Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
Jul
16
Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
“Baby Looks Perfect, Mama’s Doing Fantastic…But It’s Time To Get This Baby Out.”
“Baby looks perfect, mama’s doing fantastic…but it’s time to get this baby out.” – OB to mother after reviewing 41 week non-stress test results.
There are 55 comments to this post.
If you were going to say “Let’s get this baby out” no matter what why not just skip the costly test Dr. Asshat?
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Alyson Miers had this to say,
Jul 16, 2011 @ 2:52 pm (Quote)
IOW, “Everything looks fine, but the fact that you’re still pregnant makes me uncomfortable, and my insurance carrier will have someone smash the windshield on my car if you’re not delivered within the week, so just work with me here, would you?”
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Bonnie B Matheson had this to say,
Jul 16, 2011 @ 2:59 pm (Quote)
These comments are “priceless” and totally true. Sad that doctors have this attitude. And if the mother questions the doctor he has a whole list of scary consequences to letting the baby stay longer inside of her.
Of course there is another factor that I don’t hear too much about and that is the fact that by 41 weeks the woman is MOST anxious to get that baby born. It takes real will power to say. “No! I am perfectly happy carrying this baby as long as I have to.”
Most women are REALLY ready to be done with carrying the baby by then. They may not be able to sleep and therefore be suffering from sleep deprivation. They may have horrible heart burn or simply have no room in their tummies for meals. They may ache and find it difficult to do ANYTHING simple like turning over in bed. It may be impossible to put on stockings or socks. Driving feels funny because they are so far away from the steering wheel.
SO when the doctor, the wise, experienced Doctor whom they trust to take care of them, says let’s get this baby out, they are actually glad to comply.
Most have no idea of the problems they may be letting themselves in for by inducing the birth.
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Gretchen Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 3:07 pm (Quote)
So happy that you wrote this. I agree completly. I was one of those crazy women that felt I could have stayed pregnant for weeks longer. I was unhappy when I went into labor. Now I had to share my baby with the rest of the world. I never felt so good and so healthy as when I was pregnant
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Skyfire Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 4:31 pm (Quote)
Me, too! Good thing, because I carry to 42 weeks.
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Mama Wrench Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 4:52 pm (Quote)
Same here — I’m jealous of all the women who carry for 40+ weeks. I wish I could’ve kept my baby in that long, maybe he would’ve been able to tolerate labor better.
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Bonnie B Matheson Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 8:08 pm (Quote)
Me too. I loved being pregnant. Did it five times because I enjoyed it so much. Loved childbirth too. Never felt so powerful and “complete” in my life (except for the first birth when I was still naive and uninformed enough to let the doctors “do it” to me, instead of taking control of my own birth.
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Eileen had this to say,
Jul 16, 2011 @ 3:05 pm (Quote)
They just did this to a friend of mine minus the test. They told her months ahead of time they wouldn’t “let” her go past 41wk because “the fluid levels could drop” (definitely not measurable if you’re concerned, right? :/ ) and “the baby might get too big to birth vaginally.” My favorite part is they told her she’d have to be induced by Wednesday because otherwise it would be dangerous. Wednesday comes, hospital is full, its OK, you can wait. I thought something was dangerous? If she can wait, WHY NOT WAIT?
Ending is she had her monster 6lb 7oz baby Friday. Good thing they induced so he didn’t get too big!
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Hmm, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, there’s not a cloud in the sky.
Better grab our umbrellas, rain slickers, and boots! You just never know…
Seriously, I would be so irritated. I HATE pitocin, and it hates me. I would be all up in that doctor’s face. OK, WHY is it time to get this baby out? What are the risks of waiting? What are the risks of inducing (I already know exactly what they are, I just want to see if you are going to be honest or try to BS me into doing one because it’s what YOU want)?
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Heather Crandall had this to say,
Jul 16, 2011 @ 3:54 pm (Quote)
Yes because there is no way a woman can birth a baby after 41 wks. This baby I’m holding right now that I just birthed last night at 13 days past due must be a phantom baby.
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Heather Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 6:55 pm (Quote)
Congratulations!
I just heard from a mama who had her baby 23 days postdates 
Babies come when they come!
