**Extreme trigger warning: Birth rape**. "A licence to rape?"

[Tam-I-Am]

I'm so sorry, DarkCherry. That sounds awful

[SugarSkull]

Thank you Tam = )
It was awful. I don't think about it but when I do think about it, it makes me so angry. My body is mine! What gives midwives the right to do what they like after I say no?
Especially when I had difficulty BF. a midwife grabbed onto my nipple and started to pull on it to show me where my milk came from. No sh** Sherlock! Milk comes from there?? Who knew! It feels like once you walk into the hospital doors, you sign your body over to the midwives. Do as you please, I have no say.

[Tam-I-Am]

Yes. The threads where people state 'you check your dignity at the door' make me feel really sad and angry for the women who believe that. It's no wonder that the rate at which women report trauma symptoms post-birth hovers around 30% ATM

I've given birth twice. Once I was stripped of my dignity. It took a long time to recover from. Once, I never lost it, even for a second. I was protected and nurtured through a long, exhausting and painful labour - and recovered mentally and physically SO much easier and more quickly.

Birth doesn't have to be undignified. It doesn't have to contain acts against a woman's will. It doesn't have to hurt you more than the process itself does. Every woman has the right to feel safe when she's pregnant and giving birth. It's not right that so many don't.

[WorkingClassMum]

Apart from the awful trauma of DS's birth and the near tragic outcome, I also think that there is the potential for an assault to occur during the constant check ups.

There was one time I was seeing a Dr at the hospy (I had shared care) and he was measuring the fundal height when the Dr insisted I needed an internal examination and without anyfurther to do he shoved his fingers in. I became quite upset and realised his breathing altered, and he jumped backwards when there was a knock on the door and a midwife asked if she could come in.

When the MW came in she saw I was angry and upset and looked askance at the Dr who'd managed to be on the other side of the room. I walked out and refused to see that Dr again.

I realised much much later why I was angry and upset but felt too humiliated to do anything about it.

I think many pregnant women are vunerable and the potential for assault and birth rape is huge and very very real.

I am glad you've brought up this topic Tam, as knowing about thing like this goes a long way to empowering women

[amiee]

If only other people thought it was mandatory like the medical board of wa, the minister for health in wa or the CEO for health in wa.

Apparently things happen like this all the time and the doctor is not at fault as he did his best to count to 5. Maybe they should teach counting at uni???

[amiee]

Sorry for my sarcasm but if you can't tell I am still very p*ss*d about it all even though its been over two years

[Tam-I-Am]

I'm so very sorry, Aimee

[waterlily]

My OB have me a stretch and sweep without my consent. I didn't even realise he had actually done that to me until I came on BH 4 months after my birth. I thought it was a routine "just having a look" I wish more then anything I had BH during my pregnancy because I wouldn't have gone through a lot of horrible things pre, during an post birth.

[Tam-I-Am]

Oh, Waterlily

It's just so wrong so very very wrong.

[Alexander Beetle]

These stories make me so sad. I'm glad there are places where people can open up.