Opinion from my friend the doctor!

[ohthegoats]

I have a friend who is a high up anaesthetist. We were just out for lunch with her and a group of others, most of whom have kids already.

The doctor's advice on birth is:

If things go early and seem easy, then all is fine - go for the natural option. If you are overdue and they start talking about induction, then do the following: don't turn it down, they are suggesting it for a reason. Go in for the induction sooner rather than later, have an epidural as soon as they will let you. If things work OK for you at this point, then go for the 'natural' option. The minute they start talking about interventions because something has slowed it down, or you're not progressing etc, refuse the drip to speed you up, refuse forceps or ventouse and just ask straight away for a C-section, before things get too far along. Put your foot down on the issue. The epidural is already in, you're not already massively knackered, and often a calm, non emergency C-section is easier to recover from than a failed induction/ natural birth/ forceps tear/ cut. That's what all doctors would do.

So... what do you reckon to that suggestion? Oddly, as she was telling this story I remembered another friend's birth story - she's in obstetrics somewhere, not sure detail of her job, and that was her exact situation.

Mine was completely emotional blackmail and used purely because I have had a previous full term loss, and that was the reasoning to not let me go full term again.

The consultant in question in the same appointment refused to discuss a vbac bar the risks, did not give me a vbac leaflet, said a section would be safer despite NICE guidelines, and didn't discuss the cons of a section. He also wrote in my notes I had had 2 previous sections (untrue) and that I had agreed to an elective at 36/38 weeks.

I appreciate this is rare and extreme, but it is HCPS like him that lend credence to the concept of birth being over medicalised, and lead to distrust of HCPS in general.

My midwife (121 midwives) is the opposite, very honest, very positive, and if at any point she said we should consider a section, I would accept that hands down as I trust her and know she is doing everything in her power to get me a vbac.

Sorry for your loss dino

Perhaps I am just unlucky with my trust/consultants.

With DC2 after losing DC1, they induced me at 36+3. There was nothing wrong with him whatsoever, it was purely due to my stillbirth. They also neglected to tell me that if induction failed, it was an automatic section.

I feel that none of this was necessary, and had I been allowed to go to 39 weeks, I would have had a better chance of the induction working or even going into labour naturally, as I did with DD.

You have to remember that on the whole drs (especially anaesthetists) will only be involved in higher risks labours that are not going to plan. Speak to a midwife who has assisted in lots of normal vaginal births and I bet they will be less likely to push for a lscs.

Read the thread, Marnie.

Would you like to tell Hic that she has never seen a normal birth?

I wish I'd had that advice when having DS. I had a horrendously long labour with all sorts of complications but luckily we were both ok.

When I was expecting DD the consultant (different hospital) gave me a talk rather similar to the one your friend gave you as he said he would not be responsible for another birth like the first as both DS and I were at risk of serious harm for a considerable time

I never said they drs don't see normal births.

To the posters who've suffered loss and are posting here - I'm sorry for what you've been for. For those picking and squabbling over details and bring unkind to each other - get a grip and some perspective

What you've been through, I meant

Marnierose - re "I never said they drs don't see normal births"

Yes, you did.

Marnierose Fri 20-Jun-14 23:24:34
You have to remember that on the whole drs (especially anaesthetists) will only be involved in higher risks labours that are not going to plan.