The Post-Birth Surprise No One Warned Me About!

Wait… A Finger Where?!

Hi, I’m Julie – I’ve been teaching antenatal and baby classes for over 13 years, and I’ve had two babies myself. You’d think by now I’d have heard it all, right?

WRONG!!

Picture this: I’m sitting in one my lovely baby massage classes, all calm and zen, when one of the mums casually says, “Did anyone else have a Midwife put a finger up their bum after a vaginal delivery?”
Cue the record scratch.

Me (in my head): WTAF?!
How did I miss this?!

Now, I pride myself on being pretty clued-up when it comes to all things birth and baby – but this little nugget of knowledge? Slipped completely under the radar. Either that or I’ve blocked it out (highly possible – birth is a wild ride!).

Naturally, I had to investigate. I phoned my lovely midwife pal Sarah at Baby Central Stirling, and had a nosey at the NHS Lothian guidelines. And guess what? It’s true!

It’s all part of a post-birth perineal check. Around 8 in 10 women or birthing people will have some form of perineal damage during birth – things like tearing, episiotomies, or forceps deliveries.

So, with your consent (very important!), a midwife may check the area to see how everything’s looking – including the muscles of your back passage. Yep. That might involve a finger up the bum to make sure the wall between the vagina and rectum is intact.

Why?

Because if there’s a more extensive tear (which happens in about 3% of cases), it needs proper repair – usually in theatre – to help healing, avoid infection, and stop any bleeding.

So now I’m dying to know – did this happen to you? Do you remember it? Pop a comment below and let me know, because honestly, I can’t remember a thing. Between the gas and air, the adrenaline, and trying to keep a tiny human alive… it’s all a bit foggy! And if you’re thinking “Wait, what else haven’t they told me?!” – don’t worry. I’m here to keep it real and share the bits of birth and baby life that sometimes fall through the cracks (pun very much intended).

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