Friday, August 31, 2007

Fishing for Babies

Check out the story of this Birth I found on the internet! Breech delivery so easy, a shrimp boat captain can do it! But apparently a highly skilled OB can't- too much liability. Now that OBs are leaving obstetrics in droves (at least here in Missouri) for other career choices, perhaps they can add shrimping to the list, along with GYN only or cosmetic surgery.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am in awe. With two OB's in this office they have wondered about baby's position because they cannot feel the head down yet on my abdomen...as I am very fluffy and have a low anterior placenta. I've mentioned that if baby is breech (baby's not, sonograms show vertex) I have a well tested body and can deliver breech. They both reacted with silence for a moment. I got these responses... "Well, breech delivery is frowned upon now." "You are right, you'd be a great candidate for it. It's not done often though." Well, if my baby was breech, I would probably be searching seriously for someone to help me deliver that one (if in a good breech position and not transverse or something). I don't need c-section adhesions and the like!

It's too bad OB's aren't doing them very often as it seems good technique would be important to them. I'd love to see a comparison of the risk with NICU for breathing difficulties with scheduled breech c-sections that are done early, and all other risk factors like maternal infection and excessive bleeding in comparison with vaginal breech deliveries by skilled professionals.

Dawn

Anonymous said...

How bizarre, I was going to send you a link to this story!

I was particularly appalled by the part about how cutting the cord was, "cutting the baby from its mother". Umm, no, it's cutting the baby from that placenta. But whatever!!!!

LaborPayne said...

Dawn,
Your OBs are telling you they're going to cut you if your baby is breech.

Red Pomegranate said...

Priceless! I love it.

Anonymous said...

Yep, you're right, that's what they are saying. They stop eye contact with me when they say those things.

Hope you don't think I'm an idiot, going the OB route. It's just that women aren't really given much information early on (like as teens) and grow up and do what they think is right. My nurse step-mom took me to an OB for my first pap. I just thought going to an OB was what you did. Now, I am a bit nervous about switching up. I can talk the talk a little bit, get frustrated with an OB's lack of skill because they no longer allow breech birth, but I cannot do more than just not consent to the c-section, and then take the risk that my OB will not know how to deliver. What do you think the OB would do if I did refuse the c-section? Could they do something to force it? I know baby's not breech...I'm not a medical professional but I have had 6 babies in me at full term. I can tell the bottom and feet are near my breasts at the fundus. You already know my story here...so I think my options would be limited this late in the game.

LaborPayne said...

Dawn,
Our options are as pleniful or as limited as we think they are. The question is not what your OB is willing to do-its what are you willing to do, how far are you willing to go (figuritively and literally)in getting the birth you want. If your choices limit you- make another choice.

k.thedoula said...

Dawn, sadly on the ICAN list (you have to apply to become a part of it) many, many women are forced by emotional and legal things set forth by OB's ... I'm not so sure about where you live? I know that in some states they can over ride the family and say that the decision is medically necessary. I've beared witness to women pushing as they enter the emergency triage, knocked out and when awoken to 'you have a ____ and we do not allow vbac at this hospital'.
The brutal assault of women trying to avoid 'another cesarean' is insane... and finding midwives can be just as hard for them some days. Avoiding that first cut is paramount for future pregnancies.
I highly recommend going to a chiropractor... Webster Technique trained. Breech shouldn't be a problem with a few adjustments!
Please don't assume they will 'let you'. I've seen it one too many times with 'sure we can let you vbac/labour/have your baby here....
Sorry, feeling jaded today. =(
mom to three
c/s for turning breechish during labour
m/c
hbac
hbac

Anonymous said...

laborpayne and mm,
Thanks for the responses. I so far have a head down baby. I keep freaking the OB's out, they cannot tell this without a sonogram lately. I have an anterior placenta and I think they have a hard time feeling the head...my last baby stayed high up until I was well established in labor, and I think this one is the same. I feel that the baby is going to be just fine, I feel feet up at the fundus (that little pointy heel keeps getting me). I know I would not consent to a c-section without good reason...and would be very angry if I pushed and was taken into the room and put out. Grrr. I usually only push 1 to 3 times, so they'd really have to be very fast. Unfortunately, I do believe they are fast...

Dawn

Anonymous said...

So, what's the goal for women here? (please note this is not a sarcastic tone at all and a genuine question) I am a woman and birther, and have been heavily "OB'd." Rare hospital births? Saving OB's and hospital births for only critical cases and everyone using midwives? Educating women to make better choices? Getting medical professionals to listen to women and actually give them true informed consent and reducing unneccesary intervention? I'm just asking...to see.

Dawn

k.thedoula said...

To me... and this is completely just me! I think women should take more control over what happens to their bodies during birth. Most women seem to have no idea that they can decline certain procedures! When was the last time a doctor sat down and went over the risks for an elective c/s? On my blog (which isn't a pretty place, but it is my little ranting ground) I have a tag for "stupid people giving birth and stupid people giving birth advice". I mean it too.
Once a cesarean is NOT ALWAYS a cesarean!
That said. In the last two years I've been at a full uterine rupture (everyone is fine), a triumphant hbac... born witness to a placental abruption, a breech babe who REFUSED to budge no matter what, a 22 gestation birth.
Every single one of these women were fully informed. Ready to birth... all but one had midwifery care.
The difference was that they cared about their birth. They cared about who was attending them. It was wonderful and heartbreaking too!
Having women like Beckams wife, Britney Spears, Jenna Elfman... or even Trista Sutter(before her 'emergent' c/s).... talking about c/s's like there isn't a care in the world that make me so very sad!
Just last week a woman died after her first c/s, fifth baby.
DIED due to complications.
Ahem.... sorry Labourpayne I'm taking over here aren't I?
ahem...
I wish that women would 'know more' before those first contractions start.
My little point.
If an OB can't figure out how to deliver a breech babe... maybe we ought to allow shrimp boat captains in the hospitals! tee hee =)

LaborPayne said...

Dawn,
Thank you so much for asking the hard questions. (Thanks too mm for taking that question on) This is a question I have an ongoing struggle with answering. I have an internal tug of war going constantly and will answer your question as a post so everyone can add their thoughts.

Anonymous said...

Have you seen this

http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/CityRoom_Story.aspx?storyID=13176

Anonymous said...

Not that this will shock you, but today I had an NST (anterior placenta and screen positive for trisomy 18 with no amnio...so I get to hear heartbeats every week), and had to wait in the waiting room for a space since so many babies were born in the last 24 hours at OPRMC. 4 new grandparents with their first grandbaby were in the waiting room discussing the new baby they hadn't seen yet as mommy had a c-section and was nursing for the first time. One grandma began asking me questions, and shared that her daughter had a c-section after a 3 day failed induction. Her daughter had been due Sept. 14th, but they decided to get things going early. That's a week away, and they started 3 days ago, making it 10 days before the EDD. That means she could have gone at least until Sept. 28th and been quite typical for a first time mom. The grandma commented that her "body just wouldn't do it." Yeah, because the cervix wasn't even ripe yet, even I know this! I didn't have my firstborn until 3 days EDD, and my second was 3 days after my EDD. In fact, none of my babies has been 10 days before my EDD. If my OB pushed induction and I went for it that early, I wouldn't have been ready either and I've had 5 babies without a drop of medication. Ugh.

Blessings!
Dawn again, getting anxious as I have been having braxton hicks everywhere and need to CLEAN but have no nesting urge!

Anonymous said...

buy ativan lorazepam no prescription canada - ativan overdose in elderly