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Kat Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 8:54 pm (Quote)
According to my mom, I came at 44 weeks. She says her cycles tended to be long/irregular, so I probably wasn’t actually 44 weeks gestationally speaking, but I WAS born a full month past my EDD.
Isn’t it interesting how things have changed?
Um, I mean… Braaaaiiinnnnnssssss.
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Lindsey had this to say,
Jul 16, 2011 @ 4:02 pm (Quote)
Congrats Heather!
My 12 day old must be a phantom baby too, he was born at 41+4
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Kat Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 4:04 pm (Quote)
My 5 year old zombie, born at 41 weeks 5 days, is sitting here eating pizza.
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Krista Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 5:08 pm (Quote)
Hmm, my first was born at 43 weeks. Mega zombie?
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Heather Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 6:56 pm (Quote)
My 42 weeker just ran into the bedroom because her sister woke up from her nap. Funny, she doesn’t seem much like a ghost to me!
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Bonnie B Matheson Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 10:22 am (Quote)
It is interesting to note that my third baby was born 3 weeks past her due date. That was in 1964 and they did not give me any trouble about it at all. No one suggested induction and it was dec 19th when she was born. I was in a hurry to have her before Christmas but even so, they waited till my labor started spontaneously.
This is the weird part. Both of my own daughters had babies normally and near due dates except for their third babies. Each of these number 3 babies were born 3 weeks late just like my own 3rd baby. The only difference was that both of my daugthers had to fight hard to keep their babies and not be induced. They insisted on multiple sonograms for my oldest daughter. She asked me to come up to New York where she lived to help her defend her rigth to wait. (which I did) Both of these late babies are now 15 and 16 and they like pizza too. LOL….NOT Zombies or phantoms, they are perfectly normal teenagers.
KEEP your baby till it is ready to be born on it’s own.
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Heather Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 11:21 pm (Quote)
Yup! My best friend was born a month and a day past her due date (due Christmas, born January 26) and they never harassed her mom to induce. I have another friend who was 44 weeks and no induction pressure (her mom was a nurse) and she was only 5lbs and some change! (no signs of being off on dates or anything being wrong with her, the cord, placenta, etc. either)
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jenni Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 6:38 pm (Quote)
i’m a zombie,and i also prefer pizza, but my kids didnt feel like baking past 40 weeks…does that make them real again, or does that make them 2nd generation zombies.
oh, and my BIL had lung surgery because an OB said he was too big (9lbs +) and induced his mom a month early. but you should see his mom, she could probably do 12lbs easy…. no joke… she is big boned and 6′ tall. amazing that a 5’4″ OB would want to try and control her….
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Not mine, but I was told this as well. When I would press for more information as to WHY I HAD to be induced, they would just say “You’re done. You’re just done.”
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Unfortunately, this is just the first of several terrible things done by this AWFUL doctor. I’m a first time mom and was really looking forward to a natural birth, we researched everything and after reading this blog and many others I’d heard all the horror stories and thought I was prepared to handle it all. We had gone so far as deciding to deliver at a hospital 45 minutes away, as our local hospital has 3 ob/gyns that all practice no questions asked induction at 41 weeks along with every other intervention imaginable. I sought out this particular doctor because she claimed to be a huge proponent of natural birth and was the only doctor at the hospital who would allow patients to deliver in a birthing tub, which is what we wanted. I also discussed with her that I knew I would be late and I had no intention of induction, she assured me that she would not even discuss induction until after 42 weeks and even then she would just be a “bug in my ear” about it. Oh how things changed. The morning of my 41 one week non-stress test after telling us that everything looked great she told us all the horrors that could happen if I didn’t induce immediately, she also told us that “We’ve decided all babies need to be born at or before 39 weeks…I was actually was just listening to a lecture about it on my drive in this morning”! We were in complete shock, it’s was such a change in attitude I thought she may have multiple personalities! We told her not a chance are we inducing, she then said she wanted to check me and that she was going to strip my membranes. I said absolutely not to both ( I had told her previously that I didn’t not want any cervical checks, which at the time she has said was not problem) she stood there and talked for another 10 minutes until against my better judgement I finally gave in to the cervical check, but said I DO NOT want my membranes stripped…worst mistake ever. She started the exam and and immediately said she was going to strip my membranes I said “No you aren’t!” she sort of rolled her eyes and she started to get really rough, I knew these exams shouldn’t hurt, but I chose to try and just get through it so I could get the heck out of there. She then said I was only one centimeter and AGAIN said was going to strip my membranes. I said “No!” and she preceded to ask me twice more during the exam if she could strip my membranes. I was in tears at this point. I’ve never felt so helpless or weak. When the violation was finally over and the doctor left the room, the nurse gave us our discharge papers and sadly said “that was a *really* rough exam, you will have some spotting and cramping and don’t be surprised if things start moving along” I knew then that wasn’t a normal exam, she had stripped my membranes as I laid there practically pleading with her to not. My water broke at 1 that next morning. Thankfully that horrendous doctor went out of town while I was in labor so I didn’t have to see her. I ended with a c-section after 38 hours of labor and I’m completely convinced that if I had stood my ground and said no to that check all together I would have had the labor that I wanted and deserved and my beautiful baby girl would have been born when she decided. My daughter is 9 months old now and I’m still haunted by that day. Thanks for letting me share my story.
