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Re: elective caesarean section deliveryFrom: Holly (anonymous@obgyn.net)Wed, 14 May 1997 07:43:05 -0500 (CDT)
I have had 2 c-sections and have been fortunate that both went very "routine". However, my M.D. wanted to wait (each time) to be sure they were medically necessary vs. elective. In my case they were, but my M.D. says I may still be able to have a vaginal birth the next time even though I am okay with going the c-section route if that becomes necessary. My doctor has said everything that the other doctors mentioned in their posts. I would like to pass on a piece of advice that my M.D. gave me right before I delivered my first (before we knew it was going to be a C-section). I think it was the best and most comforting words anyone gave me re: the anxiety of vaginal/c-section, birth in general, etc. I went for a check up at about 38 weeks. My doctor could tell I was getting more than a little nervous about delivery. He didn't wait for me to ask questions, he asked what was on my mind. I explained that everyone I knew had begun to tell me every birth experience that they had ever heard or had themselves. (My husband owns a restaurant and many of the customers come in on a daily basis. They get to feel like family and, believe me, have no problem sharing every story, sparing no details :) Anyway, I told my M.D. that thinking about all of this suddenly had me in knots. He said, "Medical technology has come along way over the years. Because we have both done our jobs, you taking care of yourself and the baby during pregnancy and me providing prenatal care, we should be able to go into delivery well prepared to prevent any horror stories." Although he reminded me that there are no guarantees that all will be routine, when the time comes, he asked me to do him a favor. He said, "If you are going to have a horror story, let it be your horror story. Don't go into delivery living everyone else's bad experience." He assured me that because it was his job to try and prevent a horror story, I could let him hear all about it post partum should one occur. He asked if I trusted him and his abilities as an M.D. If yes, then trust him enough to go through the delivery with me." For me, I can't stress enough how important doctor/patient trust is. As I mentioned above, my M.D. educated me through the entire pregnancy. If I didn't have questions, he pointed out questions that I hadn't thought of. And he did this with both pregnancies. He didn't have the attitude that after one birth the others are all routine. He stressed that each pregnancy is different. As a result of his approach, I went to delivery both times with very little worry. With the second (because I was more familiar with the actual C-section procedure) I was able to swap jokes with the surgical team as they prepped me, and I was able to focus all energy on listening for that baby when she was born. Through the whole process, I felt 100% confident that if I had any question or concern, all I had to say was "Ohhhh Dr." He obviously knew a lot more about this whole process than me, and I wanted to feel like I could trust his opinion when I needed it most. If you can't communicate with your M.D., it doesn't mean he is necessarily a "bad" doctor, just maybe not the right one for you. I worked for M.D.'s/surgeons for 10 years. Without exception, I don't think any of them would have felt comfortable treating a patient that didn't trust them. Again, not because they didn't like the patient, but because they got into this profession with the desire to help others not cause anxiety. On the other hand, they would have welcomed the opportunity to reassure a patient who was feeling nervous or scared. I'm sorry to be so long winded. The doctors on this board answer things much better than I ever could. However, I just thought I'd throw out my two cents worth from the patients point of view. Good Luck! Holly
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