Comments on: “Why Don’t You Want Another Cesarean?…”

By: jespren

jespren — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 03:20:57 +0000

this is what seemed so bad about the comment to me too. Obviously, if mother wanted a VBAC SOMETHING wasn’t perfect about the c-sections, or she would want that ‘perfect’ c-section again. The question ‘why don’t you want a c-section’ seems perfectly valid for a resident to pose, but following it with ‘the first two went fine’ makes him sound not only like a completely insensitive jerk but would make me think (if it was said to me) that this person can’t THINK before he talks, just anything that pops into his mind comes out his mouth! doctor’s should always stop their thoughts before it gets to their mouth and think about how its going to sound to their patient before they let it go on to their tongue!

By: Meg

Meg — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:41:50 +0000

“Because with each cesarean, the likelihood for major complications such as placenta accreta, placenta abruptia, miscarriage, the need for blood transfusions, the risk of infection, and the chances of losing my uterus to hysterectomy, all increase dramatically, whereas for each subsequent VBAC, those risks decrease. That’s why.”

By: The Deranged Housewife

The Deranged Housewife — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:36:23 +0000

So this is what they’re teaching OB’s in medical school these days … big surprise. Ah, to be a fly on the wall of the lecture hall classroom…

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:53:52 +0000

I absolutely agree. There is a lot more to birth than simply having a healthy baby at the end regardless of how it got there. She may have healed physically from the C-sections, but perhaps not emotionally.

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:51:57 +0000

Him saying “everything turned out fine” makes me think he is looking at it from a medical standpoint as opposed to psychologically. She may not have encountered problems physically from the surgery, but rather suffered emotionally and desires a natural birth experience.

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:33:35 +0000

I think the problem is the “obviously they turned out just fine” part. It’s very similar to saying “You have a healthy baby, that’s all that matters.” Which is absolutely not all that matters.

If this OB Resident doesn’t know the mother, he has no way to know if those previous births were fine or not.

By: Michelle Potter

Michelle Potter — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:16:00 +0000

I’m one that doesn’t have a problem with the wording of this question. I give the mom the benefit of the doubt that the tone or context made a difference, though. I can totally imagine how frustrating it would be if everyone in the doctor’s office / hospital was trying to convince you to have a c-section, and some resident looked at your like you were out of your mind and asked “Why?!?” in a rude tone of voice.

Aron, I agree with you that the resident’s statement shows a lack of understanding, but since it’s phrased as a question, I don’t think that’s so bad. Since I don’t have a choice about giving birth in a hospital, I have intentionally chosen a teaching hospital to take advantage of doctors who don’t yet think they know everything. If a resident/intern/med student asked me that question — in a genuinely interested tone and context, but the exact same words — I’d be happy for the chance to educate them.

By: Aron

Aron — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:37:05 +0000

I think if the resident had stopped after the question, (why don’t you want to have a c/s?) this wouldn’t sound so bad. It’s the second part that is the problem. Just because mom already had two and “everything turned out fine” in NO way guarantees that the next will “go fine”. Just because her previous c/s’s went “fine” doesn’t mean that a c/s is needed, much less wanted, this time. In fact the MORE C-SECTIONS a woman has the MORE DANGEROUS it becomes. If the OB Resident just wanted to know how mom arrived at her choice to VBA2C he could have just asked and waited for her response. His next words clearly revealed his utter lack of understanding in the danger surrounding the primary procedure of his chosen field.

By: Jena

Jena — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:49:28 +0000

I think timing might also be something of a factor, whether this was at a Week #X appointment where the resident happened to be in the office with an experienced OB that day to get to interact with patients with some guidance (my GP does this frequently) or if this happened the hour the momma rolled into L&D planning not to have surgery. But then again, either tone could be used in either situation. I guess one would just seem much more invasive and judgmental than the other. And good point that this could go either way. I hope the PosterMomma fills us in on the details.

By: hallie

hallie — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:21:58 +0000

i think i have to agree with you. unless the resident’s tone of voice was mocking or rude, he could have been totally clueless. These moments do need to be used to teach the newbies what’s what and what woman really need.