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Gretchen Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 6:01 am (Quote)
Oh dear, my heart breaks for you. You do know that what she did was medical malpractice. SHe preformed a procedure on you against your will and that is considered assualt. Do not blame yourself for having the check, blame this horrid woman for not being respectful of your body and your rights as a human being. Sending you healing love and light.
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Aron Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 7:12 am (Quote)
“That horrendous doctor went out of town…” And now it becomes clear why Dr. Hyde wanted you induced so badly: an easy 1-2 punch to c-section before grabbing her bags and heading off on vacay. She was hoping she could squeeze in one more billable birth the next day. Hey, she’s gotta pay for those tickets somehow!
I am so sorry you were treated horribly by this Ms. Jeckyl/Dr. Hyde (and yes, I know it’s supposed to be the other way around). You didn’t deserve it. Good for you for standing up to her for as long as you could, and for working through 38 hours of labor too! Even though it didn’t end the way you hoped, your daughter still benefited by experiencing as much labor as she did. You are and amazing and strong woman. I pray any future pregnancies will be smooth, healing and supported by people who truly put you and your baby first.
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Aron Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 7:13 am (Quote)
“That horrendous doctor went out of town…” And now it becomes clear why Dr. Hyde wanted you induced so badly: an easy 1-2 punch to c-section before grabbing her bags and heading off on vacay. She was hoping she could squeeze in one more billable birth the next day. Hey, she’s gotta pay for those tickets somehow!
I am so sorry you were treated horribly by this Ms. Jeckyl/Dr. Hyde (and yes, I know it’s supposed to be the other way around). You didn’t deserve it. Good for you for standing up to her for as long as you could, and for working through 38 hours of labor too! Even though it didn’t end the way you hoped, your daughter still benefited by experiencing as much labor as she did. You are an amazing and strong woman. I pray any future pregnancies will be smooth, healing and supported by people who truly put you and your baby first.
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Kimberly Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 11:32 am (Quote)
OP, did you take any steps to try to hold her accountable for her actions? Have you been able to do anything about her violating you like that?
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Heather Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 11:59 am (Quote)
I am so, so sorry. That is just absolutely horrible. When I read stories like this, I just… there needs to be something done to hold these people accountable for their actions. THIS is what malpractice, etc. is supposed to be there for. T_T
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Evelyn Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 12:07 pm (Quote)
I had a very similar thing happen to me – we went with an OB practice that is very well known in my city for being natural-birth friendly and had heard glowing reviews from several different moms. They said they wouldn’t talk about induction until 42 weeks, but when I went in for my NST at 40 weeks, 5 days, they found an excuse to pressure me for an induction. They told me that my baby might get cerebral palsy, or that my baby could die. They made me feel absolutely terrible and I could not believe that these doctors that had been so supportive suddenly turned about face (I did not go through with the induction, btw). I’m so sorry that you had to go through that.
