Hospital Rejects Birth Plans

Published

Want to have a doula or labor coach to assist at your birth? Interested in drafting a birth plan with your partner? Don't have your baby at the Aspen Women's Center in Provo, UT. The center has posted a sign in their entryway that reads:

"Because the Physicians at Aspen Women's Center care about the quality of their patient's deliveries and are very concerned about the welfare and health of your unborn child, we will not participate in a "Birth Contract", a Doulah Assisted, or a Bradley Method delivery. For those patients who are interested in such methods, please notify the nurse so we may arrange transfer of your care."

http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2009/11/09/hospital-rejects-birth-plans/

And a related photoshop contest, that I found funny: http://www.theunnecesarean.com/blog/2009/11/9/and-the-winner-of-the-anti-doula-sign-photoshop-contest-is.htmlWhat do y'all think? I would personally be offended. I feel like this is telling patients, "Because we know it all, it is our way or the highway."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Although I seriously dislike the attitudes of these physicians regarding women and their bodies, I'd rather them be up front about it rather than string these women along for nine months only to tell them their birth plans aren't going to be honored when they check in at the hospital.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

Is this for real?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L/D 4 yrs & Level 3 NICU 22 yrs.

Wow! Sounds like 1952, not 2009! Narrowminded and backwards... Very sad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Legally and ethically, healthcare clients have a right to refuse any offered treatment or service, but there's no right to make hospitals or physicians provide treatment or service that you want but they feel is unsafe, inappropriate or unnecessary. I agree that it's good that they're open about this up front, but they're perfectly within their rights to take this position.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
Legally and ethically, healthcare clients have a right to refuse any offered treatment or service, but there's no right to make hospitals or physicians provide treatment or service that you want but they feel is unsafe, inappropriate or unnecessary. I agree that it's good that they're open about this up front, but they're perfectly within their rights to take this position.

While they're within their rights, it's not very evidence-based, and that rankles me (and I'm guessing a lot of folks, though I can only speak for myself).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
While they're within their rights, it's not very evidence-based, and that rankles me (and I'm guessing a lot of folks, though I can only speak for myself).

I'm not disagreeing with you about that ... :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Again, there is another reason to avoid working in L&D.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hopefully the OB's ARE telling the patients ahead of time, and they are not finding out as they walk in the hospital door.....AND hopefully there are other competing hospitals to take away the business....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
Again, there is another reason to avoid working in L&D.

Not all units are like this. Where I work we have a labor tub, a below national average for C/S, and have an above average for VBACS. Doulas are welcome at our facility. Our entire hospital has a holistic philosophy. You would never see rules like that at our hospital.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB/Gyn, L&D, NICU.

Appalling. I gave birth to my son in 1996 at a hospital in Davis, CA (West of Sacramento) with a midwife. They were very pro Bradley and VBAC. A friend of mine was in labor for 52 hours and delivered a 10 pound baby with his arm alongside his head after pushing for 4 hours. Mom & baby's heartrate was fine the whole way through. Too bad more hospitals can't be like that. However, I have seen completely uneducated parents insist on natural birth when their circumstances clearly dictated some sort of deviation. I'm sure it is exhausting for medical professionals to deal with parents who think they know better than the medical profession.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Horrible. The only good thing about it is that they are upfront about it so patients can decide if this is right for them or not. I find it controlling, sad, and horrendous. I hope these women have other options locally.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion