Doctors Pushing C-Sections

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Replies

  • rossi02
    rossi02 Posts: 549 Member
    wow see to me that is an unneccesary scare tactic. Now i don't know the reason for your wife's first c-section but I had a c-section at 32 weeks with my first child because of pre-eclampsia. When I got pregnant with my second I went into my very first appointment adament that I was not going to have another c-section. Luckily I have a very supportive doctor on VBACs and I was able to deliver my second child after 12 hours of labor with no complications with the VBAC. Recovery was SO much easier than the c-section.

    I don't know.. I think it depends on why she had to have the emergency c-section.. then also, how long it's been between pregnancies. So I don't see this as an unneccesary scare tactic. I see this as a valid reason versus "you are too small to deliever a baby that may be larger than average".
  • johnlatv
    johnlatv Posts: 654 Member
    wow see to me that is an unneccesary scare tactic. Now i don't know the reason for your wife's first c-section but I had a c-section at 32 weeks with my first child because of pre-eclampsia. When I got pregnant with my second I went into my very first appointment adament that I was not going to have another c-section. Luckily I have a very supportive doctor on VBACs and I was able to deliver my second child after 12 hours of labor with no complications with the VBAC. Recovery was SO much easier than the c-section.

    I don't know.. I think it depends on why she had to have the emergency c-section.. then also, how long it's been between pregnancies. So I don't see this as an unneccesary scare tactic. I see this as a valid reason versus "you are too small to deliever a baby that may be larger than average".

    she had the c-section due to the baby's HR was low. Not being a doctor or a woman i don't see how the first baby really has anything to do with the 2nd baby. Oh well, most important we have a healthy baby, and hope it's a boy. We still don't have a name yet, boy or girl. I started the baby name thread, but let's not high jack this thread with baby names.
  • carlafinley
    carlafinley Posts: 11 Member
    I was booked to have c-section with my first as doctor said he was big said he would be 10lb+ and said i was to small but went into labour 2 week early and had natural birth 8lb 14oz, second and third babies both natural home births although third baby they wanted me to have in hospital because off the size off second baby 9lb 8oz but wasn't going to give me a c-section and was happy for me to go 14 days over due date so baby could get fatter! Third was 9lb 5oz
  • Tell your friend that it doesn't matter what kind of insurance she is on, they cannot make her have her baby a certain way. It sounds more to me that the doctor has made plans for that week and doesn't want to cancel them because a woman is having a baby.
  • lukeout007
    lukeout007 Posts: 1,237 Member
    I think it has a lot to do with malpractice insurance rates and the fear of getting sued in countries that are known for being law suit happy. There are many benefits to vaginal births but when thing go wrong they can go very wrong. Surgery (c-sectiosn) does have risks but overall is a more controlled situation (just my opinion)

    Tell that to my wife who had to have an emergency c-section. Our doctor wasn't in that day so a different doc did it and nearly killed her. He left her bleeding internally and decided to just give her a blood transfusion (hmmm...water should fix a leaky hose right!). They sent her home and she nearly bled to death. We spent a second week in the hospital while she went through yet another surgery to correct what he messed up (which was done by OUR doctor).

    The point is no matter how you deliver there are risks either way. My wife wanted another c-section because we were told there is risk of rupturing her scar (which was already cut into a second time) and that if this happens she could bleed to death. We then found out that she had placenta previa and it was her only option.
  • ladybg81
    ladybg81 Posts: 1,553 Member
    I agree that a lot of dr's are pushing this too. My dr told me on my first appt that she did not care about my "birthing plan" that it was her job to get the baby here safe and she'll do whatever she has to do to make that happen. She also told me not to come in *****ing and complaining at the end about being "tired" of being pregnant; I should have thought about that before hand. LOVE HER!!!!

    Tall women usually have a much easier time with pregnancy, labor and delivery. My son was measured at 8 pounds a month or so before delivery and he weight 7-10 so yeah, they are no where close to being accurate. If the friend is not comfortable with HAVING to have a C-section, I'd be running to another dr or tell her dr no, period.
  • doorki
    doorki Posts: 2,576 Member
    Both of our children were natural but long (30+ each) deliveries. During the entire time, the doctor was fighting off the nurses who were the ones pushing for the C-sections. This is because when the nurses scrub in on a C-section, their name goes to the bottom of the patient list and they get a rest. That was according to our doctor.

