S6 Ep 3 - vaginal exams with midwife Kelly Sawyer

In this episode I chat to deputy consultant midwife Kelly Sawyer about vaginal exams, who has been involved in the Respectful Vaginal Examinations Project at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust, which aims to improve practice and educate pregnant women and people about their rights. ⁠We discuss vaginal exams, what they are, when they're necessary and when they're not, the alternatives, and what the research and evidence says.  Kelly has been a midwife for 10 years, and is currently the Deputy Consultant Midwife at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, supporting and advocating for people choosing birth options outside of local or national guidance. Prior to that, she was a Home Birth Team Lead in South London. In 2019, she won the "Mum's Midwife of the Year" award for London at the RCM awards, and features on several educational videos for new parents on the BBC's 'Tiny Happy People' website. ⁠ You can read more about this project at https://www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/respectful-vaginal-examinations ⁠  The Better Birth podcast is hosted by hypnobirthing and antenatal teacher Erin Fung. You can find out more about Erin at www.better-birth.co.uk. ⁠ ⁠ Disclaimer: The information and provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. We reserve the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time. The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the content of the podcast are hereby expressly disclaimed. Your use of content contained in or linked to this podcast is entirely at your own risk. The Better Birth podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.