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Warning - episiotomy w/o consent! - Page 2

post #21 of 53
4/25/07 at 7:29pm
Well, you may not know how you feel about your OB, but I know how *I* feel about her.
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post #22 of 53
4/25/07 at 7:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jennica View Post
A doula can't DO anything to stop an episiotomy.
Sadly, that's true. Some of my clients have been cut against their will. In one instance, the OB prepared to make the incision, and I told him my client didn't want an episiotomy under any circumstances. He just said, "Well, she's getting one anyway" and after the birth he called me out into the hall and told me off for speaking to him about it.
post #23 of 53
4/25/07 at 7:58pm
before i gave birth last time i showed my boyfriend photos of episiotomies online and told him not to let that happen to me. i gave birth outside of a hospital and avoiding being cut was a big reason.
post #24 of 53
4/25/07 at 7:58pm
OP, that is sooooo scary! I think if I saw scissors anywhere near between my legs I'd be kicking the scissor holder in the face, hard. Yes, unfortunately, what some hcp's say and what they do are vastly different things and I almost think they count on you being so blissed out with your babe that you'll forget. But we don't, do we?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mamabadger View Post
Sadly, that's true. Some of my clients have been cut against their will. In one instance, the OB prepared to make the incision, and I told him my client didn't want an episiotomy under any circumstances. He just said, "Well, she's getting one anyway" and after the birth he called me out into the hall and told me off for speaking to him about it.
I hope you filed every complaint you could think of to the hospital, his practice, etc. If you were hired to be an advocate for the patient, you were doing your job and he had no right to try and dress you down. Pi$$es me off and it didn't even happen to me! The power trips some of these people are on blows my mind...
post #25 of 53
4/25/07 at 7:59pm
When you have time, either write a letter or file a complaint against them (hmmmm.... not sure if that would be enough for a DOH, maybe if she had actually cut you.....) At least write a letter to that doctor, copy the hospital and the Dept. of Health stating that you were upset that she even tried (I assume you had a birth plan). I mean really, if someone tried to come up to you on the street with a scissors and tried to cut you that would be attempted assault, what makes it ok when they have that MD after their name?

If you DH still is anti-homebirth after this at least get him to go talk to a homebirth midwife next time before you make your decision, maybe he will come around.
post #26 of 53
4/25/07 at 8:00pm
This is horrifying that there are SO MANY of us w/ that story.

THAT is why I have home births now.
post #27 of 53
4/25/07 at 8:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by skyblufig View Post

I hope you filed every complaint you could think of to the hospital, his practice, etc. If you were hired to be an advocate for the patient, you were doing your job and he had no right to try and dress you down. Pi$$es me off and it didn't even happen to me! The power trips some of these people are on blows my mind...
In many areas doulas walk a careful line. There are whole hospitals that do not allow them at all.

-Angela
post #28 of 53
4/25/07 at 8:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaE View Post
I still can't believe this almost happened to me. I was naive enough to think she'd have to ask my consent first.
With my first baby (in a hospital, with an OB - not the one I'd been seeing) I got an episiotomy w/out prior warning. : : She didn't even warn my husband or best friend who were RIGHT there watching. Poor dh almost passed out. : That is really the only part of dd#1's birth that REALLY bothered me. Having someone CUT MY BODY without even asking!! Needless to say even though I chose to give birth in a hospital the second time around, I had a midwife and EXPLICIT instructions for no episiotomy. Baby #2 was 1lbs bigger than the first and I only had a tiny tear that needed no repair. Go figure.

I'm glad you caught your OB in time.
post #29 of 53
4/25/07 at 10:10pm
When I had my DD I had to SCREAM at the doc to NOT CUT ME! Can you believe the UA went and sulked? :
post #30 of 53
4/26/07 at 3:04am
[quote=turtlewomyn;7952557] I mean really, if someone tried to come up to you on the street with a scissors and tried to cut you that would be attempted assault, what makes it ok when they have that MD after their name?
[quote]


ITA!

