Are female ob/gyns likely to trivialise labour pain because, well, they managed, or -- the opposite?

Question

Or -- not just labour pain, but pregnancy problems in general. Your experience?

Answer 1

My gyn never did that. She was awesome and very caring. If yours is that way, maybe you should try another one.

Answer 2

I had a female OB/gyn for my last daughter and males for my older 2 children... They were all very professional none of them talked down to me or trivialized anything...

Female ob/gyn's are often much more sensative because they know labor hurts and is uncomfortable.. My female ob/gyn offered more pain meds almost every 30 minutes while the males waited for me to ask for them... She kept saying "Are you sure you are ok? Cause I can give you something if you are not.."

She told me later that it is more difficult for her to deliver her own babied than other peoples... Because when she was in labor she was the one in control when she is the Dr. the patient is in control... LOL

She was a wonderful Dr. through out my pregnancy... Listening to my concerns answering my questions etc.

I live in a very small town and she even gave me a bit of an exam at the grocery store a few day before delivery.... I was having some pretty intense Braxton Hicks contractions, I was using some breathing to control them when she saw me and said "How far apart? Let's time them.. How long have you been having them? one a scale of 1-10 how bad are they? All in the produce section of the local store while her kids and mine were standing there...

I know people in the city can not identify with this as you don't often see your Dr. while shopping...

Answer 3

absolutely not. i have never experienced an female OB who won't take your problems seriously. I mean, these women took this job because they love it, and they are not going to screw around with you. in my experience, OB's want to know every little detail about everything. and they have been very honest about labor pain and any problems that can arise in pregnancy. they know it doesnt do anyone any good to sugarcoat things. even though one of my OB's had a super fast and easy delivery, she understands that she was very lucky and most women have to work a lot harder at it! if anything, that makes her more sympathetic to problems and pain.

of course i am sure there are a few docs out there like that... but i have seen 5 different OBs in my life for pregnancy, 3 women, 2 men, and they all treated me the same way. the only different i might have noticed was the women are a little more sensitive about weight gain!!

If you feel your OB is not doing the best job they can for you, or not being completely honest, you really should try a different one!

Answer 4

It really depends on the OB, if they had the ideal pregnancy & labor they will be more likely to do so. I have a high risk OB who is female, she had a horrid pregnancy & life threating labor so every little thing concerns her. If I am not feeling well she calls me a few times per day just to check up on me. I really like having the personal care. I did not like having a male OB w/ my 1st, I felt uncomfortable in some regards as well as felt he never understood some of the things or pains I would describe. The best is just to find someone you are comfortable with, I love my OB I wish she practiced gynocology too!

Answer 5

I've seen both. A female ob/gyn that thinks you can manage your pain without help and a male ob/gyn that is almost pushing the drugs on you. I prefer the male, atleast he doesn't try to make you feel guilty.

Answer 6

Female ob/gyns know what it's like, and in my experience, tend to be a lot more caring and sympathetic. Male docs are well-intentioned, but sometimes, they just haven't got a clue. I say stick with the women if you're dealing with women's health issues.

Answer 7

Since I've never used a male ob/gyn, I don't have any basis for comparison, but yes, I think that they can be not as sympathetic, especially if they had easy pregnancies.