Why are women no longer aloud to have an opinion when it comes to the delivery of their child?

Question

Okay, so I am 38 weeks along with 2nd child. First child was delivered by c-section because of failure to progress. Incision in my uterus is horizontal in lower section, with double sutures. I went to the doctor today to discuss delivery options, I understand the hospital policy- they do not allow v-bac's. The way I want my delivery to go is as follows. I want my body to go into labor so that the baby is telling me he is ready to come out, I would then go to the hospital and have a c-section. Keep in mind the risk of rupture is 1 in 1000 deliveries. I am not asking to be aloud to go into hard labor, just the early stages. Because of my birth plan my doctor has now refused me as a patient. So I guess the big question is... Am I being unreasonable.

Answer 1

You're not being unreasonable.

Given how common VBACs are getting, I'd start questioning the competence of the hospital...

How do they handle "emergency" caesarians, I wonder? Send people to a different hospital mid-emergency? If they can do them on an emergency basis, they can do one for you as described, I imagine.

If I were you, I'd start looking for a midwife -- with the knowledge that finding one so late on might be impossible, though. Call every obstetrician's office in town; ask what their attitudes towards VBAC are like, and book an appointment with the one most supportive of it. Even if you're still planning on a c-section when in labour, the attitudes about VBAC will probably be pretty telling, and useful for you.

Check out http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=134466
and Check out http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=134466

Your body, your baby. Doctors do NOT 'always know best.' Maybe it's best you found out you weren't at all compatible with your doctor before it was too late? I wish you the best of luck.

Answer 2

Your doctor should not refuse you as a patient unless you are refusing to budge on the birth plan. It will be really difficult to find another doctor willing to take you on this late in the game!
But you have to understand his reasoning, which will also be the reason you will find it difficult to get another doctor right now....liability.
An emergency c-section is a much more complicated, stressful, and risky procedure than one that is planned. There is not only not as much time to prep you, but there is the problem of booking the operating room, having all the staff and supplies on hand and available, and having YOUR doctor at the hospital in time to do it. What if you go into labor at 2 am? What if it's while he's in surgery with another patient? A scheduled c-section allows for a calm, prepared, and planned environment. There is no predicting how quickly your labor will progress, and my guess is that he's not willing to chance the fact that your labor may not go as smoothly as you think it will, not because of the rupture risk-because if anything happens to you or the baby because of something he risked or didn't plan for that's called malpractice.
You will be hard pressed to find a doctor willing to let you do this, especially one who has not been treating you all along. Anyone who takes you on now is taking a chance. My doctor dropped me at 32 weeks because I missed an appointment I had mistaken the date of, and therefore did not call to inform them I wasn't coming. It took me several weeks to find and book an appt with another doctor that was willing to accept me as a patient that far along.
If this is truly what you wanted, you should have discussed it with him in your first few visits, so that you could have had time to find another if you weren't happy with the answer. THe fact that you are springing this on him 2 weeks before your due date probably makes him not take it seriously as well-he's not going to take such a risk on something he thinks may be just a whim. GOing into labor on your own isn't important, and once you have the baby you won't remember this disagreement anyway. It's not a big deal, you are far enough along that the baby will be plenty "ready" and just fine.

Answer 3

Well, no, you are not being unreasonable. You are being a mother and a woman who knows what she wants.

That said, lets look at this from a few different angles. From a medical standpoint, it is a risk to let you go into labor on your own. Who is to say that you wont hit labor fast and furious and be crowning within an hour of your first contraction? (I know that is very Hollywood and every woman's dream but hey, we can wish can't we? And it does happen to some second time moms) 1 in 1000 does not sound like a lot but really-those odds are really a risk.

Now, from your OB's standpoint- If he or she were to let you do this, and your uterus ruptured while you were having mild contractions and you or your baby bleed to death or suffer sever shock they not only loose a patient (which is very hard on OBs as I am sure you can understand) but it puts them and the hospital they are affiliated with at a huge malpractice lawsuit.

Birth is a beautiful, natural thing that I believe woman should be in control of. However, it is highly unpredictable and thanks to medical advances its much safer to have a baby. Your doctor has your best interests as well as the babies in mind. I am sorry that it sounds like your birth plan wont work out for you, but you and your baby happy and healthy at the end are all that really matter. Best wishes and good luck!

