Thread: Ripple Effect seen from rising C/S in FTMs.

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2...rst-time-moms/

Wow. Those stats are terrible!

The article suggests that women need to be better educated. What about educating our doctors better! Women most certainly need education outside of "how to be a good patient." But seriously, we should be able to TRUST that our doctors are doing what's best for us and our babies. They aren't even following ACOG recommendations, which I feel err on the side of self-serving conservatism. If more women were better educated, it wouldn't be so easy for doctors to perform C-sections without even the slightest bit of questioning. Oh, your baby is breech ... C-section. Your baby is too big .... C-section. Your pelvis is too small .... C-section. You're not progressing and I've got a golf game ..... C-section. I had a golf game last time so you had a C-section ..... C-section.

A lot of the problem is the doctor's fear of being sued. Hospital regulations also play a big part, as do laws governing midwives, birth centers, etc.

But since C-sections are more likely to cause complications you'd think doctors would want to avoid them so as to avoid getting sued. Their best tool to avoid getting sued is making the patient feel like if they hadn't stepped in the outcome would have been worse.

If birth were billed as a package deal regardless of how it turned out, I bet the C/S rate would drop.

Originally Posted by Preggo_in_Tucson

The article suggests that women need to be better educated. What about educating our doctors better! Women most certainly need education outside of "how to be a good patient." But seriously, we should be able to TRUST that our doctors are doing what's best for us and our babies. They aren't even following ACOG recommendations, which I feel err on the side of self-serving conservatism. If more women were better educated, it wouldn't be so easy for doctors to perform C-sections without even the slightest bit of questioning. Oh, your baby is breech ... C-section. Your baby is too big .... C-section. Your pelvis is too small .... C-section. You're not progressing and I've got a golf game ..... C-section. I had a golf game last time so you had a C-section ..... C-section.

This!!

Originally Posted by Preggo_in_Tucson

But since C-sections are more likely to cause complications you'd think doctors would want to avoid them so as to avoid getting sued. Their best tool to avoid getting sued is making the patient feel like if they hadn't stepped in the outcome would have been worse.

If birth were billed as a package deal regardless of how it turned out, I bet the C/S rate would drop.

It seems logical, but by the time a FTM has her c-section the dr has her so convinced that they "saved" the baby's life that most don't question it. A c/s is still seen by most that aren't educated enough as a "life-saving" method and one their dr would only do if absolutely necessary, which isn't the case most times. So, the mom ends up thanking her dr for his heroics and singing his praises after the birth for his quick action.

The entire profession of Obstetrics needs a major overhaul in order for the c/s rate to even start decreasing, from policy to procedure.

Originally Posted by cmljll

A lot of the problem is the doctor's fear of being sued. Hospital regulations also play a big part, as do laws governing midwives, birth centers, etc.

Yep and a lot of doctors give up on doing vbacs at all because of hospital policy. My 3rd c-section was for no other reason other than my doctor not wanting to babysit me due to hospital policy. I went into labor on my own at 36w.

ACOG just revised their guidlines and I really hope that this does something to loosen the regulations set by hospitals. I really hope doctors actually read the new guidelines and are more open to them.

Most people belive what their doctor tells them. They don't really research it for themselves. Sigh!

Originally Posted by Preggo_in_Tucson

The article suggests that women need to be better educated. What about educating our doctors better! Women most certainly need education outside of "how to be a good patient." But seriously, we should be able to TRUST that our doctors are doing what's best for us and our babies. They aren't even following ACOG recommendations, which I feel err on the side of self-serving conservatism. If more women were better educated, it wouldn't be so easy for doctors to perform C-sections without even the slightest bit of questioning. Oh, your baby is breech ... C-section. Your baby is too big .... C-section. Your pelvis is too small .... C-section. You're not progressing and I've got a golf game ..... C-section. I had a golf game last time so you had a C-section ..... C-section.

ACOG just very recently changed it VBAC guidelines. Let's hope that doctors start following.

With the ACOG changes, let hope the courts will back doctors who follow the guidelines, and litigation will stop being a reason for jumping too quickly to a c/s.