S2E14 - Membrane, Cervical Stretch and Sweep

When routine cervical sweeps are actually invasive, coerced interventions, are we doing more harm than good?If you're pregnant or supporting someone through birth, understanding the truth about cervical sweeps could change your entire perspective on labor and medical intervention. This episode exposes the often-hidden reality: cervical sweeps are not just gentle, routine procedures, they're invasive, often coercive, and rooted more in tradition than evidence. Kemi Johnson and Shellie Poulter share the unfiltered truth, backed by the latest research and your own stories, about why these interventions may be causing more harm than benefit.Women deserve respectful, informed choices, yet countless women are subjected to these procedures without genuine consent, often feeling violated and confused about their options. You’ll discover how cervical sweeps can trigger uncomfortable inflammatory responses, increase pain and distress, and even impact long-term sexual health. We break down the history, the biomechanics, and the neurophysiology of the cervix, revealing why this vital organ is far more sensitive and complex than outdated myths suggest.You'll learn about the real risks: increased infection, unnecessary intervention, and the unsettling truth about how medical culture has normalized coercion and violated human rights. Most importantly, we empower you with the knowledge: your body, your baby, your right to say no. If you're pregnant, planning birth, or a supporter of birthing women, this episode is your call to question unecessary and often unhelpful routine practices and reclaim autonomy. As the legal case from Australia highlights, calling out assault and negligence in maternity care sparks the potential for systemic change. Don’t accept the illusion of 'routine', know your rights, understand the science, and stand against unnecessary interventions. This is essential listening for anyone wanting to protect their dignity and champion respectful, evidence-based childbirth.

Your body is a miracle designed for birth, don't let outdated practices sabotage that process.Tune in, get informed, and take your power back.Birthrights document on Coercion in maternity care:https://birthrights.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/BirthrightsEndCoercion_Report.pdfLink to Shellie's Birth Rights Class and PDF: https://https://birthuntethered.kit.com/products/birthrights-class-recording-and-pdfWebsite:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntetheredPatreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/joinApple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntetheredInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merchBuy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie