When you ladies were giving birth?

Question

when you ladies were giving birth and through out your labor did the midwifes or docs do anything you didn't want them to, i mean do they ask to do something first or is they some things you have no say over ???

Answer 1

It depends what it is they neeed to do.

Normally they will explain to you what's going on and if appropriate will ask you what you want.

Sometimes they are forced to do things that the patient doesn't want them to but they do it to save a life.  Or even both lives.

I recall an experience where a woman was was very, very pro "natural childbirth" and wanted her husband to deliver the baby at home with just themselves, no medical professional present.  The woman ended up with placental abruption and went into shock, her distraught husband with blood all over him ran to a neighbour who immediately phoned for an ambulance and when the medics arrived, the woman STILL refused treatment.  She had to literally be restrained and taken to hospital against her will, where the doctors and midwives worked very hard to save her life.  Unfortunately her baby did not make it, yet she had the gall to sue the hospital for wrongful death!   She didn't seem to get it through her head that if she paramedics weren't called she would he dead herself, or if she had allowed a midwife or doctor to be present at the birth her baby would have had a very good chance of survival.   I know that's an extreme example but you have to be prepared for these things.

The best you can do is put together a birth plan that states what you want.  Ask the hospital, birthing centre or midwife attneding you what their normal procedures are for normal births and if theres something you aren't happy with, raise your hand and discuss it before labour starts.

But understand that birthing plans sometimes need to be set aside.

Answer 2

Typically you have a birth plan. You can discuss it before you deliver with the OB. It's also a good idea to write it out before you go to the hospital in case another MD deliver you or the OB doesn't remember (and so the RN will know). Just things like whether you want an epidural, episiotomy, etc.

But you DO need to be flexible sometimes. Birth doesn't always go as planned and the doctor needs to have room to make decisions that are best for you and your child.

But to answer your initial question. I've never seen any of the OBs I work with so something the mom didn't want them to or do something without consulting the patient and husband first. Legally they need to get consent for most things they do in the hospital.

And by the way it's the RN you see most of the time. The MD may come in for a minute and break your water but usually they dont come back until the baby is crowning. the rest is the RN and the anesthesiologist.

Is there something in specific you are worried about?

Answer 3

They always told me what they were going to do or asked me what I wanted to do next depending on the situation.  I know with my first son I was fully dilated and my Dr wasn't back to the hospital yet and they asked me if I wanted to try to wait or if I wanted them to get the on-call Dr up there.  I told them I wanted to push so to get me the on-call Dr and they did.  They always made sure I was aware of what was going on and if I showed any concern about something they would explain it and make sure I was ok first.  

Answer 4

Nope, they had my birth plan and did it the way I wanted. Active, shower available, pethadine and gas (epidural if I wanted, in the end it was too late) and for my partner to cut the cord.

If anything else needed to be done I was open to any suggestions with birthing positions, and that was that. Simple.

Ipswich hospital was wonderful to give birth in, midwives and doctors were exemplery, I enjoyed the full experience.

Answer 5

Interesting question and I'm glad you asked so I could read the other answers. I have a midwfe and we haven't gone over our birth plan yet but she says basically her job is to be there and let me do mine as instinctively as I can I guess. We'll see what happens and how the hospital nurses are with the midwife (they've already had a long relationship so I guess they are respectful of the more natural births). 20 more weeks or so and I'll know! =)

Answer 6

Something really funny happened during my friend's birth of her daughter! So the doctor asks "what are you naming her" and she says Kelly Katherine and the doctor says "Oh what a old and worn out name i like it!" and she says "thanks" and the doctor says "Kelly was my grandma's name" and she said "wow" she is really pissed off but doesn't tell! and after the baby is born he says wow it looks so.......................... you know like a Veronica or fredrick and she says "fredrick is a boys name!" and he says "yea i know your little girl has a boy face." she got so mad!

Answer 7

If you have a specific birthplan then I would consider hiring a doula. I had an IV for group b and even though I told them NO drugs, they gave me a dose of stadol in it which made me sick and VERY angry. If you want a natural birth I would also consider turning down the IV unless it is NEEDED. It leaves access to putting pitocin in you and other drugs that you may not want. Remember you have RIGHTS... whether they like it or not you can turn down whatever you want.

Answer 8

Not really.

Well I don't remember, I was in pain that all I wanted is the baby out..

Answer 9

Nope.  They explained everything they were going to do and answered any questions I had!  

Answer 10

Usually a good doctor, midwife or nurse will tell you what they need to do to you while you're in labor.  If you don't feel comfortable with a nurse checking you while you're laboring, you can tell her to wait until the contraction is over.  A doctor will usually do only what she must do when she must do it, but youcertainly have the right to tell her to either wait or not to do whatever it is you object to.  This is your body and unless you or the baby are in danger, you still have the right to say no to a procedure.If you are in danger or the baby is, they will over-ride your objections and do whatever they must to save a life.

Answer 11

Not a thing.

I had a birth plan where I let them know what was and was not OK with me. And anything they wanted to do, we discussed in detail first and they got my agreement first.

In the end, nothing turned out as I had planned, but I was very empowered by being consulted every step of the way.  

Answer 12

I guess this goes off how much you trust your dr and them knowing you too. I talked with my dr every week about what I wanted so they knew. Good luck.

Answer 13

sort of

I wanted my second birth to go like my first.  I wanted an epidural.  But by the time I got to the hospital, they wouldn't give me one, I was already 10 cm dilated.