"Birth of my first child"

I was attending Bunbury Regional Hospital to be examined for an induction due to going over my due date with my first baby. The doctor examined me  in the presence of my partner and Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) midwife. The examination was to determine the need for a foleys catheter to be inserted in order to start induction procedure the following morning.

The doctor asked if I had previous vaginal examinations and I said yes and was comfortable for them to examine me. I felt the doctor was extremely forceful during the vaginal examination and I experienced great discomfort while they were examining my cervix. I felt I was literally gripping the edges of the bed and did not even know how to respond. Both my partner and midwife could see the discomfort from my body language and facial expressions.

After the examination I felt very uncomfortable and was told by the doctor I was 2cm dilated and to go home and return in the morning for the syntocinon drip to commence. The doctor made a passing comment that they are not a fan of syntocinon and I felt this was not appropriate being my first birth, which I was already anxious about the fact I was over my due date.

Afterwards I said to my partner something was not right, I had 3 previous vaginal examinations of my cervix with both my midwife and GP / Obstetrician and I hardly felt discomfort at all and felt safe during the process. I honestly left the hospital feeling violated.

My partner felt the doctor appeared to be at the end of their working day and that inserting a foleys catheter at that time of day they really could not be bothered. Moving on from this, the next morning when I returned to the hospital and was examined by a different doctor, my cervix was not ready at all for the induction. Thus a foleys catheter that morning had to be inserted delaying the induction process and leading on to what was a very long labour of being induced in the afternoon and resulting in a non-elective C-section, due to failure to progress after 18 hours.

I am at home now with a healthy baby. But I feel this story needs to be told as I was very shocked at what I believe was the first doctor's lack of care, empathy and professionalism during their examination.

Thanks.