[Beverly]

I just read this birth story posted by someone I've known online for a few years. She's perfectly healthy, in her late 20's, and had a routine pregnancy. This is her first baby, and it's a story many of us will recognize. Maybe I'm just too hormonal and emotional, but it made me sad and I thought a "mini-vent" might help me get it out of my system.

"I had a scheduled OB visit on at 40w1d pregnant. I was dilated to 3-4 cm, but not feeling any measurable/timeable contractions. The doctor was concerned that I was measuring a little large (40 cm) [How is 40 cm "large" for 40 weeks?! Grrr.] and sent me for an ultrasound. The u/s estimated the baby at 10 pounds, with an error margin of one pound either way

I was given the choice either to be induced several hours later or to wait and schedule a c-section [but apparently not to wait and go into labor naturally?]. I chose inducement, and during the next few hours I started to feel more and more uncomfortable and realized that the internal exam had started contractions. We went back to the hospital 6 or 7 hours before the inducement was scheduled and I was at 5-6 cm. The doctor thought that the baby would come within a few hours.

I had an epidural and a little pitocin and was completely dilated and pushing when the nurses determined that the baby was sunnyside-up and a c-section would be necessary. They increaseded my epidural and prepped me for surgery."

The good news is that the baby was born without any complications (not weighing anywhere near ten pounds, of course

), and the family is back at home now. The even better news is that I'm not having a hospital delivery in the States.

 

[NordicMamma]

I post on a mainstream American pg board, and I'd say 90% of the birth stories are like this. Not necessarily ending in a c-section, but could well have.

Virtually all are induced, or were given pitocin because things were not moving 'fast enough'... The only person not to get an epidural only did so because there just wasn't time. Another's epidural didn't take so she complained that she had to have a natural birth (she had all of 3 contractions and 2 pushes after the epidural was put in). 'Failure to progress' is a regular problem over in mainstream land.

I don't even comment. Just write 'congrats' and leave it at that.

ETA I'm with you, Beverly. The idea of an American hospital birth scares me witless!

 

[Justice2]

I am not pregnant yet, so please forgive the intrusion...on another group that I post to there was a birth story very similar to this one except it went...

After hours of labor and pushing they decided to do a c-section, baby was 10 1/2 lbs and the doctor said that I would have never been able to deliver a baby that large naturally. A few hours later the doctor said that I would need to supplement breastfeeding with formula because the baby was so large and I wouldn't make enough milk to feed him....

Now, this isn't word for word, but even just recalling it makes me irritated. UGGGG.

 

[leosmama20]

That story is incredibly similar to my first. I wish I had then what I know now.

 

[MamanFrancaise]

It makes me sad. I had a friend tell me that if she *could* have a homebirth/natural birth she would (she's pg and going for c-section #2). I wish she weren't so affraid.

 

[CherryBomb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamanFrançaise I had a friend tell me that if she *could* have a homebirth/natural birth she would (she's pg and going for c-section #2). I wish she weren't so affraid.

Why does she think she can't? I had a c-section with my daughter and am having a homebirth this time. I'm suprised at how many people think you can't have a vaginal birth after you've had a c-section. What makes me sad though is the women who don't trust in their bodies so opt for the second section (although I totally understand where that comes from).

Anyway, this is why I yell at the TV whenever I watch those horrible Birth Day and Maternity Ward shows.

:

 

[veiledexpressions]

I see a lot of birth stories like that as well. With my son, I had a hospital birth, not drugs. I was pushing for over 3 hours but my doctor didn't even suggest intervention (csection or forceps). My son was just larger for my body (7lbs 15oz), but I knew that I could do it, and I did. That made me even more confident with my daughter. Though,her delivery was very easy. She was only 6lbs 7oz and was out in 2 pushes

It's sad how so many Drs are so quick to cut

I'm very glad mine wasn't.

 

[IAmAMamaToLogan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NordicMamma I post on a mainstream American pg board, and I'd say 90% of the birth stories are like this. Not necessarily ending in a c-section, but could well have.

One of the boards I have lurked on had over 60% c-section rate!!! This was midway through the month so I'm not sure what the final % was but YIKES! I would say 1/3 were scheduled c-sections and nearly the rest were after inductions.

 

[NordicMamma]

I mentioned this on another thread here as well (the original story), but here is a typical example of something that makes me very sad:

"Being induced at 39 weeks
Even though my blood pressure has been stable he still wants to induce me next week. Im really scared about this. Im not dilated one bit, No contractions. Im afraid that I will end up with a C-section because of my body not being ready to let go of her.
I know in the 85 degree heat im ready to get her out but I don't want her to come out too soon.
We already had a scare at 34 weeks my dr. Said that the baby was measuring at only 3 1/2 Pounds So I was sent to Grand Rapids to the Prenatal Unit Only to find out that there was no growth Retardation that she was at
5 lbs. 4 ozs. And no problems with her cord.
And now at 38 weeks she is measuring almost 7 pounds.
This Dr is a high risk OB Dr but he seems to not want to deal with me and this pregnancy any longer.
I just know that I will not use him as a Dr again if I ever get pregnant again. I have had to go there 2x a week for NST since I was 32 weeks along."

