So I've just graduated, and although I never have imagined myself in OB, I have been potentially offered a position in labor and delivery (and the market for new grads in my area is terrible, so I'm really considering this). I DID enjoy my labor and delivery clinicals during school but overall I object to how some OB units are run. I really don't agree with cytotecing, inducing, using pit, and using IUPCs and am not crazy about the use of narcotics or epidurals either, though I fully respect a woman's right for pain control. The nurses also informed me that some docs will "persuade" a laboring mom to do a C section for personal reasons, such as a doc wanting to get to a child's soccer game in time. I find this really appauling. I know this probably isn the norm everywhere, but I just want to know if anyone thinks that, despite my perferring low intervention births, that I still might enjoy OB and have a place there? Or do you think I'd just be unhappy and not fit in?
Do you know anything about the OB unit at this hospital? That might be your answer. If they have a 40% c-section rate, a 60% episiotomy rate and a 95% epidural rate, you'd probably be miserable.
I'm a little surprised at people's responses here. I think the minute you say "natural" many moms feel judged. But you said that you respect a woman's right to pain control.
To me, your post suggests that your fear is in how the doctors tend to practice and how much the staff agrees with that practice. Are there doctors with c-section rates of 75% that you'd have to work with? Are there doctors that induce every woman at 39 weeks because she is "uncomfortable?" Many pregnant women can get talked into almost anything.
My state published birth stats so I've been researching hospitals with low epidural/low c-section rates. I'm in agreement with so much of what you said (I'm a c-section and lady partsl birth mom). I have no need to defend or make excuses about my c-section. It's just what I had. But I really wish I had a nurse that was more supportive at the time. While I wouldn't want a nurse (and I do not believe for one minute that you would be like this) who told me is was too bad I failed, I would have liked someone to listen to how disappointed I was; I came in expecting a lady partsl birth. There are subtle ways to find out how a mom feels about her birth experience too without projecting feelings so I don't think that would even be an issue.
I am positive there are many things that we do not like to do or see, there are doctors who are against abortion and yet they still help the ones who want it. You might not be happy with what people choose regardless of what it is ( pain meds, epidurial, abortion etc), but you have to stop and think ( this is not about you, it is all about what the patient wants, we have to work on putting our feelings aside and respect patien's wishes)
You know what is best for you and you will find what you like :)
rbytsdy
350 Posts
Do you know anything about the OB unit at this hospital? That might be your answer. If they have a 40% c-section rate, a 60% episiotomy rate and a 95% epidural rate, you'd probably be miserable.
I'm a little surprised at people's responses here. I think the minute you say "natural" many moms feel judged. But you said that you respect a woman's right to pain control.
To me, your post suggests that your fear is in how the doctors tend to practice and how much the staff agrees with that practice. Are there doctors with c-section rates of 75% that you'd have to work with? Are there doctors that induce every woman at 39 weeks because she is "uncomfortable?" Many pregnant women can get talked into almost anything.
My state published birth stats so I've been researching hospitals with low epidural/low c-section rates. I'm in agreement with so much of what you said (I'm a c-section and lady partsl birth mom). I have no need to defend or make excuses about my c-section. It's just what I had. But I really wish I had a nurse that was more supportive at the time. While I wouldn't want a nurse (and I do not believe for one minute that you would be like this) who told me is was too bad I failed, I would have liked someone to listen to how disappointed I was; I came in expecting a lady partsl birth. There are subtle ways to find out how a mom feels about her birth experience too without projecting feelings so I don't think that would even be an issue.