Well, at least this one gets points for honesty…

I remember this line. A woman told the story of her unnecesarean on the old BoBB web site and on some article about the outrageous Florida c-section rates. I remember thinking that it was a lot like the Aspen’s Women’s Center sign– honest and a lot better than totally dishonest scare tactics but… still…

I think I’d be more likely to sue for being talked into a major unnecessary abdominal surgery than for being “allowed” to deliver a supposedly large baby vaginally.

But true…half a point for being honest.

This one was me. We ended up caving and having the cesarean about a week after the U/S. That was four years ago. We haven’t been able to have another baby yet (a couple of losses last year, one ectopic and the surgeon who did that surgery told me my only risk factor for an ectopic was the cesarean). If I do get to have a VBAC one day, and if the baby is any where near the size of my daughter, well, I am reporting that OB to the Dept. of Health. Other women in my family have given birth to 9 and 10 pounders just fine.

This reminds of my husband’s cousin’s birth. Her OB told her she was having a 10 – 11 lb baby after a late pregnancy ultrasound. Her son was maybe 7 and a half pounds.

Too true, they might sue.

But, if the physician does their homework, they’ll discover that empathy and kindness are the easiest ways to avoid lawsuits (they have little to do with malpractice and much to do with feeling as though the physician was uncaring).

Do we wonder why OBs get sued often?

My midwife suggested a cesarean after the ultrasound indicated my son was nearly 10 pounds. I refused but consented to an (unnecessary in hindsight) induction because the midwife who delivered my older girls was on call that day. My son was 8 lbs, 8 oz — not even my biggest baby.

The doctor who backed up the midwife at my office visit gave a pseudoapology by saying something about doctors should trust a mother’s intuition. I’m soooooo glad I didn’t cave and have unnecessary surgery.