Is it too late for me to find another Doctor? I am 36 weeks pregnant.?

Question

This is a post I put up the other day about my problem with my Doctor.




I am having a scheduled cesarean and my Dr's office just called me and left a message on my phone telling me the time and date of the procedure and she said I would need to go to the hospital a day before to have some pretesting done. I am healthy and have had no problems during this pregnancy. This will be my fourth c-section and I have never had to do any pretesting before, so I have no idea what that means.

Also my Doctor said before my surgery she will have me sign a paper saying that if she can't control bleeding i will consent to having a hysterectomy. Is this normal? I really don't want to have one. How common is this?

I plan on talking with her next Wednesday. What if she tells me she won't do the c-section without me signing the consent for the hysterectomy? Should I change doctor's or go with the flow? This dr. has been pressuring me to get my tubes tied she says becuse of repeat c-sections.

I am 29 yrs.old and this Doctor delivered my last child.

Answer 1

it is NEVER too late to change doctors. There are so many situations where your actual doctor doesn't deliver your baby anyway, so if you are uncomfortable about what she is having you sign, then you should check out your other options. I would really have her clarify what exactly she is having you sign and what it means. If it's not something you want and she is not able to help you feel comfortable about signing then I would find another doctor. Don't be bullied or pressured into doing something that you don't want done..it is your life and your body. Believe me, it is a "business" to your doctor first...so you need to look out for yourself.

Answer 2

The pretest lab work I wouldn't worry about - normally it's the hospital thing - they might have changed there policies since the last time. I'm a L/D Nurse and at my hospital we do not do pretesting the day before, but it would be nice, when the pt gets there we are rushing around and fighting with the laboratory to get the lab work back in time to get the pt in the OR by the time the doctor is there and ready - some hospitals just do scheduled pretesting to prevent that from being an issue.

Do you want to have any more kids?? I understand your fears about the Hystorectomy and I understand why the doctor wants you to sign it and/or get your tubes tied. with 4 C-sections you are at a high risk for a large amount of bleeding. You can refuse the Hystorectomy paperwork but know that if you get into the c-section, and you do bleed and bleed and they can't stop it they will take it anyway because if it gets to a certain point the doctor has 2 choices - let you bleed to death, or take your uterus... As far as the tubal goes, you don't HAVE to do that either...I have seen and heard of OB's who will refuse to take care of a pt after X # of c-sections and they don't want their tubes tied. It's a liability - they don't want to be responsible if something horrible happens to you during your next pregnancy or C-section.

As far as your question goes - you might be able to find a doctor that will take you at 36 weeks but the chances are slim. People will say that doctors can't refuse you as a pt, well yes the can, it's their liscence and if they see you as a liability then they can say no. Now you have a better chance finding one being that you have had prenatal care and can have records transfered, the biggest thing they don't like is a whole 9 months of not knowing ANYTHING about you, your baby and your risks. However, if you showed up on the doorstep of a hospital that was not the one your doctor is at and you were in labor the On Call OB has to take care of you, that they do not get a choice on, they will do your c-section, and again the same things would happen - they would have to do a hystorectomy if you bleed too much, and they would ASK you if you want your tubes tied (you can so no to the tubes...).

Answer 3

the more surgeries you have on the same area, the greater the chances of having complications. there's lots of scar tissue from the previous c-sections. the more scar tissue, the more chances of uncontrolled bleeding (thus the reason for wanting you to get your tubes tied as well) . if for some reason the dr couldn't control the bleeding, would you rather have them let you bleed to death?

as far as the pretesting, this might be a new policy of the hospital. the dr has to follow hospital procedures in order to be able to practice at that hospital.

at 36 weeks, you're going to have a hard time finding another dr, especially if you have to have a c-section, unless there's another dr in your doctors office. even then, they would probably have the same policies.

Answer 4

You absolutely have the right to find another doctor to take care of you. There is a link between multiple c/sec's and a "weakened" uterine wall (because of scarring) but she should not be pushing you to tie your tubes or consent to a hysterectomy.

That said, in any surgical procedure there is the chance of abnormal bleeding - and unfortunately surgeons sometimes do have to make choices with serious consequences in order to save a patient's life. She is probably wanting you to sign this consent so that she will not be liable in the event that she has to perform the hysterectomy in order to save your life.

Your present physician should have brought this up with you at the beginning of your pregnancy. I went in for my first prenatal visit a few weeks ago and my doctor brought up the surgery (I also had a c/sec with my first baby) and my options about birthing if I was planning on having more than one more child.

The pre-testing is probably some simple blood work - not unusual for a pre-surgical patient. Your doc or (more likely) the anesthesia department may just want more updated results for you. If you have been healthy through your pregnancy the blood work that they need may not have been drawn for quite awhile. Nothing to worry about!

When you go in for your talk with the doctor - ask her why this is just being brought up now. If she delivered your last child - why wasn't this discussed then (when you would have had the chance to deliver vaginally, thereby saving yourself from the dangers of scarring) - or earlier in this pregnancy.

