WOW I have never even heard of any doula's doing VAG exams. That's crazy. Is this like mostly an OB/GYN run L&D floor that wants to do this, or are all the midwives on board with this? I don't mean to sound all conspiracy theory or even talk badly about doctors but a whole lot of doctors just don't like doulas' period. When a patient has a doula, the doctor has a harder time speeding up the labor using pitocin, breaking the bag, and unnecessary c-sections. They usually have to explain why they want to do something, instead of rail road the intervention. Plus everybody knows the statistics, doula's save hospitals money but not doctors. I've always seen OB/GYNS as being more surgeons on the delivery floor. and it's definitely a power struggle, if you have established relationships with midwives it's always more harmonious I think.
There are always going to be rogue types in every profession... but I think this Doula preforming vag exams is like the razorblade in the apple myth.. it serves as a fear tactic to keep ppl out. The nurses should be able to provide the name of these rogue people and they should be contacted by reps of every organization. Action over Gossip I believe.


ALSO do these rogues have no idea that if they do a vag exam and a mom gets an infection, she could sue the doula and probably her certifying organization? Maybe more education to the public, the hospitals, and calling these people out and scaring them about the real life possibility of malpractice law suits with no malpractice insurance.

Personally i don't attend hospital births (unless the mother can't legally have a HB) because of the crap that goes on at hospitals. but in the case of hospital births i would really just prefer to be her 'cousin' or 'sister' or some such.

Now i know there are plenty of doulas who like to play by the rules but i'm not ones of them. I am there for the woman and i will give her all the info i can to help to support herself with what she chooses to do or not do at the hospital.

I do not work for the hospital. I work for her. I do what SHE wants me to do and part of that is being there regardless of hospital 'rules'

I did attend one birth there after I heard there was a ban. It was fine, no one kicked me out. (This mom was freaking out because her previous birth there was so awful, she was ready to go somewhere else if not allowed to have a doula!) But now I heard from another doula that it is "official hospital policy". I did write to the head nurse and tell her that if this is true, I would like something in writing, please. In the mean time, I know a young woman who is due in two weeks that I was going to assist as a friend, she wasn't going to pay me as she can't afford it. Plus she is giving the baby up for adoption. She asked me to help her and now I'm not sure what to do. Do I go as her "friend"? That is what I am. But then I don't want her to feel this underlying tension or be bullied by the nurses because I'm there.