Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
Jun
3
Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
“…That Has To Happen On Your Back.”
“Yes, you can deliver in any position you want. Oh, you mean actually deliver? No, that has to happen on your back.” – OB nurse to mother who asked if she could deliver in any position.
There are 22 comments to this post.
Me- So, you’re cool with me birthing in whatever position I need to, since I have a very low pelvis and tend to have posterior babies which I need to spin?
OB- Sure. You can deliver in whatever position you like.
Me- Great! So I’ll just be squatting and catching.
OB- Wait, you mean actually “deliver”?
Me- Um, what did you think that meant?
OB- No. You’ll have to do that on your back.
Me- Oh, that’s adorable. You think you’re in control here!
~ Fin
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Jessica had this to say,
Jun 3, 2012 @ 1:52 pm (Quote)
If only it was that easy. I had a client express the desire to use a squat bar and basically birth in any position BUT her back. When she started to push, the staff stood there and practically refused to attend her until she submitted to what THEY wanted. And people wonder why women would ever consider a homebirth or a *gasp* unassisted birth.
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SuzyHomemaker Reply:
June 4th, 2012 at 12:37 am (Quote)
I was pushing on my knees holding onto the back of the bed without pain (only pressure) and feeling quite confident, when a hospital midwife demanded that turn around so she could adjust the monitor. As soon as I was sitting forward-facing, she and another midwife grabbed my hips and dragged me into a laying down position, pinned my hips to the bed screaming “push push PUSH” which was not only incredibly painful, it was also terrifying. Less than 5 minutes later my daughter was born.
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SuzyHomemaker Reply:
June 4th, 2012 at 12:39 am (Quote)
Long story short:
My next will be a homebirth *possibly* an unassisted birth.
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Is there another definition of “deliver” in this scenario that I am unaware of? What exactly did this nurse think she was referring to? Whether they could get food delivered?
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Jen had this to say,
Jun 3, 2012 @ 2:52 pm (Quote)
Hmmmm guess it’s a good thing I opted to stay home with both of mine! After about 2 hours of labor with both you couldn’t PAY me to lay down….wasn’t going to happen…but of course my midwives were totally cool about it 
the only caveat they gave me was when they checked me (once with each) they couln’t be 100% sure on dialation but they could get pretty close. Which I was cool with.
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when I asked my former ob if I could push in any position she replied that I could, but that I had to actually deliver my baby on my back, “for safety” she said. perhaps that is what this doc meant?
I haven’t had my baby yet, but from what I understand, once a baby starts coming, there may not be a whole lot of time to climb back on the bed? eh, it’s my former ob for a very good reason
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There are many incidents of moms in labor being forcibly placed on their backs if not there already. So unfortunately it could be the doctor’s call 
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Kristy Reply:
June 3rd, 2012 at 7:36 pm (Quote)
Yes but… 1) This is not the doctor and 2) The fact that a doctor may choose to commit assault and coerce others to help him do so does *not* mean that it was his call to make… it means he was willing to commit a crime to get his way.
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Chelsea Reply:
June 3rd, 2012 at 10:59 pm (Quote)
It may not *legally* be the doctor’s call but unfortunately this does happen and if the mom cries assault a medical board will look at this and say, “He was doing it for her own good. Dead baby card, blah blah blah,” Doctor comes out looking like a hero for *saving* the mom from herself.
I wasn’t pregnant, I was 13 and having severe pains and despite the fact that I told them I was a virgin, I was forcibly restrained on my back and given a pelvic exam. Upon the advice of the people on here I reported it…the person on the phone laughed and said that “It was a long time ago and the doctor was only doing what needed to be done.”
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Kristy Reply:
June 3rd, 2012 at 11:02 pm (Quote)
I just refuse to bow to the idea that it *is* his call because he illegally makes it his call. It is his *crime* in that case… no matter who will or will not take it seriously.
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becky Reply:
June 4th, 2012 at 6:42 am (Quote)
I’m sorry that happened to you, Chelsea, on both counts. That sort of culture that the person who answered the phone is a part of is wrong. WRONG! Thank you very much for taking the time and having the courage to report what happened to you. Maybe we can change things if we keep fighting. I hope your phone call made a difference in some way, whether it’s when the next person calls, they’re not laughed at, somebody sees your story and reports what happened to them, or the next time something like this happens to you you’ll feel like you have to right to stand up for yourself. Small changes do matter; I hope you feel more empowered after that phone call even if it only makes a difference for you.
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Okay, let’s just forget for a minute about the whole “has to happen on your back” thing. What I really want to know is what the doctor thought “deliver” meant?! I mean, how could you possibly misunderstand the question, “Can I deliver in any position?”
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