Answer 4

I see what u are saying and why u want things to go the way u said. u want YOUR body to say "ok im ready to have this baby". Then u want to be rushed to the hospital like u were having a vaginal except u will have a c-section. right? I dont see what is wrong with that. U are ok with having a c-section right? or are u still pushing the vaginal birth plan? I think ur doctor is just being stubburn and useing protecting his self from a law suit as an excuse. He wants to pick a date so it is agreeing with his scedule and because u dont want to go by dates and go with what ur body says, he drops u as a patient. That is stupid. A lazy mans way out. the only thing i dont understand is how does he know the date he chooses will work out? U could easily go into labor NOW and his date wont work out anyway. Im sorry u are having to go through all this crap expecially being so close to ur due date. Ur doc dont deserve the honor of delivering ur child anyway with the aditude he has. Thank God he did what he did. I say find another Doc asap and since u are so close to delivery, someone will have to deliver the baby even if u have to go to another hospital. u will be fine. Im sure of it. GOD BLESS YOU honey.

Answer 5

No you are not being unreasonable your doctor is,I have known many women who have delivered naturally after a c-section, more than once. A physician or nurse in any hospital can not do anything you do not want them to do,read the paperwork.My daughter went into premature labor 3 weeks ago, they used a catheter that was put in wrong by the way,she made them take it out and used a bedpan.you have every say over your body in the hospital,do not let anyone tell you any different,as for the man that calls himself a doctor, he has no bedside manner and is out for the easy delivery and cash in his pocket.I had a Doctor like that when I was 7 and a half months with my youngest daughter,,,,,I got a new doctor.

Answer 6

I am sure that the doctor has your health and that of your baby in mind. Given the fact that the US is a sue-happy nation I am sure that he is also trying to cover his ***. I would say that you are being a bit unreasonable because you are likely to hit hard labor much faster than you did last time as this is your second pregnancy. Not too mention that you have had 9 months to seek out a doctor/hospital that would allow you to deliver via VBAC. The most important thing is a healthy baby no matter how it gets here.

Answer 7

I had a c-section with my 1st because she was big and breech.
My doctor with my second said there is a 88% chance of a perfectly normal vaginal delivery with a v-bac for this reason.
He was SO right !!
Labor and delivery went very well, with only 10-15 minutes of pushing !!
If I had it all to do over again I would choose the vaginal delivery any day.

Answer 8

They like to schedule the c-sections because they are surgery and that way they can be fully prepared to ensure that your baby has the safest delivery possible. Plus, it's much more convenient for the doctor. This may not be the best solution for you however, and since it's your baby you should do it the way you want to, but you may have to find another doctor or hospital who will work with you.

Answer 9

surely my 37 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous sister is at present looking into this herself. you understand easily, as I surely have spoken together with her further and extra approximately it I surely have become okay with it. i think of that one would desire to argue that even nonetheless 2 mum and dad are suited and we would desire to continually all attempt to offer little ones the prospect of the two a mom and a father, the certainty is that it would not continually take place. If my sister grew to become into 20 - 30 or whilst much as 34 and prepared to do this of direction which would be a distinctive tale. yet at age 37 (virtually 38) whether she did meet a guy now, via the time they have been given to renowned one yet another and desperate they have been waiting to have little ones mutually, she could be nearing an age that it may instruct perplexing and doubtlessly volatile to her well being, to no longer point out the bigger photograph of bigger danger of DS etc. So the way I see it is that once identifying directly to boost right into a determine, no rely if single, by way of IVF, as a pair, no rely how, we would desire to continually merely attempt to do our superb in our very own specific circumstances. My destiny niece/nephew that my sister would have could have a great loving mom and many cousins and aunties and uncles to like it. it extremely is alot better than some undesirable little ones get.

Answer 10

That is completely reasonable....and safer. One big pitfall to having a scheduled C-section in the risk of taking a baby too early, as you obviously understand.

Something to keep in mind, a hospital can not deny you treatment if you are in labor. Nor can a doctor force you to have surgery.