Ask her to explain, specifically, why she feels that you should have a tubal ligation. Not just that you've have previous c/sec's but exactly why she feels this is necessary - do you have excess scarring, adhesions, or any other issues that she hasn't adressed in the past?

If you feel comfortable with her answers - ask her to write in(or do it yourself) on the hyster. consent that the procedure is to be done ONLY in event that it is necessary to save your life.

Being faced with the possibility of future infertility is a huge issue to be confronted with just before you are about to deliver. I'm sorry she didn't bring this up with you two pregnancies ago! You should have been given more information a long time ago about your options.

You should go into your surgery feeling absolutely confident that you are doing the right thing - with the right doctor. Positive mental attitude is vital to having a good experience!

Best wishes for a healthy delivery and baby! Good luck and feel free to contact me if you have any other questions!

Answer 5

It's really completely up to you whether or not you want to find another doctor. It's never too late. It's really a question of whether or not you're comfortable with that doctor. And in my opinion, there's really no difference between having a doctor who you love, who knows your history, who at the last minute can't deliver you bc he's in an emergency, so you get a doctor you've never met before vs. a new doctor now at 36 weeks that you end up feeling great about who can have time to get to know you case even though it's not as much time as your original doctor.
People tend to think that doctor's word is law, and yes, they are very educated, and usually get it right, but sometimes doctors' practices don't mesh with certain people. No blame in that, but no shame in finding another doc either. You have every right to get another one. Go with your gut. Just think of the worst case scenario. Say you're in labor, and something goes wrong, would you feel confident that your doctor now would do everything as if it was his own daughter/wife/sister laying on that table???? Something to think about!
Good luck, sweetie. Try not to be nervous. I know it's hard, but it'll be much better for your sanity if you do.

Answer 6

Hi, there must be complications for you that she wants to make sure she is covering before yo have your operation.

I would not change the doctor so late in pregnancy, but i would get a second opinion.

I am scheduled for my 2nd c-section in 2 weeks and i have not been told of anything like that, but i remember the doctor saying to me after 3 c-sections there can be complications. So that could be what they are monitoring with you.

Ask another doctor and get the second opinion. Age doesnt matter either.

All the best.

Answer 7

The pre testing is for anesthesia in case they would have to put you under. That's is all. That' no reason to change Dr'. Yes pre lab is normal.You will probably need a CBC,complete blood count. Now about pressure for you to have your tubes tied say NO.I am not going to. That consent for bleeding is for most surgeries. Yes,if you were to have complications she would rather save you than your out of
control bleeding whatever it is!!?

You seem not to really like her at all,so change? you have only said negative things,nothing good.. So,best change and hope you like the next one! You have to feel good about your Dr.

Answer 8

You need to discuss this with your doctor. I firmly believe that she has your best interest and your health in mind. If she is unable to control the bleeding, would you rather die or get a shotty transfusion? Come on, you have four children! Is adoption not an option if you want more children? Seriously, think about the kids you already have, the one you're about to have and your health. If you are uncomfortable with this decision, you should call other practices and see if they would take you on this late. I'm sure someone will see you at least for a consultation and help you out with a second opinion.

Answer 9

it truly is extremely a project you're in. notwithstanding that is unlawful, I do believe some medical doctors, etc... impose their very own evaluations on their consumers. If I had to wager, i might say her schedule could be in any different case for why you are able to desire to have your tubes tied; c-sections are no longer that great of a deal, are they? it truly is a intense suggestion for a doctor to make to a customer. IT sounds to me that she is the two an incompetent physician, or a disrespectful one---if she is making an attempt to tell you to have your tubes tied--and doubtless a hysterectomy?sturdy grief--- while not having a coronary heart to coronary heart communicate with you and looking out out what it extremely is truly helpful to do? i will't think of a vogue i might pick to maintain her enlisted interior the direction of the transport... no longer if i've got understood you wisely. different than for that... on account which you have a gathering scheduled... in line with threat you sense a could desire to maintain the assembly(?), yet once you think of she is leaning one way or the different then i might enable her understand this make you sense so uncomfortable (the two outstanding there on the spot or in a letter afterwards... which will help it sink in extra advantageous, for each guy or woman's extra advantageous interest) which you're no longer attracted to having this type of physician serve you any further. Is she announcing that a c-section is only too risky? Is it available on your durability, or your life oftentimes? Is it adequate which you will desire to forfeit your outstanding to have extra babies? except for some reason there's a bona-fide situation of hers....

Answer 10

Before you run off to a different doctor that will have no idea about your medical history and no relationship with you, you ought to ask the current doctor exactly why she is changing her requirements this time around.

My guess is that merely having multiple C-sections makes the possibility of bleeding out much more likely.

Maybe they are worried about your blood sugar and want to make sure you're okay going in for the surgery.

Or maybe there's something you're not telling us. Does you Doctor suspect you use drugs or drink alcohol? Is she worried that you will die on the table because you haven't been following her medical advice?

Finally... do you eally think you can just go to Wal-Mart, pick out a new doctor, and get a baby delivered with no questions asked? The new doctor will obtain your records from the old one, and will very likely require even more stringent rules before he/she will consent to even look at you.