Jul 16

“Go Buy A Pregnancy Book, I Really Can’t Tell you Anything.”

‘Go buy a pregnancy book, I really can’t tell you anything.” -OB to mother who was asking several questions about what she should expect as she neared her due date.

79 people dislike these words.

There are 16 comments to this post.

StaudtCJ had this to say, Jul 16, 2010 @ 4:29 pm (Quote)

So which is it, buy and read a book, or listen only to what the OB says?

[Reply]

Enjoy Birth had this to say, Jul 16, 2010 @ 4:49 pm (Quote)

Or take a Childbirth Class.
At least the OB was honest, the mom would get better information from a GOOD book.

[Reply]

Wendy Reply:
July 17th, 2010 at 2:25 pm Wendy(Quote)

A real class? Or the obedience training offered by the hospital?

[Reply]

MidwifeMommy had this to say, Jul 16, 2010 @ 4:51 pm (Quote)

Whoops! I just bought “Birthing from Within”…. Is this the kind of book you meant, doc??

[Reply]

Heather P had this to say, Jul 16, 2010 @ 4:56 pm (Quote)

What if that book I chose was the bestselling “What to fear while you’re expecting” that tells me to run to my doctor for every little thing because pregnant women can spontaneously explode?

[Reply]

Jane had this to say, Jul 16, 2010 @ 4:58 pm (Quote)

“And then when I bring my books into the labor and delivery unit with me, and they all contradict everything you say, will you continue to be this cavalier?”

[Reply]

Jessica had this to say, Jul 16, 2010 @ 5:16 pm (Quote)

Hmmm, which book shall I read? The Thinking Woman’s Guide… Pushed… Immaculate Deception….? Maybe I’ll just absorb all of them while I’m gestating.

[Reply]

Sarah Dorrance-Minch Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 5:49 pm Sarah Dorrance-Minch(Quote)

Aaaaaaaaaah. You beat me to it.

[Reply]

Tracie had this to say, Jul 16, 2010 @ 5:17 pm (Quote)

Oh, good. I’m so glad I hired a doctor who apparently doesn’t know anything. What am I paying you for again?

[Reply]

Anne had this to say, Jul 17, 2010 @ 1:35 am (Quote)

@ Tracie 100% agree, the OP should cut her losses & go to a midwife. Another take on it is, Oh good I’m so glad I hired a doctor who apparently doesn’t know anything, that means that you are open to letting me do what I need/want to do and I am sure as a result we will get along better.
This is a “better” (can I use that word) comment then some of the comments on here where OBs criticize mothers for knowing to much & questioning their authority.

[Reply]

Kat had this to say, Jul 17, 2010 @ 4:32 am (Quote)

Sometimes it really feels like you can’t win.

If you read books and research, making informed decisions (basically being a responsible parent), then your doctor may get miffed because HE is supposed to be the “expert” not you.

If you ask questions and take more than ten minutes of your doctor’s precious office visit time, he may tell you to just go read a book instead of asking questions.

[Reply]

Heather P Reply:
July 17th, 2010 at 7:18 am Heather P(Quote)

10 minutes? Wow, that’s a generous amount of time. I got 6 with my former OB. Interesting how I got an hour with my homebirth midwives.

[Reply]

Sheva had this to say, Jul 18, 2010 @ 12:42 pm (Quote)

You can’t? I thought I was in the Obstetrician’s office. I must’ve taken a wrong turn and ended up in the hypochnodriacs and munchausen by proxy seminar. My bad.

[Reply]

Marci had this to say, Jul 19, 2010 @ 10:20 am (Quote)

Nondisclosure agreements prohibit me from answering your questions, but allow to me to recommend a trip to our sponsor, Borders.

[Reply]

JulietsButterfly had this to say, Jul 19, 2010 @ 6:59 pm (Quote)

He should have just made it easy on himself and handed out a copy of What to Expect if he was going to be like that. Then the mom knows what to expect her dr to do and how he’ll want to treat her. She’ll also have the cash in her pocket to pick out a real birthing book.

[Reply]