This was on another board - not mainstream - and I feel bad for her, because she is obviously uncomfortable with the idea. We all advised her against induction without a good medical reason.

The update today:

"They are taking her by C-Section On Monday at 1 Pm. I'm still not dilated and she has been to hard to monitor correctly because she is laying on her back. So With me not dilated they can't add a internal monitor. And because of my weight they are going to do a vertical cut. I'm not really sure how I feel about all of this. The Dr is afraid that with not being able to monitor her properly things may happen. She has had a few decelerations on the NST today. At this point I just want my baby out healthy. It took me 9 years to get pregnant for her and I just want at this time is what's best for my baby.. Thank you all for your kind words. Wish us luck for I know this is a long road." [I edited out a name]

Is it just me, or would anyone else RUN not walk away from this OB? Of course at this stage no one else will take her on.

 

[Marieke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by veiledexpressions My son was just larger for my body (7lbs 15oz), but I knew that I could do it, and I did.

You'd be surprised at how big a baby your body can really handle.

My birth educator mentioned that her mother, at a mere 4'11" delivered a 10 or 11 lb baby boy, at home, without tearing and in a relatively short amount of time.

The thing to remember, which either other women seem to forget or be oblivious to or doctors seem to ignore (or also not know) is that the pelvis is not a static size, and neither is the baby's head. Nature has a lot of nifty functions built in so that we can cope.

Marieke

 

[Marieke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NordicMamma This Dr is a high risk OB Dr but he seems to not want to deal with me and this pregnancy any longer. I just know that I will not use him as a Dr again if I ever get pregnant again. I have had to go there 2x a week for NST since I was 32 weeks along."

It makes you wonder whether the OB is for high risk pregnancies, or if he makes pregnancies unnecessarily high risk himself. I realise that if it took her 9 years to conceive that that's probably why she's being monitored by a higher risk OB, but really, that's just totally ridiculous.

And once again that magical 7lbs "get it out NOW" weight is used as an excuse by some doctor.

Some days I wonder if doctors and obstetricians are the worst thing that ever happened to childbirth.

Marieke

 

[Beverly]

After I started this thread yesterday I kept on ranting a bit to my poor husband about the issue and I got to thinking ... well over half the people I know who've had babies in the past year have delivered via c-section. My brother and his wife had their first baby (in the States) in February of this year, and from about midway through the pregnancy I just *knew* she'd have a c-section because every time I talked to them they brought it up in one context or another. Apparently their doctor wanted to get them used to the idea early on so they wouldn't cause trouble for him later on or something ...

Anyway, they induced her the day before her due date, using the old standby excuse of "the baby's too big." When she failed to progress after just a few hours they did the c-section. The baby weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz., which is not a "big" baby at all, and my SIL was a first-time mom, so they had no idea what she could or couldn't handle. ARGH! Now they tell her that they'll have to do c-sections for any future babies because they just "don't do VBACs." WTF?!

Oh, and despite my earlier comment, I don't paint all American hospital births with the same brush ... my oldest was born in the States, in a hospital with an OB attending, and it was a fabulous experience. My doctor was absolutely terrific and I haven't one single thing to complain about concerning that delivery. The doctor never even mentioned induction or a c-section (in fact, I'm not sure I even knew what induction was until way later in life), and at one of my appointments late in the pregnancy he was estimating the baby's size by feel and he said, cheerfully, "Looks like we're cooking an 8-pounder here!"

He wasn't at all concerned about the size; rather, he was happy that she was growing so well. At birth she weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. and he helped me deliver her quickly and easily, with only very minimal tearing.

I am so thankful that I had that experience rather than one like my SIL's ... I was young (23) and impressionable, and it's not unlikely at that stage in the game that I would have gone along with whatever the "experts" told me.

 

[Marieke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beverly Now they tell her that they'll have to do c-sections for any future babies because they just "don't do VBACs." WTF?!

I believe that certain doctors and hospitals refuse to do them because of the supposed/imagined increased risk of something going wrong, to cover themselves for malpractise suits afterwards.

Which is the same reason they stop teaching how to deliver breech babies or anything else that might be slightly more "difficult".