Most definitely file a complaint.
post #31 of 53
4/26/07 at 8:35am
Geez! My crotch + sharp things = no dice! :
post #32 of 53
4/26/07 at 2:43pm
Wow... I must have gotten lucky. I just cannot believe the power that medical professionals have to hurt you without consequence.

I made a big ol' stink over the episiotomy thing at my prenatal visits, and my CNM respected my wishes. Right after the birth she said that I was lucky that I had a midwife because I would have definitely gotten one if an OB had been attending.

I had a second degree tear but it healed completely within ten days of the birth and caused hardly any pain. I doubt an episiotomy would have been as easy to deal with as the tear.:

I wrote her a thank you note with the birth announcement I sent out yesterday... thanking her for attending the birth AND saving my perineum.
post #33 of 53
4/26/07 at 2:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jennica View Post
A doula can't DO anything to stop an episiotomy. I had one too, and she couldn't stop it anymore than I could. I think the only thing that can stop it is if your partner physically stops the care provider from doing it, and not all partners are prepared to do that.

I hope your wishes are respected. Good luck.
Oh, I know she can't, but what she CAN do is be on alert and able to notice things that are going on that I might not be aware of myself while I'm distracted with pain and visualizations and such. She can keep an eye on things.

Besides, my OB is not very pushy about episiotomies. At least NOT YET! I specifically switched OBs to get this one, and I trust him. Excellent bedside manner, very informative. Met with me for an hour before I even became a patient, just to talk about my needs/wants. Good man.
post #34 of 53
4/26/07 at 5:32pm
When my mother gave birth in 1980 and 1984, she told the OB in advance she didn't want one. They told her it was required. She said she would find another OB. They told her good luck, because she wouldn't find one that didn't require one. They were right. She had to submit to it.
post #35 of 53
4/26/07 at 7:19pm
She should know how you feel. Tell her. Don't spare her with details about your nightmares. An epi without consent is assault.
post #36 of 53
4/26/07 at 8:19pm
Yep I was this [_] close to an episiotomy and thank god my nurse leaned over and reminded my doctor that I didn't want one. That woman did so much for me she was such an awesome nurse.
post #37 of 53
4/27/07 at 11:47am
That is horrible. I would definitely complain or talk to that OB about what happened. Can you believe I almost got an epi during DS's homebirth (midwife can do one during a homebirth here in Europe)? I was pushing on my back but it didn't feel right. I felt like I had more strength but couldn't quite get to it because of my position, YKWIM? So DS didn't come further down. Between two contractions I heard the midwife discuss with her trainee (don't know what else to call her, but she was doing the birth together with the MW as part of her education) about getting ready for an episiotomy. That word came through veeeery clear in my fogged mind at that moment. I had one at DD's birth (hospital, she was breech and they told me I had to have one to get her out quickly *sigh*) and hated it so deeply, that I swore never to have one again. So the moment I heard that word, I thought to myself: no way, this baby's coming out as I want it, and right now! So I ignored what they said and turned to my side and out he came in one push. No tear, nothing!! All this talk about an epi because they had no patience to wait it out and because I wasn't able to express more clearly that I wanted to push on my side. Very valuable lesson. BTW, I did mention this to them when they came to check up on me a few days later. The midwife told me they considered doing an epi based on the hearttones of the baby and how the pushing was going. Let's just say they both still had a lot to learn. :
post #38 of 53
4/27/07 at 12:45pm
I just told my HCP that under no circumstance was I to have an episiotomy. Lucky for me he doesn't believe in them. Even luckier for my ds2 is that he doesn't believe in circ's either so no constant harrassment on that front.
post #39 of 53
4/27/07 at 3:15pm
I had an epi without consent also. I didn't even realize what she was doing until I felt the cutting. I never should have signed the general consent form at the hospital. It lead to a lot of procedures done without asking me first.
After I received the bill for the "surgery" I realized why sOB's do them. $3000 for a quick cut and 20 minutes of stitching.
post #40 of 53
4/27/07 at 3:21pm
This happened to me with my first birth, 5# 13 ounce baby and HUGE episiotomy. I saw, heard and felt him cutting. Horrid! I've had tears since but never been cut again.

In those days they strapped your legs into stirups and there was no possibility of fighting back.
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