Docs C/S rates

If she is interested in her physician's C-section rate, she can simply ask him/her.

So I guess that is a NO about the c/s rate being public information?

If it matters this is all happening in Oklahoma.

I have no idea whether C-section rates are public information in OK, but am curious as to why you are asking. Does she not trust her OB to answer her questions honestly?

Does she not trust his/her judgement as to whether a C-section is necessary? If not, then I highly recommend a second opinion from another physician.

Are these her questions, or yours? If they are hers, the nursing staff can help her to find the information she desires.

These are my questions, not hers. She is a 40 week primip and has no idea what goes on behind the scenes.

She came in last night (not ruptured, no bloody show) with contractions every 3 min apart & fingertip dialation. Doc was in a c/s on another patient and when he got done he decided to keep her overnight.

This morning she still hadn't dialated beyond a 1 even with manual stretching of her cervix. They had her on pit for about 4 hours prior and the only thing it did was cause her pain despite her requests for epidural.

No internal moniters (not enough access I assume?)

Contractions stopped

They finally got the epidural in and doc said they are going to do a c/s in a few hours if she doesn't progress.

Why? I mean we haven't heard any reason like CPD...

I'm thinking he just kept her overnight so he could document a trial of labor but he still doesn't have any way to measure contraction strength.

These are my questions, not hers. She is a 40 week primip and has no idea what goes on behind the scenes.

What is going on behind the scenes?

Patton, I assume that your SIL is an intelligent, educated woman who is capable of caring for herself and her baby.

Unless she has asked for your input, I don't think there is anything to be gained by second-guessing the decisions she has made in conjunction with her healthcare provider. There is undoubtedly a lot of information that she has chosen not to share with you and other family members.

Maybe you're right and she doesn't want my input but if I were in the hospital in a potential critical situation I would want someone watching my back.....

Sorry but after learning the motives behind L&D I don't trust the doctors...at all.

Maybe I should change my name to doulafromhell.

Your SIL's age alone makes her higher risk, add in being her first baby and risk increases. Jolie is right - there is probably a lot you don't know. Chances are the doc is doing what is safest for both baby and mom.

SIL's age is early 20's

Patton, you are right to be concerned. Once a pt. comes to the hospital, the clock is ticking. If a mom does not progress, she is headed for a c-section. Failure to progress, CPD, it is anyone's guess. More and more docs do sections to manage their own schedules. They want 9-5 obstetrics. I don't think any one of them would give an honest answer about their section rates either. They become very defensive. Depending on the doctor, we can see the section coming hours ahead of time. I get everything ready ahead of time to spare myself the grief of doing it all when he "calls" the section. I don't have any answers as to what anyone could do to lower the rate.......no one wants to take a chance ( or the time ) to determine the real necessity of doing a section.

I don't think any one of them would give an honest answer about their section rates either. They become very defensive.

So maybe c/s rates should be public information then? Huh?

Sorry about the age discrepancy - read the post wrong.

If you think the doc is rushing, then I would say that the C/S is safer. It is Friday and I am sure he wants his weekend to hurry up. I've seen better outcomes with c/s when the doc is rushed, than with vag deliveries when the doc was only interested in getting home. Unfortunately, it isn't standard to start an epidural on someone who is only dilated a cm due to possible slowing of progression of labor. Which is why they give her the pit but not the epidural.

When I was working L&D, C/S rates were sky high and the the goal was to get the rates lower. But I 've noted a trend of increasing C/S rates because of our litigious society and vag births. Docs frequently feel C/S are safer and would rather err on the side of caution.

Frankly, after being deposed years after an ugly vag delivery experience due to a doc in a hurry to get home to a party - I would say that a C/S is probably safer because it gets it done and gets the doc out of there rather than have the doc getting more and more irriated and anxious waiting for progression of labor. You can always ask the nurses if there might be another doc available. You might find a nurse willing to give you the info you seek if you are quiet about it. Hope you have your notebook out and are documenting things just in case.

Wow! This is a whole lot of speculation and OB bashing from a board of strangers who have no more information than the age and gestation of a woman in labor!