    In hindsight, both my wife and I agree that we should have had a c-section with our second child due to the rough delivery and his size. Coupled with the fact that my wife's recovery exceeded the normal recovery time of a C-section.
  • couponfun
    couponfun Posts: 714 Member
    *sigh*

    I was in labor for 21 hours with my daughter. My idiot doctor didn't tell me I was supposed to have a 36 wk ultrasound. If I had they would've seen that my daughter's head was too big for my hips. She got stuck. I mean LITERALLY stuck. They tried to suction her 3 times to the point that her head was misshaped. Then they figured out that every time I pushed I was choking her between that and the cord. So they wheeled me in to the emergency room. The operative report said she was lodged in" pelvic opening", surgeon pulled on her from the top while nurse pushed her from the bottom, and they did it so hard they broke my hips. She was pretty much blue. So the hog-wash that size isn't an excuse? If I'd stuck to my "I don't want a C-section" plan my daughter would've died. Oh and she was all of 6.5 lbs, 20 1/2". So when my son was estimated at 7.5 lbs, 22" and a very wide head, the new doc said, "C-section".

    I know some of you put the half-hearted caveat about "well if it's an emergency"...but then the rest of the comments? Still make some of us feel like we somehow failed at it. Same with breastfeeding. God didn't have that in the cards for me. Doesn't mean I didn't try, and doesn't make me any less of a mother.
  • weighlossforbaby
    weighlossforbaby Posts: 847 Member
    I will have to have a C-Section when I get pregnant in the future cause I have a shunt so pushing will cause the shunt to disconnect and that is why.
  • my wife is scheduled for a c-section July 2nd, so i won't be logging in. Anyway, our first baby was an emergency c-section. So with this one, they said you could go natural or c-section, so she wanted to go natural. Just a few weeks ago, she went to the doc (same doc who preformed her c-section) said she would suggest another c-section in case you rupture the scar or any thing like that. in fact she said "if i was you i would get a c-section" needless to say my wife is getting the c-section.
    My doctor also gave me the option of c-section or natural with my second. I was already wanting to try for a VBAC anyways so I was happy that she was going to be supportive of my decision. Well, fast forward to two weeks before my due date and she is telling me I should schedule a c-section in case the baby (also didn't know the sex or have a name) didn't arrive before my due date. I was kind of ticked because you don't ask a pregnant lady two weeks before her due date if she just would rather schedule a c-section. Anyways, I did decline the offer and was able to have my VBAC with a baby boy weighing in at 9lbs and 9 ozs and 21 1/4" :) Anyways, in the end it was MY (and my husband of course) decision and that seems that you and your wife have also made your decision and that is all that matters plus a healthy mom and baby :) In conclusion, I wish doctors wouldn't act like they are really supportive of your decision and then change things up two weeks before your due date.
  • Vodkha
    Vodkha Posts: 352 Member
    There are a couple of documentaries about this topic on Netflix, basically saying that it is more convenient and insurance makes more money off of c-sections...
  • BAMFMeredith
    BAMFMeredith Posts: 2,810 Member
    *sigh*

    I was in labor for 21 hours with my daughter. My idiot doctor didn't tell me I was supposed to have a 36 wk ultrasound. If I had they would've seen that my daughter's head was too big for my hips. She got stuck. I mean LITERALLY stuck. They tried to suction her 3 times to the point that her head was misshaped. Then they figured out that every time I pushed I was choking her between that and the cord. So they wheeled me in to the emergency room. The operative report said she was lodged in" pelvic opening", surgeon pulled on her from the top while nurse pushed her from the bottom, and they did it so hard they broke my hips. She was pretty much blue. So the hog-wash that size isn't an excuse? If I'd stuck to my "I don't want a C-section" plan my daughter would've died. Oh and she was all of 6.5 lbs, 20 1/2". So when my son was estimated at 7.5 lbs, 22" and a very wide head, the new doc said, "C-section".

