I was in Oakland 8-12 weeks and my home birth midwife did not require a Pap smear or any internal exams. She checked my fundal height, bp, weight and baby's heart during each visit and that's it. It was such a relaxing experience. I regret moving so often. @0816mommy

@0816mommy well you obviously work at a great office! :) She lives in NYC so I'm assuming it's the hustle and bustle that complicates things for some moms. They also forced her to stay on her back the entire time and she wound up needing a c section because baby's heartbeat was dropping. No shit. We're designed to squat during labor. 😡

yeah I've never witnessed that, it's only the pelvic exam and pap which you get at 8-10weeks then the b strep test around 30

@0816mommy So sorry for your loss. It's certainly glad to hear you're receiving better care now. I was shocked that my midwife kept trying to convince me of something I was clearly not comfortable with having done. She did keep saying she was new to the practice so I'm hoping my next midwife visit will be a lot more low key and respectful. Required and recommended are two vastly different things and I'm beginning to believe what I read about women being forced into procedures to boost funding for the hospitals. On a separate note my dear friend was forced into repeated cervical exams prior to 36 weeks. Her doctor even wanted to stretch her out before she and baby was anywhere near ready! I don't wish that madness upon my worst enemy.

I work under 2 midwives 1 high risk doctor and two other ob/gyn they are all in the same office so yeah it's cool.

I think mine are because of pregnancy cause after my son I don't remember hearing anything else lol. I wish I would of went to a midwife instead I went back to where I had I my son, my last pregnancy I didn't want to go back to him because I had a miscarriage at 23 weeks.. not blaming him but he was too rushed. and the office I go to for this pregnancy they are more calm and not as busy. but where I work they do take time with you they just have many patients lol

@0816mommy, Gotcha. Lol that's super convenient to work with midwives when you're pregnant! They're constantly changing things as technology advances and as more women speak out about what they want vs what's "the norm". I just think back to when my mom was pregnant with me and my grandma with her. While there are A LOT of advantages, there are also a lot of unnecessary testing, poking and prodding. Yes indeed they really do scare you with these abnormal cells claims.

I was just texting one of the midwives I work with lol but I myself don't get them like I probably should it how my doctor would recommend I should say I got one when I was pregnant with my son I was 19 that was before they changed the age to 21 regardless if you were having sex before (I think) and I just had one at the beginning of this pregnancy. I also had to get one after I had my son because of abnormal cells found, which they said the same this time because like you stated it could just be from pregnancy causing these these cells to be abnormal.

@0816mommy, hey do you have any stats on the outcomes of these paps done from ages 21-29? Like what percentages actually prevent cancer developments etc? It's soo hard finding concrete findings or maybe I'm just not looking in the right places.

some women have actually came into the office and had a pap smear done at 21 weeks. the midwife asked if she wanted to wait she said no.

since working in a ob/gyn the last 6 years you should get your first pap at 21 if you are sexually active between 21-29 you should have them done every 2 years 30-65 Every 5 years along with the HPV tests. anybody can opt out of what they don't want. @mommyrai

@0816mommy, I know she did . I mean I really just don't understand her. Thank you for telling me about the strep b. Good luck on your pregnancy. Both of you. But I am done replying. Congratulations to you both !

@0816mommy, there's just no point. Lol thanks for trying to clarify though.

I just said all that 😕 you're really sad to my brain cells.

she said she didn't get a pap smear at the beginning, @mommyrai

Lemme stop replying to you. Cause I can't. Please be careful during the rest of your pregnancy I'm praying for you.

You never heard of a strep b if you don't get outta here 😭😭 "no I did not. I am reading up more on the strep b test." Get outta here I guess cause you learn about it 5 mins before me makes you a expert 😭😭 but what can I expect from someone who believes a pap smear causes miscarriages & you're not required to have a pap smear until your 30s. Just quit.

@mommyrai, and seriously how are you even giving out advice if you've never even heard of strep b? Girl. bye.

Lol I hear you sweety. Good luck on your pregnancy. Keep it classy 😊😘

@mommyrai, gtfo of my post calling it idiotic. Your opinion differs from mine it does not equal idiotic. Your ignorance is oozing from your comments. I've had "long" talks with many doctors you've clearly only listened to what you're told.

Wrong . You need to have a lonnngg talk with your dr.

@mommyrai, and I don't THINK Pap smears cause miscarriages I KNOW they can and do.

Lol no one said you did but you were upset over a medical professional wanting to swab you I would hope you'd be more worried about everything else. But to each their own. Your comments & post were really actually kind of idiotic but like I said each their own.

@0816mommy, @mommyrai we all have strep bacteria in our bodies at all times. The concern is overgrowth from wiping etc and the baby possibly being affected. And yes as @0816mommy mentioned, little to nothing can be done during pregnancy if something were to come up positive during a pap. As for the strep b penicillin is giving intravenously during delivery if you are positive.

@mommyrai, sweetheart, I never said I haven't had one done. I've had a Pap smear within the last 3 years and I have been with the same partner months prior to my pregnancy and as I mentioned have had the necessary STD screenings. No where in my post did I mention sex being unsafe so I would appreciate you not assuming things and bringing up my sex life.

it's a bacteria that some women just have @mommyrai

@mommyrai,

they can postpone pap smears because it's not that important durng pregnancy because if you do need any treatment they are going to wait until after you have the baby anyway b strep is done after 30 weeks. I had it done 6 years ago with my son and tested positive.

I had both & definitely not after birth . & i never heard of the b strep I need to see that. I have to do another test because of my MRSA gene @0816mommy

no pap smear is when they swab for 30 seconds and scrape your cervix. @mommyrai they can do a pap smear after birth of the baby. but I'd let them at least do cultures for any other infections, or they can just do that when they do the bstrep test.

Once you have sex you are absolutely supposed to get a pap smear... I am kind of really trying to process what people have been telling you. Honey a pap smear is when a cotton swab takes a sample of your cervical fluid. They detect STDs if you catch a STD & do nothing about it can cause infertility & some other serious problems... Don't you think thats enough reason to get one regardless of age? Plus if you think a pap smear will cause a mis carriage then do I'm guessing your against sex during pregnancy is dangerous to... Right?

@0816mommy, @mommyrai women under 30 are not "required" to get Pap smears. Do you know what cancers are actually more common in women undetected via paps? Do you know how often women should actually receive these invasive exams? Does your dr force your bf or husband into getting anal exams when prostate cancer is more common than cervical? I like to think for myself before I allow my dr to do whatever they want to me. I've had the necessary STD tests so I know that I have nothing that will "harm my baby". I don't allow fear tactics to dictate my decisions.

& a pap smear will not cause a miscarriage. Idk who told you that but that is completely not true.

Im shocked they didn't do a pap smear on you. Its required. Because (not saying you have anything) if you did have something it could cause harm to the baby during delivery or even premature birth. I would go ahead & let your midwife do a pap smear on you. Women need to get them regularly anyways..

that's usually end first thing they want to do at your first appointment, that's weird. I'm not sure of the effects pap smears have at your stage of pregnancy

@0816mommy, no I did not. I am reading up more on the strep b test.

at 34 weeks they do the b strep test, which is similar to them doing cultures

you didn't have one at the beginning of your pregnancy?