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TheDivineMrsM
2 girls 4 me!
Member since 8/08 7878 total posts
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Mama mama mama....
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Did anyone see this article? It's a little scary...
OBs fears of lawsuits affects our treatment
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Posted 6/15/12 8:16 AM  |
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Re: Did anyone see this article? It's a little scary...
This is really nothing new. These problems have been around for a long time. I think things like The Business of Being Born and such are just making people more and more aware. It's scary and sad!
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| Posted 6/15/12 8:24 AM |
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springsandra
Baby girl has a baby brother!
Member since 11/09 7155 total posts
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Sandra
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Re: Did anyone see this article? It's a little scary...
I read it from your fb feed before -- what made me uncomfortable about the article was the way it minimizes the number of women who have complications from vbacs (ruptures, hysterectomies, etc.) and those with the condition this woman had that caused her doctor to decide induction and ultimately a csection were necessary. If you're one of those women with those complications resulting in fetal death or hysterectomy, you wouldn't think that number is so small, and you would've wished your doctor took every measure possible to prevent it. I don't believe a lawsuit is ever a goal; it's the result of sadness and pain that no one knows how else to "fix" (even though money really can't, it's the only reparations and remedy that anyone's figured out to date).
It's so tough. They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but how do you know as it's happening? You just don't know until after. There's nothing you can do but trust your doctor.
I can read in this article how much pain this woman is in from her birth experience and I am sad about that. I know a lot of women who feel that way and wish it could be different. We all have our demons in this world, whether it's sadness over a birth experience, PPD following birth, regrets of what might have been, etc. For those lucky enough to bring home and raise a healthy baby, I think sometimes agonizing over what might have been hurts more than helps.
I guess I just don't see what is constructive about this article. It just makes everyone sad and worried. The best I can gain from it is that communication is key in advance so you can understand why something is happening as it happens. Education is never a bad thing.
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| Posted 6/15/12 8:58 AM |
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TheDivineMrsM
2 girls 4 me!
Member since 8/08 7878 total posts
Name:
Mama mama mama....
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Re: Did anyone see this article? It's a little scary...
Posted by springsandra
I read it from your fb feed before -- what made me uncomfortable about the article was the way it minimizes the number of women who have complications from vbacs (ruptures, hysterectomies, etc.) and those with the condition this woman had that caused her doctor to decide induction and ultimately a csection were necessary. If you're one of those women with those complications resulting in fetal death or hysterectomy, you wouldn't think that number is so small, and you would've wished your doctor took every measure possible to prevent it. I don't believe a lawsuit is ever a goal; it's the result of sadness and pain that no one knows how else to "fix" (even though money really can't, it's the only reparations and remedy that anyone's figured out to date).
It's so tough. They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but how do you know as it's happening? You just don't know until after. There's nothing you can do but trust your doctor.
I can read in this article how much pain this woman is in from her birth experience and I am sad about that. I know a lot of women who feel that way and wish it could be different. We all have our demons in this world, whether it's sadness over a birth experience, PPD following birth, regrets of what might have been, etc. For those lucky enough to bring home and raise a healthy baby, I think sometimes agonizing over what might have been hurts more than helps.
I guess I just don't see what is constructive about this article. It just makes everyone sad and worried. The best I can gain from it is that communication is key in advance so you can understand why something is happening as it happens. Education is never a bad thing.
I'm not trying to make anyone scared and worried, but I've seen too many people trust doctors implicitly, and frankly, that's wrong. MDs are not infallible. It's no shock to anyone that's ever received treatment that insurance companies have a huge say in the kind of care we get.
It is a small number at risk. Not all women should attempt VBAC. The ACOG suggests that 60-80% of women are candidates. Interested women should talk to multiple practitioners about their candidacy.
1% of women that attempt VBAC will suffer uterine rupture, and a small percentage of those (I think it's also 1%, but I'll have to confirm that with a link to different studies) will suffer major complications. The rates for uterine rupture in VBACs that were induced are slightly higher. Women that suffer rupture need to be in an OR within 30 minutes, 15 being the ideal for a safe mom, baby, and uterine preservation.