    I know some of you put the half-hearted caveat about "well if it's an emergency"...but then the rest of the comments? Still make some of us feel like we somehow failed at it. Same with breastfeeding. God didn't have that in the cards for me. Doesn't mean I didn't try, and doesn't make me any less of a mother.

    I feel like the size thing is used as an excuse a LOT, but more like "well you're really petite and you might have a 9lb baby, so you have to have a c-section." Your case was because the doctor did NOT do his job by appropriately doing an ultra-sound to find out how large your baby's head was. And I can't believe they actually urged you to keep pushing after suctioning 3 times didn't work---I mean at that point I think an emergency c-section would have been the correct decision. There is ALWAYS going to be an exception to everything, but I think doctors use the size thing all too often just to get a woman to agree to a c-section she doesn't want. There are plenty of legitimate reasons for c-sections, and honestly, I'd have gone for a c-section in the future if I were you regardless of size or anything, simply because that's a pretty traumatic experience.

    Definitely nothing on you, we all want the same thing: healthy kids. It's doctors who are the ones cutting corners to pad their wallets and make their jobs more convenient.
  • lukeout007
    lukeout007 Posts: 1,237 Member
    *sigh*

    I was in labor for 21 hours with my daughter. My idiot doctor didn't tell me I was supposed to have a 36 wk ultrasound. If I had they would've seen that my daughter's head was too big for my hips. She got stuck. I mean LITERALLY stuck. They tried to suction her 3 times to the point that her head was misshaped. Then they figured out that every time I pushed I was choking her between that and the cord. So they wheeled me in to the emergency room. The operative report said she was lodged in" pelvic opening", surgeon pulled on her from the top while nurse pushed her from the bottom, and they did it so hard they broke my hips. She was pretty much blue. So the hog-wash that size isn't an excuse? If I'd stuck to my "I don't want a C-section" plan my daughter would've died. Oh and she was all of 6.5 lbs, 20 1/2". So when my son was estimated at 7.5 lbs, 22" and a very wide head, the new doc said, "C-section".

    I know some of you put the half-hearted caveat about "well if it's an emergency"...but then the rest of the comments? Still make some of us feel like we somehow failed at it. Same with breastfeeding. God didn't have that in the cards for me. Doesn't mean I didn't try, and doesn't make me any less of a mother.

    My wife wasn't able to breast feed either. We'll see if she's able to this time around but I don't think there's anything wrong with having a c-section or formula feeding. Yes it would be ideal to avoid both...but sometimes that's not possible.
  • I had a 9lb 2oz baby, no C section! Guess what... Im still Alive!!! Ive known women to have 12 and 13 pound babies!!!!
  • monroe61
    monroe61 Posts: 620 Member
    I had my first child natural 9lbs 3oz and almost a full 24 hours of labor and pushing...ugh!!

    2nd child was breech, butt first bent in half with head on the right and feet on the left!! LOL scheduled a c-section for him! It was nice being able to plan it and be more prepared and the delivery was so quick it was odd and my recovery was actually a lot quicker then with my natural birth. I think it depends on the person.

    Now I would never choose another c-section unless it was medically necessary because my son ingested a lot of fluid on the way out and he ended up in the NICU for a week after that. Which normally doesn't happen with natural birth because the pushing of the baby usually helps force all that extra "gunk" out of the baby. Anyway it is your friend's decision either way and you may not agree but you should be supportive because she is going to need you now more than ever!!

    Congrats to her by the way also :)
  • jnh17
    jnh17 Posts: 838 Member
    Obviously she doesn't *want* to talk to her dr about it because she wants a c-section. I told my doctor right off the bat that I didn't want one so we went through his policies of when he would perform one. His position on big babies is if it is over 10lbs, c-section. I did question this because I'm 5'11 and me having a 10lb baby isn't the same as someone that is 5'2 having one. Also, ,like the OP said, ultrasound measurements are never right.

