Vaginal exam during labor is used to monitor your progress. The health care professional puts on a sterile glove and inserts her fingers into the vagina.

Why is a vaginal exam  done during labor

It is done during labor  for the following reasons.

• determine how much the cervix has effaced (thinned ) or dilated. Determining how dilated or effaced the cervix is can help predict the speed of your labor
• check the baby’s position. The health care provider checks if the baby is head first or bottom first ( breech). She also determines how far the baby has moved down the birth canal ( stationed)
• gently push the baby’s head with one finger. It she is able to push the baby’s head back, the baby is still floating. If the head cannot be pushed back and is low in the pelvis, the  baby is engaged
• check if your  baby is in the posterior ( face up towards your navel) position or anterior ( facing toward your back bone) position. This can only be done after your water breaks. When the baby is facing up, it may make it  difficult for him to move into the birth canal