Yet no one wants to comment on the risks of multiple c-sections for mothers and babies. The potential for complications increases with each surgery. In the 90's, VBACs were significantly more common and have overwhelmingly positive outcomes. As insurance companies got more involved with healthcare, the numbers dropped significantly. Coincidence?
The rates of induction and c-section in this country are ridiculous. I can name several people for whom these procedures were a medical necessity. No doubt they can be a lifesaving practice. But they're overused. The c-section rate has more than since I've been born. (under 15% in 1980; 32.8 nationally today). Many hospitals on LI claim rates in the 40s. My sister is a PA in a top-notch hospital in NJ, and her hospital has a 30% induction rate. Is our entire generation defunct? Are we all suddenly unable to give birth? Or are other factors at work here?
We need to be educated consumers, for ourselves, and for our children.
Message edited 6/15/2012 12:19:03 PM.
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| Posted 6/15/12 12:13 PM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
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Re: Did anyone see this article? It's a little scary...
DH knows a great deal about legal issues and medical results (extreme tragedy at times  ) from childbirth gone wrong. He forbids me to ever go to a midwife or attempt a VBAC. I'm sure the risk is low but if you heard some of the stories it's just not one I'm willing to take.
Sadly the lawsuit happy nature of this Country forces the medical community to practice in a defensive manner much of the time. I think most practitioners are well meaning but have to follow policies.
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| Posted 6/15/12 12:26 PM |
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drwifettc
LIF Adult
Member since 6/10 2348 total posts
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Re: Did anyone see this article? It's a little scary...
Unfortunately, many doctors if not all practice medicine in a way that always keeps medical malpractice in mind. At times, perhaps this works out to our benefit, I know a few doctors that say they order much more extensive testing now than they used to, but by in large it's a negative. Many GREAT doctors stop practicing medicine in fields that are sue-happy (i.e. ob).
This is only going to effect us in the long term. I'd venture out to say it's going to only effect us negatively, too. In my opinion it's a sure bet if things don't change you won't be seeing doctors in a private practice anymore. Your OB and Ped will by employees of a hospital. It's simply too expensive to cover your own malpractice as a private physician.
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| Posted 6/15/12 12:35 PM |
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Bearcat
Love my little girls!!! <3
Member since 6/10 10818 total posts
Name:
E
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Re: Did anyone see this article? It's a little scary...
Well that scared the crap out of me. Instead of risking my life by having a repeat c/s, or risking my life by having a vbac, I just won't have another baby. Problem solved. 
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| Posted 6/15/12 1:33 PM |
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Disneygirl
Disney cruise bound!
Member since 5/05 8126 total posts
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D
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Re: Did anyone see this article? It's a little scary...
Posted by Sparrow
DH knows a great deal about legal issues and medical results (extreme tragedy at times ) from childbirth gone wrong. He forbids me to ever go to a midwife or attempt a VBAC. I'm sure the risk is low but if you heard some of the stories it's just not one I'm willing to take.
There is no one "safest" way. Working in this field I've seen pts take the most natural way and it in horribly, as well as the most "medical" way and it end horribly as well. It's all about knowing what women's bodies can do and when to intervene should a problem arise. I've seen many women thanking their doctor's for "saving" them and their babies lives when sometimes their emergent situation arrived due to the plan of care ordered by that doctor.
The best thing you can do is to educate yourself, ask lots of questions, do your research. I don't live in NY anymore but I've worked with many of the OB's that some posters have raved about but I know otherwise.
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| Posted 6/15/12 3:29 PM |
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Re: Did anyone see this article? It's a little scary...
I just want to add that although the doctors *are supposed* to have the mother's and baby's best interest in mind, they rarely ever consider the mother's emotional/psychological well being in having a traumatic birth experience such as a c-section based on what if's and maybes when her desire was for a vaginal birth. The bottom line is, if we weren't such a sue happy society, a lot of these issues could go away.
ETA: For the record if/when #2 is on the way I am going to just go squat in the woods and commune w/nature to give birth! 
Message edited 6/15/2012 9:28:58 PM.
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| Posted 6/15/12 9:27 PM |
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