Feb 21

“We’re Going To Have To Pull The Plug On This Baby Soon.”

“We’re going to have to pull the plug on this baby soon.” – OB to mother, while discussing the need for induction because mother had reached 40 weeks 3 days.

67 people dislike these words.

There are 21 comments to this post.

Argentina had this to say, Feb 21, 2011 @ 1:17 pm (Quote)

another sOB trying to scare a mother into induction… this just sickens me.

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Dina had this to say, Feb 21, 2011 @ 1:18 pm (Quote)

Since induction can actually cause what a statement lke that implies, I think I’d rather pull the plug on our professional relationship.

If you have any real reasons (instead of artificial expiration dates), feel free to come back to me.

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molly had this to say, Feb 21, 2011 @ 1:21 pm (Quote)

It can be hard finding a new care provider that late in the pregnancy, but I’m up for a challenge

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NMal had this to say, Feb 21, 2011 @ 1:28 pm (Quote)

Um, Doc? That’s not really how the human body works… there’s not actually a plug you pull out of the vagina, and a baby comes shooting out!

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KC Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 6:41 pm KC(Quote)

LOL

That is a great visual!

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StaudtCJ had this to say, Feb 21, 2011 @ 1:28 pm (Quote)

This would be terrifying. When we talk about “pulling the plug”, we usually mean removing someone from life support, and their subsequent demise. Besides reducing the mother to a machine that goes ping (that needs to be unplugged), it implies to me that there’s something wrong with the baby and death or stillbirth may be likely. I can also think of several other things I’d think that I can’t quite articulate but imply similar things about machines, death, and uselessness of continued “life-support”. Very upsetting.

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Ann S Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 5:18 pm Ann S(Quote)

That was my reaction exactly! What horrid words to use. Birth is about bringing life into the world. And, doc, birth happens on its OWN schedule, not yours. If something is wrong now, please let me know. Otherwise, we’ll wait for this baby to decide.

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Jane Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 6:18 pm Jane(Quote)

My second baby had a birth defect that would cause her to die shortly after birth. In effect, I *was* her life support. Once she was delivered, she’d die.

My husband is a computer geek, and his boss was a nice guy who was super-understanding about our situation and the time my husband would need off from work. My husband told the guy that if our daughter hadn’t arrived by 43 weeks 5 days, we were going to induce.

His boss said, “Oh, so July 19th is the drop-dead date?”

Sudden, absolute silence.

My husband said softly, “I wish you wouldn’t phrase it like that.”

His boss wanted to crawl under the table. The “drop-dead date” in software production is the last time you can make any changes to the product before it ships. The guy just wasn’t thinking.

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Maybeth Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 10:37 pm Maybeth(Quote)

I had a friend who had a still born. When she was in labor, her pastor, not thinking, told Dad, “I have been here be for, it will all be over soon.” Speaking about labor, however, it was a very bad choice of words. He left shortly after.

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Lauren Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 6:31 am Lauren(Quote)

Oh Jane. I’m so sorry.

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Jane Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 7:06 am Jane(Quote)

The guy’s comment was one of those things that, ten years later, is funny in a dark-humor sort of way. But at the time it was just embarrassing for him (he honestly meant no harm) and shocking to my husband.

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Miss M had this to say, Feb 21, 2011 @ 1:33 pm (Quote)

Wow, after having a baby on life-support “pulling the plug” is NOT a phrase you want to hear – EVER.

Really bad word choice!

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Jena had this to say, Feb 21, 2011 @ 2:08 pm (Quote)

Poorly phrased, old chap.

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Sheva had this to say, Feb 21, 2011 @ 3:17 pm (Quote)

What a dreadful choice of phrase. Is it bad of me that I think it was chosen on purpose? And not just an ‘unfortunate mistake’?

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Nikko Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 3:57 pm Nikko(Quote)

Oh, it was definitely chosen on purpose. It’s the doctors way of pulling the dead baby card, but not using the words “dead baby.” Dr. Asshat is trying to convey a sense of urgency and is counting on the mother to not be aware of the exact language used, and is counting on the dread that comes with phraseology that makes English-speaking people think of death.

It’s a rather subtle form of manipulation… well, subtle if you aren’t OP. I wonder how many women wouldn’t have noticed that the doctor used an atrocious word choice? Kudos to you, OP, for seeing this doctor for the asshole he/she is.

Also: I’m 40 weeks 4 days today. My cervix is 1 cm dilated, 20% effaced, and she’s at a -2. An induction would likely lead to a c-section. Good thing that my midwife doesn’t think a due date is an expiration date. (I consented to the pelvic because there was a student with my midwife, and I felt that gaining this experience would be valuable to her. I was the first person who consented to her doing ANYTHING during a prenatal exam. Now she has experience and she can tell other patients that, and we’ll have 1 more MW in the world!)

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apvegmama Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 7:02 pm apvegmama(Quote)

Good for you, Nikko! That is great that you gave such a gift to a student midwife. I was also very protective of my cervix.
Good luck to you and congratulations on the new LO.

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Bonita had this to say, Feb 21, 2011 @ 4:19 pm (Quote)

This is akin to the dumb statement that “the baby is just TOO comfortable in there”. Unfortunately many care providers seem to think is a valid reason to induce because heaven forbid we let a child have comfort. Just like you aren’t supposed to feed on demand, sleep with or wear your newborn because those darn babies get SO spoiled if we don’t make them abide to OUR artificial clocks…

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Jane Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 6:14 pm Jane(Quote)

But then they push for early induction because late pregnancy is so uncomfortable, and epidurals for everyone because contractions are so uncomfortable…

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Maybeth Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 10:47 pm Maybeth(Quote)

So to make the baby (most of the time) there was some comfort and spoiling. Mom has been comforting and spoiling baby for the last 40 weeks 3 day. So it is only natural that that darn baby needs to get out be for it gets any more of that comfort and spoiling. Really, we don’t want him to think that he is love and wanted.

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Julie had this to say, Feb 22, 2011 @ 5:02 am (Quote)

Ugh. Last week, I had a prenatal appointment that was literally the day after my due date. As soon as she walked into the room, the first thing out of the nurse’s mouth was “You’re past due. We need to schedule your induction.” I fought, and the doctor agreed to “let” me go to 41 weeks….they can schedule an induction all they want, but I won’t be showing up until I hit 42 weeks!

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Jane Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 5:27 am Jane(Quote)

I really like that “we need to schedule” phrasing. The nurse needs it. The doctor needs it. Do you need it? Does the baby need it? And what happens if they don’t schedule it–the doctor and nurse die? No? Then they do not NEED it. They WANT it. Big difference.

Good for you for fighting them.