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Bonita Reply:
July 17th, 2011 at 6:27 pm (Quote)
I am so so sorry that you went through that. My first child’s birth was hijacked too with 42 hours of labor that thankfully didn’t end with a c-section, but it was pretty bad. She is 3 and I still have regrets over it. I hope you are able to have wonderful VBACs for your future pregnancies!
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Details Reply:
July 18th, 2011 at 5:25 am (Quote)
Adrienne, I’m so sorry you went through all that. I would point out that this doctor probably was not looking to get in another billable birth before she left. She was in fact covering her ass. If she had gone off on vacation leaving you 41 weeks pregnant one of her partners would have had to deal with you at a 42 weeks appointment. I totally beleivet that “they decided that baby has to come out” and told her so. They would have found her lack of management totally unprofessional and hauled her over the coals when she got back from vacation. She never had any intention of delivering your baby. She just didn’t want to catch crap for letting you remain pregnant from judgemental co-workers. And letting you go and risk one of the out by 39 crowd question her judgement and abilities wasn’t on her list of things to do. Your care wasn’t important enough for her to make a stand over.
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Sarah Dorrance-Minch had this to say,
Jul 16, 2011 @ 8:34 pm (Quote)
I’m sorry, but I vote Labour.
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Thank you everyone for your kind and insightful comments about my story. It’s feels good just to have someone actually hearing the things I’m saying, 9 out 10 times I’ve told my story the response has been “All that matters is you have a healthy baby” which not only negates my feeling, the atrocious things that were done to me, but also adds guilt. It’s difficult because I read story after story of this happening to other mothers and thought I was prepared, but instead sat there feeling powerless as it was happening to me. Thankfully this doctor has since closed her practice. Thank you all again for listening.
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Serena26 Reply:
July 18th, 2011 at 4:43 pm (Quote)
I consider myself quite educated on birth matters and was still made nervous when a doctor came in at my 39 weeks test, looked at the results which I though were good, and told me – you need to stay, the baby is deprived of oxygen, you are already past dates(past what dates?????), let me check you, it is your decision, the baby will be fine foe 3 more hours but after that… (gesture of the head suggesting bad outcome). And the midwife added: maybe the baby will manage to come on its own by tomorrow.
I run, I can honestly say – I run away from the hospital to my homebirth midwife who checked the test results and confirmed that I am not crazy, they are good. I run because I was afraid of being in your situation – up on the examination chair with the doctor stripping my membranes, accidentally breaking my waters or smearing Cytotec. My brain was frozen after that dead baby implication, I could not stand up to what I wanted.
So when a week later I had to transfer from my homebirth to the same hospital (baby compressed the cord when coming down, so we went just in case I needed a Caesarean section. I did not), I already knew that I was going to get whatever is coming my way – I can not give birth and fight at the same time. My waters were broken (good thing I was fully dilated), I got Pitocin, episiotomy (I actually asked the midwife not to do it, but the doctor came in and cut me without me knowing), I had to push on my back, I was not able to go to bathroom so I had to pee all over the place before the baby was born, and the worst moment was when I realised they had cut the cord early, although I had heard that this hospital allows late cord clamping, and yes – to top it all off – they pulled on the cord and I had massive bleeding when the placenta tore of the uterine wall so I required blood transfusion. In general I had a good hospital birth, I was feeling great despite the blood loss and my baby was doing excellent. BUT – the horrible feeling of powerlessness – just like you said. That feeling now haunts me. I get angry at myself for not fighting more, I get angry at my husband for not fighting more, I get angry at my midwife who suggested we need to transfer. Then I calm down and understand I need to forgive myself and all the others. We did the best we could under those circumstances. Who knows – if I had not complied to what I was told to do – maybe I would have ended up with a C-section, because it is a fine line. In the beginning of my pregnancy I thought I could stand up to doctors in the hospital, now I know that it is not so easy. Even if you are strong and know what is right, the whole hospital atmosphere, dead baby cards, etc. it just all adds up. So please know you are not alone. I still hope my next birth will be better and it will give me back the magic power birth can give women. I wish the same to you (sorry that so long)
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In other words, everything’s going super well…so let’s figure out a way to screw it all up!
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Jewels Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 4:12 pm Jewels(Quote)
That’s exactly what I was thinking!
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