Lies they told us at L&D....

[Millicent]

Hello everyone. I am collecting stories of blantant lies that nurses/docs and other hospital staff have told us.

Like, "This won't affect the baby at all." as they administer a narcotic....:


Any good ones out there?

[Britishmum]

Not quite a lie, but a definite manipulation.

"I'm afraid that your cervix is going to start swelling."

After 24 hours of labor, in mid-contraction, I heard "I'm afraid that your cervix has started swelling."

I give into the epidural and pitocin, crying about it like a baby.

Only when in Birthing from Within class 3 years later, with my doula present, due to the damage that this birth experience did to me, did I realise what had actually been said. I also drew pictures of closed doors and people whispering, and my doula then confirmed that the nurses and doctors were talking about me outside the door, deciding how to manipulate me into the managed birth that I was refusing. It was a calculated strategy to get me to give in.

I still fantasize about contacting them and telling them how bad I feel about it, eight years on. I am still so angry, as my birth was stolen from me. I hate those nurses so vehemently for what they did to me. But of course, I had a healthy baby, so it was all justified.

[3xx1xyFamily]

oh I heard great ones, but they were before delivery... some that I remember and can quote:

in reference to BP, amidst me arguing how stupid this was "140/99 is EXTREMELY high blood pressure, we need to get that baby out now!"

I continued to argue the point that 1 high blood pressure read (and one not necessarily high enough) does not indicate Pre E and I wasn't going to submit to induction or planned c-sec... OB looks to my husband and says "She's KILLING your child by giving birth vaginally"

I allowed them to monitor me, if thats what would make them feel better... never repeated and elevated BP, but was forced to do NST's while laying flat on my back: "Your baby had a decel during the braxton hicks... surely, your baby will never handle labor" Once again, said to my husband, not me.

I walked into a hospital 5 hours later for my scheduled c-sec to make my husband stop crying hysterically. Baby was taken at 38 weeks. I stayed home for the 2nd one.

[Staciemao]

Well, it technically wasn't in L&D, but my OB/GYN told me that I had "a seven and a half pound pelvis" and if he got any bigger than that I was going to have to have a c-section so my pelvis wouldn't break.

Two years later I had an eight pounder...with no damage to my pelvis whatsoever.

Sometimes I just feel sorry for the medical establishment....living in that much fear cannot possibly be fun.

[Patchfire]

I was told, within fifteen minutes of each other:

"There's no way you can be far enough along to push," and then, "You need to get out of the tub NOW so I can check you, we don't want to give birth in the water after all!"

I was also told, "We are going to break your water." Not, we'd like to do this, just, we are.

[AllyRae]

Pitocin is safe. Pitocin is necessary. You are required to consent to it or you have to leave (mid-labor no less).

Three years ago next week, we were a victim of those very lies. And I wish people would finally be a little more honest about the risks of pitocin...it's NOT safe.

[AllyRae]

Oh, and with my first, we were told he was going to be too huge for me to deliver (thank goodness I ignored them...my huge baby--6 lbs 15 oz. He did have a big giant head though. : )

[Belle]

Said by my regular OB who was going on vacation and wanted to schedule dd1's induction
"Pitocin isn't really that bad, women just think its bad because they're in the hospital already" (It makes a great argument for hb)


I've got lots on the on-call OB who actually caught her

"Stop making noise, its counter productive for your pushes"

"Don't breathe before we stop counting to ten, you need to push for the full count, it doesn't matter that you feel you're going to pass out. We'll just have you lay down flat on your back and give you oxygen between your contractions (but not during them). Oops, it looks like your baby is having decelerations, (looks to my dh) We need to give her the IV you declined in case we have to get this baby out fast, she'll need some drugs" (This was two pushes before she was born)

"Push through the ring of fire"

"Let me know if you start feeling me stitching you up and I'll give you another local" When I said I felt it she said "I'm almost done" No more local.

[_betsy_]

"Pitocin is the exact same thing as the hormone your body produces, we're just giving you a little kickstart.... No, no, it's the exact same... where do you read this stuff? The Internet?... no, the contractions are the exact same as natural ones..."

"Ok, so there goes your water..." ie, she broke it without my knowledge or consent

[chaoticzenmom]

"don't worry, anything we cause, we can fix" As my son's heart starts to decelerate and mine starts to accelerate after we got the epidural.

[Turquesa]

:

[amymaew]

Cytotec is DEFINITELY safer than a foley bulb induction.

If you don't get the Vitamin K shot your baby will die.

The eye ointment protects against all sorts of bacteria - STDs, GBS, everything baby comes in contact with.

Vaginal exams don't increase the risk of infection. (said after SROM)

[PassionateWriter]

you will bleed to death if you attempt a VBAC

your uterus will rupture if you attempt a VBAC

we have to take your baby early Dec. (ONE MONTH before his birth date of 1/1) or you could die



i dont know of others off the top of my head. those are the ones that keep me away from OB's.

[barefootpoetry]

These all came after the labor with my first:

"Your pelvis is misshapen."

"Your pelvis is very, very small."

"You probably couldn't ever birth a baby bigger than 6 pounds."

"If this were the 1800s, both you and your baby would have died."

"We don't know how you had a cervical laceration" (you effing DID IT TO ME during surgery)

"If you try a VBAC, your cervical scar will split open again."

.....Fast forward to me birthing a 8 lb. 4 oz. baby at home. with no lasting complications. Mmmmkay then!

[Kidzaplenty]

:

[bluegirl91695]

Technically not L&D but at my first OB appt. the midwife told me that I was "a 'section' waiting to happen" when she found out that I was 5 feet tall. Needless to say, I ended up switching practices and had a wonderful natural (almost water!) birth.

[barefootpoetry]

Oh, I forgot one more. When I was fully dilated, the CNM told me to start pushing. I said no, because I didn't feel the urge yet. She got up in my face and said, "If you push now you can have this baby out in an hour, but if you fight it, it will take twice as long." I started pushing. Guess how long I pushed? FOUR HOURS.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by _betsy_

"Pitocin is the exact same thing as the hormone your body produces, we're just giving you a little kickstart.... No, no, it's the exact same... where do you read this stuff? The Internet?... no, the contractions are the exact same as natural ones..."

Heard that one myself...

[Fyrestorm]

See my birth story in my siggie....it was one lie after another from every HCP that came into contact with me.

[Ish'smom]

When the external monitor kept falling off they said, "If you just let us give you an internal monitor it will make it easier for you to move around," I consented and then the cords got caught on the bed every time I tried to get up during a contraction.

After 9 hours of labor during transition when I was 7-8 centimeters they said, " You need to consider having an epidural or a C-Section," I became hysterical and consented to an epidural that I still regret.

And that's only two of the stupid things they said to me in labor.