I swear, it's one party line after another though... "baby's too big, must induce" and then you can bet on the "not progressing" line, even though there's so much more to progression than the numbers that dilation gives you. Your body's still doing stuff afterall, just not necessarily the stuff that you can measure easily.

Marieke

 

[Aeriane]

HI all. This IS irritating! Birth is natural process..why can't they just let it be!! I had to sign all these forms etc and I still have to meet with the high risk ob/gyns to sign yet another form saying I consent to a vbac and do not hold them responsible..etc etc. grrrrrr I've had 4...what part of "I can do it" don't they understand? They are so worried about law suits that they take away from what's really happening. A natural process is happening.

Some women want interventions and I guess that's their choice but to be offered a c-section because of sunny side up? The hospital I go to avoids c-sections at all costs thank goodness...size shouldn't be a reason either. Sometimes there is a discrepency and yes it's in the baby's and mom's best interest to have a C but for the most part the body is an amazing piece of work and can do amazing things if you give it time and if you listen and work with it.

Ok I'm going on and on, my point is, yeah, I agree totally annoying! Here's to some more healthy births!!!

Kitty

 

[MamanFrancaise]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CherryBomb Why does she think she can't? I had a c-section with my daughter and am having a homebirth this time. I'm suprised at how many people think you can't have a vaginal birth after you've had a c-section. What makes me sad though is the women who don't trust in their bodies so opt for the second section (although I totally understand where that comes from). Anyway, this is why I yell at the TV whenever I watch those horrible Birth Day and Maternity Ward shows. :

SHe had a scary emergency section with her first and when her doctor talked to her about her options he stressed the fact the baby could die if a uterus rupture occured.... that was enough convincing for her. :sigh

 

[veiledexpressions]

This thread is making me want to lock myself in the bathroom until I give bith, then tell dh he can take me to the hospital if he feels he must I will absolutely refuse a c section unless proven absolutely necessary. They just don't give laboring women adequate time to progress, nor do they encourage a change in position. It's sad when something that would really help, gravity, isn't even allowed to work, and most drs proceed to more drastic measures.

 

[Marieke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aeriane but to be offered a c-section because of sunny side up?

I wonder how many mothers have had proper education about the various ways in which you can minimise the occurance of your baby being sunny side up at birth?

We got taught all kinds of things in our birth class (and my midwife would have chipped in with info if she knew we weren't taking the classes) that would help encourage the baby into the preferred position. I'm sure many women have no idea, just like they have no idea that being on your back in a hospital bed is probably the worst position to be in anyway, and especially if you already have a sunny side up baby.

I wonder how many doctors are aware of these, often very simple, techniques. It never ceases to amaze me how many more tools that midwives have in their repertoire to deal with situations that doctors usually only have interventionist medical solutions for.

The human race didn't get to be 6 billion in size because so many women really need c-sections after all...

Marieke

 

[Marieke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by veiledexpressions They just don't give laboring women adequate time to progress

From stuff I read on various sites and such, I always get the impression that doctors are already calling the "failure to progress" card after a mere few hours... as our birth educator pointed out, "normal" labour can last from 3 hours to 3 days, it's not something that necessarily happens quickly, nor is there a problem if it takes longer (granted, nobody really wants to be in labour for a day or two, but still, there's no medical problem with it necessarily).

It's bad enough that many hospitals put you on a 24 hour timer as of the moment your water breaks, but it seems sometimes as though you don't get a chance to go even half that far, but merely a quarter or less before they start shoving meds at you.

Marieke

 

[ared1]

While I pretty much had a standard hospital birth I still find this very irritating. My SIL was induced. Her water broke on it's own at 12AM she labored for a few hours and after 5 hours (!) was told she had to have a c-sec. 5 hours? Failure to progress? I think failure to follow the Dr's schedule would have been the more appropriate term.

 

[NordicMamma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marieke I wonder how many mothers have had proper education about the various ways in which you can minimise the occurance of your baby being sunny side up at birth? We got taught all kinds of things in our birth class (and my midwife would have chipped in with info if she knew we weren't taking the classes) that would help encourage the baby into the preferred position. I'm sure many women have no idea, just like they have no idea that being on your back in a hospital bed is probably the worst position to be in anyway, and especially if you already have a sunny side up baby. I wonder how many doctors are aware of these, often very simple, techniques. It never ceases to amaze me how many more tools that midwives have in their repertoire to deal with situations that doctors usually only have interventionist medical solutions for. The human race didn't get to be 6 billion in size because so many women really need c-sections after all... Marieke

I just recently read a study that showed that your baby was more likely to be sunny-side up if you had an epidural. Makes sense when you think about it. Most women tend to be confined to the bed on their backs after having an epidural, which is the absolute worst position to be in if you want the baby to turn as it comes down the birth canal.