Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
Jan
24
Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
“…I Just Wanted To See The Look Of Horror On Your Face.”
“If I make a big episiotomy now, she’ll fall out right now.” – OB during pushing. OB then turns to woman’s doula and says “I just wanted to see the look of horror on your face!”
There are 26 comments to this post.
mwoolfenden had this to say,
Jan 24, 2012 @ 11:11 am (Quote)
ok i thought this was really funny. really really funny. and laughing really helps with the pushing(true story) and as a side note he was kinda acknowlaging that he knew the doula wasnt dumb.
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Malina Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 12:07 pm (Quote)
The concept of teasing the doula that way may be funny when reading it over the internet, but it is not funny to joke about needlessly cutting somebody’s genitals when they are sitting spread eagle in front of you. Not funny at all. And not very professional.
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Lore Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 2:21 pm (Quote)
I agree, I found this really funny too (and probably would have while in labour), I was the one in my labour room making the terrible (sometimes horrible!) jokes. But as a grown-up I’m also aware that my sense of humour can be offensive or at least not funny to others and I often have to watch it around people I don’t know well… the Dr should be aware of this too!
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KristaMish Reply:
February 1st, 2012 at 10:53 pm (Quote)
Yeah, I thought it was funny too. I also understand why someone could easily be offended by it so I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t know the entire audience would enjoy it. I saw it as the doctor not just acknowledging the doula, but agreeing with her position. Sad fact is, if he wanted to perform and episiotomy, he probably would have just gone ahead instead of trying to make a joke about it.
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Rachel Garcia had this to say,
Jan 24, 2012 @ 12:06 pm (Quote)
you know.. depending on the doc this might be humorous to me. I mean, I do have a warped sense of humor. But I would definitely agree that it would NOT be funny in the moment of birth. Discussing a birth plan, sure. Im a smart ass so I’d likely respond, “well if you leave the room right now, we will probably have an awesome birth!!” Again, I have good relationships with area doctors and some are truly amazing .. but just like the rest of us, like to jest. But context is everything.
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Ahh yes, sadistic doctors, just what every labor and delivery room needs. Do the post partum rooms come stocked with sadistic diet coaches that critique your food orders too? Cuz it’s important to have a well rounded staff.
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The following were the original comments that I had submitted which give a little more context to the story:
1. OB to woman open-glottis pushing (exhale pushing, or NOT holding her breath while she pushed):
“Are you ready for some advice, or do you want to push your way for the rest of the day?”
2. Ob to woman pushing in hands-knees position: “You’re not taking advantage of all the space in your tailbone. Your tailbone will open up much more if you push while lying on your back”
and last but not least
3. OB to woman who cried out as her baby started to crown “When is she coming out?!” OB replied “If I make a big episiotomy, she’ll fall out right now” then OB turns to woman’s doula and says “I just wanted to the look of horror on your face!”
Yes….all by the same OB to the same woman. Wow. Speechless.
So, a little background to the story. I was the L&D nurse and mom was a first-time mom being induced (long story, can’t go in great detail, but this was not her choice). She had done her research and was very well-educated about childbirth. She had a birth-plan and a doula. When OB made comment #1, she had been pushing with non-directive open-glottis pushing, and was making good progress. Surprisingly, she was very open the the OB’s suggestions and did push ON HER BACK and HOLDING HER BREATH as the OB instructed her to do. The minute he left the room, she went back to what she had been doing prior to his “advice”. Comment #2 was made to her while she was pushing in while on her hands and knees. My response to OB (in my head of course) was, “yeah, and you have a lot of unused space in your head that you’re not taking advantage of!”. Again, this very patient woman accommodated his request, albeit very briefly. Comment #3 was, I think, truly intended as a joke by the OB, but it was NOT FUNNY. The doula responded to him with “I don’t think that that is an appropriate thing to say at this very moment”. In the end, mom had a vaginal birth, a healthy baby, and just a very small tear. I think one of the reasons that the OB felt he could make these comments was that he was a family “friend”. I have been a L&D nurse for many years and had never heard so many inappropriate comments made by one OB over the course of one woman’s labor.
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As someone who had a terrible first experience, and 163 stitches, if my doctor would have said this the second time around I would have lost it!
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Serene Reply:
January 31st, 2012 at 6:54 am (Quote)
Holy hell! I had 57 and I thought I had it bad! Sorry Mama you had it so bad!
And yeah if I ever heard anything like that I think I would have cracked someones skull! My second and third births came with the express warning that anyone even threatened an episiotomy I would take them to court over it!
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Add Your Comment.
Wow, spiteful much?
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