    My first child was 9lbs 3 oz. I pushed for maybe 10 minutes and was able to run on the treadmill in 10 days. Big (as in tall) women are going to have big babies -- but they're made for it.
  • rossi02
    rossi02 Posts: 549 Member
    *sigh*

    I was in labor for 21 hours with my daughter. My idiot doctor didn't tell me I was supposed to have a 36 wk ultrasound. If I had they would've seen that my daughter's head was too big for my hips. She got stuck. I mean LITERALLY stuck. They tried to suction her 3 times to the point that her head was misshaped. Then they figured out that every time I pushed I was choking her between that and the cord. So they wheeled me in to the emergency room. The operative report said she was lodged in" pelvic opening", surgeon pulled on her from the top while nurse pushed her from the bottom, and they did it so hard they broke my hips. She was pretty much blue. So the hog-wash that size isn't an excuse? If I'd stuck to my "I don't want a C-section" plan my daughter would've died. Oh and she was all of 6.5 lbs, 20 1/2". So when my son was estimated at 7.5 lbs, 22" and a very wide head, the new doc said, "C-section".

    I know some of you put the half-hearted caveat about "well if it's an emergency"...but then the rest of the comments? Still make some of us feel like we somehow failed at it. Same with breastfeeding. God didn't have that in the cards for me. Doesn't mean I didn't try, and doesn't make me any less of a mother.

    I feel like the size thing is used as an excuse a LOT, but more like "well you're really petite and you might have a 9lb baby, so you have to have a c-section." Your case was because the doctor did NOT do his job by appropriately doing an ultra-sound to find out how large your baby's head was. And I can't believe they actually urged you to keep pushing after suctioning 3 times didn't work---I mean at that point I think an emergency c-section would have been the correct decision. There is ALWAYS going to be an exception to everything, but I think doctors use the size thing all too often just to get a woman to agree to a c-section she doesn't want. There are plenty of legitimate reasons for c-sections, and honestly, I'd have gone for a c-section in the future if I were you regardless of size or anything, simply because that's a pretty traumatic experience.

    Definitely nothing on you, we all want the same thing: healthy kids. It's doctors who are the ones cutting corners to pad their wallets and make their jobs more convenient.

    I agree with this.. there was a medical need for the c-section. The goal of any pregnancy is to get the baby here and for the mom and baby to be healthy.

    **For me**, unless there is a medical need to do so (and your experience fits that) I would rather go the route with the least amount of interference. Being a new parent is hard enough, no need for anyone to feel judged for doing what is best for all involved in their situation at the time.
  • Foxypoo61287
    Foxypoo61287 Posts: 638 Member
    This may cause some backlash, but guess what oh well. Here we go.

    I got pregnant at 19. I decided that my child deserved better than I was going to be able to provide for them. So I placed for adoption. I ELECTED for a C-section. My Dr. tried to persuade me not to. I told him no. I was NOT going to go through labor & delivery and not be able to take this baby home. It was an emotional thing for me. I see my child twice a year. I do not have that BOND with him as I think I would have if I had a natural delivery. ( I am not saying that if you have a c-sect you do not have the same bond as a mother who delivers natural.) But I know that if I would have delivered natural, that I would have probably changed my mind.

    On that note, I got pregnant again when I was 23. This situation was completely different than before. I wanted to do a VBAC with my daughter. All the dr.s in my practice were telling me that I was going to have a C-sect with her. I said No, I do not want to, and they kept telling me that if ANYTHING changed in my daughters vitals they were rushing me to the OR. That scared me. I thought that if my daughters heart rate dropped, that AUTOMATICALLY I would be taken against my will & brought to the OR. Well I saw a Mid-wife about 4 weeks before my DD. And she told me that they were going to do EVERYTHING possible so I could do what I wanted. I would not have to have a C-sect if I did not want to. Well 5 days before my DD my water broke and 6 1/2 hrs later from the time my water broke I was hold an 8lb 3oz 22" long healthy baby girl. I plan on delivering that same way the next time I get pregnant.

    The doctors try to scare you into making you think that you have to do what they tell you. When you really don't.

    If you have netflix, watch Pregnant in America. Enjoy.
  • This is because when the nurses scrub in on a C-section, their name goes to the bottom of the patient list and they get a rest. That was according to our doctor.

