her face, treats her hands with a special antibacterial solution and puts on latex gloves. After that, she begins preparation for the examination of the genitals of the patient. To do this, they wash the inside of the thighs and the genitals themselves with a 2% lysol solution and dry the entire treated surface with paper towels.
Next, the midwife lubricates
the woman’s genitals with iodine (5%)
, then she removes the gloves, washed her hands with alcohol and, when they are completely dry, she lubricated her right hand with iodine. Next, the gynecologist with his left hand spreads the labia, and two fingers with his right hand introduces deep into the vagina, without touching the skin of the perineum. The procedure, to put it mildly, is not pleasant, but it is very important, because thanks to it you can get valuable information about the state of health of the mother and child.
What gives such an inspection
A vaginal examination of the cervix allows the doctor to determine:
- the internal state of the vagina (are there no partitions, dilated veins, scars and tumors);
- whether the size of both halves of the small pelvis is the same, whether there are any protrusions on the walls or other changes that will impede the exit of the fetus;
- the internal state of the uterus, namely its size, the presence of tears and scars, the detection of a cancerous tumor, the degree of cervical dilatation;
- condition of the fetal bladder;
- condition of the fetal head (size, bone density, mobility).
I would like to note that such a vaginal examination is performed exclusively only at the end of pregnancy. With severe bleeding, such an examination should be discarded, since it can increase blood loss and lead to the need for surgery. In the absence of certain indications for urgent resolution of childbirth, it is better to comply with
bed rest, carry out the prescribed treatment aimed at reducing bleeding.
How does two-handed examination of the uterus occur?
Bimanual vaginal examination is a little different than the previous one. After palpation of the inside of the uterus, the doctor proceeds to the two-handed method of research. With his left hand (fingers), he slowly presses the abdominal part towards the small pelvis towards the right hand inside the vagina. Touching the fingers of both hands, the doctor palpates the inside of the uterus and determines its location, shape, as well as size and texture. After that, he proceeds to a direct examination of the tubes of the uterus and ovaries. For this, the doctor moves the fingers of both hands from one corner of the uterus to the lateral parts of the pelvis. To identify the capacity and configuration of the pelvis, a specialist examines the inner part of the bones, side walls, as well as the symphysis.
Ultrasound of a pregnant
Today, ultrasound is the safest and most effective method of examining a baby. This procedure is carried out several times, but it all depends on the course of pregnancy. This vaginal examination allows you to determine not only the sex of the child, but also its physical development (are there any malformations of the brain, skull or anterior abdominal wall).
There are some indicators by which an unscheduled ultrasound can be prescribed:
- pregnancy appeared with the help of IVF;
- the date of the last menstruation is unknown;
- the patient has spotting;
- a miscarriage has occurred;
- there was pain in the lower abdomen;
- once there was an ectopic pregnancy.
Examination of the cervix in the mirrors
The obstetrician inserts the closed leaflets of the mirror into the vagina, holding the handle slightly to the side. When the tool is half inserted, the specialist will turn it so that the handle flips down. Then he carefully opens the sashes of his mirror to examine the cervix. Be prepared for discomfort, as this cannot be avoided. You can ease your “torment” a bit if you relax and let the doctor do it quickly.
The specialist will carefully move the mirror to fully examine the condition of the vagina. When examining the cervix, the doctor draws attention to its shape (it should be round), color and smoothness. Small yellow cysts, hyperemia near the external pharynx, and transparent discharge are considered normal, but if you have revealed any abnormalities, then treatment will be required.
What gives us inspection through the mirrors
Such a vaginal examination of a pregnant woman allows you to identify many pathologies, for example:
- symptoms of vaginitis (when a woman has curdled discharge from the genitals , which is also called thrush);
- sores;
- erosion;
- genital herpes;
- uterine bleeding;
- cervicitis;
- cervical cancer.
Agree that such a vaginal examination is necessary, since using it you can identify the disease from the initial stage and eliminate it without any particular health problems. Among other things, you can look at your future baby and even find out his gender.
To summarize
So, if you suddenly found yourself spotting during pregnancy or felt pain in the abdomen, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor for medical help. He will do all the necessary research and identify the problem that bothers you.
Trying to help yourself alone is not worth it, as this can lead to unpleasant consequences and even loss of a child. Even if your grandmothers give you recommendations for their good intentions, do not listen to anyone, but go straight to the hospital. After all, only an experienced doctor can make a diagnosis. Always listen to his advice, and then everything will be fine with you and your child.