Which hospital?

• 04-21-2009 4:48 PM

  In reply to

  Cookiethief2 Joined on 12-18-2006 #1 5/17/06 #2 6/11/07 #3 12/18/09 Posts 977

  Re: Which hospital? Reply Contact I want to add that I had a physician drop me at around 30-ish weeks BECAUSE OF my birth plan.  I was aiming for an all natural childbirth, so I took my rough draft birth plan to an appointment with the intention of discussing it with the NP.  She took it from me, glanced over it, said it should be fine, but would talk to the doctor about it.  I took it in with me, with the intention of finding out what their policy was, if they knew any of the hospital policies, so that I could semi-tailor it.  She took it, and before my appointment 4 weeks later, I received a certified letter(requiring me to sign for it) stating that because of my birth plan, which was completely incapable of being followed, they were requiring me to find another OB.  I called the office, spoke to the NP and told her that I was NOT finished with it, I was just wanting them to look it over/make notes per policy and give it back to me.  She said that's what she took it to him, prefacing it with what I wanted, but apparently, he saw it and flipped out.  I went in to sign a medical release form, demanded that they have my records ready to hand to me when I signed the form.  I went in and saw the doctor standing at the bench, asked to see him, and they said NO. My husband got angry and said, "He's standing RIGHT THERE. Let me talk to him." they said no, the doctor looked at us, turned around, and left.  I was completely disheartened. I trashed my birth plan and ended up having a c-section with another physician because my baby was breech and the doc fed me a line about how my fluid was low. Instead of suggesting that I go home, drink alot of water, and come back next week, he convinced me that there was no hope for a vaginal birth, so my daughter was born via c-section.  My first was 4 months old when I found out I was pregnant with my second child.  I went in and around week 16-ish discussed a VBAC with my OB. He said that I would have to have an IUPC, which would tie me to the bed, and I would not be able to walk. I tried to compromise with the IUPC only if I had an epi and he said that if I refused the IUPC, I would not even be offered a VBAC. I wonder if they would have drugged me, dragged me into the OR, and done a csection on me anyway. heh...I switched providers immediately.  My second child, was born 11 days overdue, with a weight of 8lbs 12 ounces with no epidural.  I did have IV meds and a cervical gel to numb me, but while I did have my VBAC and I am thrilled about it, it did not go the way I wish that it had because they did an AROM, which had I been thinking, I would have refused and plan to with this child due in December.  To the nurse's credit, they did convince me that I didn't need the Epi, even when I was 8cm and begged for one. She said, "You've only got 2 more cm's to go! You're almost there. You don't need it!"  She knew I didn't want the epi and gave me that bit of confidence that it would be okay.

• 04-22-2009 1:21 PM

  In reply to

  Mom~of~Munchkins Joined on 09-14-2005 Posts 236

  Re: Which hospital? Reply Contact I'm so sorry to everyone who has experienced such emotional trauma in a birth setting.  Its terrible, but way more people experience this than we know.  The ones of us that complain so damn much about it probably have a deep desire for control over the process and quite a bit of education under our belt in the area of birth.  Note:  I said, "birth," not "labor and delivery." lncooper:  That is some amazing information.  The effects of cascading interventions are obvious.  Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if obstetrics and midwifery could actually work together???  Midwives are trained to spot the cases they can't handle, which is why their rates are so amazing.  Physicians are great at the births that they should be handling.  I know there are great L&D nurses out there.  I had one for my second child.  She was by my side so much of the time.  She got me birthing ball, squatting bar, had me on hands & knees, massaged my back, encouraged me every step of the way.  Funny thing?  She was finishing her MSN to then go to midwifery school.  She's the only really attentive, caring, respectful RN I have ever had during any of my labors.  My first baby, I had two very miserable old women for my nurses (at a major metropolitan hospital, btw).  One was in her 50s and barked orders at me all the time.  After several hours of pit contractions, I asked for something to take the edge off.  She told me "tough cookie."  That I had to wait for the epidural.  She came in about an hour later and said the doctor approved Stadol, but that I would regret getting it, with a really sour tone.  The second nurse came in after my epidural failed (after just 15 minutes) and I began to panic.  The pain was terrible (that birth almost ended in cesarean, btw) and I just freaked out.  I wasn't flailing in bed or anything.  I was crying and begging for help, though.  LOL  She said, "Calm down child!  All this is rediculous!  Its not THAT bad!"  Yup.  Fantastic experience.  Actually, until I became a little more educated on the process, I had no idea what had happened to me and why.  Now, I understand every step that was taken by both my physician and my nurses...except, of course, the ridicule and condescension.  And I already discussed what I got from the nurses in my 3rd birth.  Its such a difficult position to be in as an L&D nurse, though.  Maternity services are the most profitable services that the hospital provides.  Unfortunately, you guys are front and center of the hospital's practice to push women through like cattle, especially nowadays.  You guys are overextended and understaffed and its gotta be a miserable place to be, sometimes.  And doctors participate in this.  Their malpractice is SO high that they end up taking on more patients than they can reasonably offer attentive care for in a birth setting, which is the reason for scheduling and many time-saving augmentation techniques.  With my 2nd birth, my doctor had 4 women (his own patients) delivering in the same 12 hr period...ON A SUNDAY!! There is such a conflict of interest, anymore, between patient and obstetrician.  Who knows how this will ever resolve itself.  I just wish that OBs and midwives could mutually respect each other and work together...like general practitioner and specialist.  Does that make sense?  If the GP can't handle the situation, he/she should pass it on to the specialist.  If the specialist sees a patient that a GP can handle, he/she should refer them back to a GP.  Obviously, the OB would not refer someone to a homebirthing midwife, but why not a nurse midwife?  Just seems logical to me.

• 04-23-2009 3:10 PM

  In reply to

  NoLongerDesolate Joined on 02-23-2005 North LA Posts 527

  Re: Which hospital? Reply Contact Mom~of~Munchkins: I'm so sorry to everyone who has experienced such emotional trauma in a birth setting.  Its terrible, but way more people experience this than we know.  ; That is a VERY TRUE statement. I think that is why the trend is arising to use midwives. I just want to add that, despite the horrible stories that scare the crap out of us, a peaceful hospital birth IS possible. I have experienced it. So for those of you like me that have no choice but to use a hospital don't freak out!