    Your doctor is an asshat. Nurses get a rest in the OR? I DOUBT IT. Sounds like the nurses knew what they were talking about in the first place and he just didn't want to admit it. Common in the hospital.
  • rachaela06
    rachaela06 Posts: 167
    I was fortunate that both of my labor and deliveries went smoothly, were not long, and basically textbook. I was up and around immediately after giving birth. My second daughter was born in summer and a week later we were at an amusement park for the entire day. I felt great, and healed very well. I do feel like too many doctors and women opt for a scheduled c-section, when there is no medical need, just for convenience. There is no way I would have been up and walking miles if I would have done that.

    There is a time when c-sections are necessary, but to have one just because, is silly to me. I know more women who regret doing it that way, than not. They had a horrible time taking care of their babies because of the pain, the scar left after surgery just embarrasses them, and only one was truly an emergency. Medical science has come a long way, but doctors need to stop being selfish and some women need to stop fearing labor and delivery, it's not pleasant but that pain goes away.

    Honestly, the insurance companies don't want anyone in the hospital for any longer than necessary, I really question her saying its because of her insurance, state insurance or regular. It may be best to just accept her decision, as frustrating as it may be.
  • doorki
    doorki Posts: 2,576 Member
    This is because when the nurses scrub in on a C-section, their name goes to the bottom of the patient list and they get a rest. That was according to our doctor.

    Your doctor is an asshat. Nurses get a rest in the OR? I DOUBT IT. Sounds like the nurses knew what they were talking about in the first place and he just didn't want to admit it. Common in the hospital.

    Okay, lets read this. "When the nurses scrub in on a C-section, their name goes to the bottom of the patient list and they get a rest." This does not mean that they rest in the OR. My mother is an RN, I know they work damn hard but it is a fact that after nurses are in surgery, they are not immediately sent back with a new patient, they are rotated to the back of the assignment list and this provides the rest I was referencing.

    This was most prominent with my first child, which, while long went smoothly and my wife's doctor performed very well. My second child was the difficult one but we were in a different hospital where they did not push C-sections but we felt that in hindsight, it probably would have been better.
  • Captain_Tightpants
    Captain_Tightpants Posts: 2,215 Member
    I thought C sections avoided the whole "pushing" thing?

    Sorry, had to get that in there. I know it's a serious topic. Carry on...
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    They do it because natural childbirth has the potential for a lot of unforeseen complications, and they are afraid of the liability.
  • callmeBAM
    callmeBAM Posts: 445 Member
    ... she's on state healthcare ... they cannot legally force her to do anything

    Are you so sure about that??
  • AlyRoseNYC
    AlyRoseNYC Posts: 1,075 Member
    Yes the c-section rate in this country is alarming, at about 34%. The problem is that most pregnant women in America seek out OBs for prenatal care, which is a trained surgeon. OBs do not receive in-depth training on natural, low-rish childbrith in medical school. I am thankful we have them for emergency c-sections and high rish pregnancies, but IMO a midwife is the best choice for a normal low risk pregnancy.

    As for the scare tactic of a ruptured uterus during a VBAC atempt, the statistic for non-fatal rupture is 0.4% (last time I check, which was about a year ago.) You have a higher chance of getting hit by a bolt of lightning during a thunder storm.
  • cabaray
    cabaray Posts: 971 Member
    I was induced for both of my deliveries. I was induced 2 weeks early with the first. They felt like the baby was large and thought it would be best to delivery a little early than to wait and risk the possiblity of complications and a possible c-section. She was 9 lbs 1 oz and 22 inches long at two weeks early. I had some internal tearing which cause me to lose a liter of blood. The nurse should have called the doctor in sooner for an episotomy. As soon as that was done, one push and she was out. From the time they started the pitocin to delivery was 10 hours. With the second, they induced a week early because I was starting to have blood pressure issues. It was not pre-eclampsia, but my BP would periodically spike. She was 8 lbs 8 oz and delivery was 8 hours with no complications. I was fortunate in that my doctor believed that c-sections should be a last resort and that natural is the best. I agree that it sounds like perhaps your friend is wanting the c-section instead of a natural delivery. She's probably just scared of the pain of labor, not realizing that the pain of a c-section is worse and lasts longer. I have trouble believing that insurance is the reason she has to have a c-section. Maybe she feels that way because this is the only doctor that is covered under her insurance and he is telling her it's necessary. Either way, being supportive is all you really can do. Best of luck to your friend.
  • jetabear10
    jetabear10 Posts: 375 Member
    My birthing plan was to go natural without drugs.

    I ended up having a C-Section with both of my babies and I highly recommend it.

    For my 1st, they induced me and tried to go natural etc. but it was a no go....ended in a C-section.

    The next one was scheduled. I knew nothing was going to go wrong, had less stress and ended up not as exhausted as I was trying to have the 1st one. (3 days of back labour was not so enjoyable) I do not feel "ripped off" by not having a vaginal birth ~ I did still get to come home with a beautiful baby after all! My hubby is happier as my private area is still nice and tight too! (lol)

    Ultimately is the mom's choice. If you have a birth plan, they have to follow it. If the Doctor doesn't agree, simply get a new one and don't allow them to bully you.
  • patchesgizmo
    patchesgizmo Posts: 244 Member
    I am so outraged over doctors want to push c-sections so much! I know that c-sections have a time and place ( I had an emergency c-section at 32 weeks with my first child) but they have become so common place today it is ridiculous! The reason I bring this us is become my very best friend is expecting her first baby the first week of July and last week they did an ultrasound and measured the baby at approx. 8 lbs (which most of the time ultrasounds this late in the pregnancy are not very accurate in determining size and weight) and so they have pretty much scared my friend that she is going to have this huge 12 lb baby. Now she herself was a 10 lb baby and her brother was 10 lb baby so they genectics are there that this could be a big baby but my friend is 6'1" , so she is not a petite woman by any means. So basically they have told her she "HAS" to have a c-section on July 2nd and even if she goes into labor naturally before then she will "HAVE" to have a c-section because the baby will just be "too big" Total BS.

    What part of the country or world are you in? I know 23 years ago when I lived in Maryland they did an ultrasound and my baby was going to be 10lbs 4 oz and huge so they induced me early and that turned into c-section because they did not prep the cervix, she was only 9lbs. My second baby was born in MN and they allowed me to do vbac and he was 9lbs 8 oz and his head did not cone at all it was round when it came out at 14.75 inches circumference. The doc even said I could have managed a much bigger baby. No thank you very much, that was enough for me.

    Doctors are so afraid of being sued that c-sections are easier.
  • TylerJ76
    TylerJ76 Posts: 4,375 Member
    my wife is scheduled for a c-section July 2nd, so i won't be logging in. Anyway, our first baby was an emergency c-section. So with this one, they said you could go natural or c-section, so she wanted to go natural. Just a few weeks ago, she went to the doc (same doc who preformed her c-section) said she would suggest another c-section in cause you rupture the scare or any thing like that. in fact she said "if i was you i would get a c-section" needless to say my wife is getting the c-section.

    wow see to me that is an unneccesary scare tactic.

    Are you a Doctor?
  • jetabear10
    jetabear10 Posts: 375 Member
    I was induced for both of my deliveries. I was induced 2 weeks early with the first. They felt like the baby was large and thought it would be best to delivery a little early than to wait and risk the possiblity of complications and a possible c-section. She was 9 lbs 1 oz and 22 inches long at two weeks early. I had some internal tearing which cause me to lose a liter of blood. The nurse should have called the doctor in sooner for an episotomy. As soon as that was done, one push and she was out. From the time they started the pitocin to delivery was 10 hours. With the second, they induced a week early because I was starting to have blood pressure issues. It was not pre-eclampsia, but my BP would periodically spike. She was 8 lbs 8 oz and delivery was 8 hours with no complications. I was fortunate in that my doctor believed that c-sections should be a last resort and that natural is the best. I agree that it sounds like perhaps your friend is wanting the c-section instead of a natural delivery. She's probably just scared of the pain of labor, not realizing that the pain of a c-section is worse and lasts longer. I have trouble believing that insurance is the reason she has to have a c-section. Maybe she feels that way because this is the only doctor that is covered under her insurance and he is telling her it's necessary. Either way, being supportive is all you really can do. Best of luck to your friend.

    C-sections aren't painful. Do you speak from experience ~ I did see that you experienced quite a few complications from your natural birth? I have had 2 and had no pain at all (during or after) I would imagine that tearing your perineum would hurt a heck of a lot more than a neat even barely noticeable incision.