Monday
Apr052010
Over the Curtain
Monday, April 5, 2010 at 12:28PM
Jenn Reidy of Knitted in the Womb won the Internet today with this comment left on the Unnecesarean Facebook page:
I always cringe when I hear the “my OB looked over the curtain and told me “its a good thing we did the cesarean…” stories. I want to ask “do you think that your OB EVER leans over the curtain and says ‘I’m so sorry we did this planned cesarean for suspected large baby. Your baby is quite average, and you probably could have had a vaginal birth.’?”
Reader Comments (13)
So true .... *sigh*
Although...it didn't help when my OB wheeled over to my head after my last was born (breech) and said, "Years ago, I would have done this, but nowadays ..." If I hadn't been strapped to the table, I think I would have strangled him with IV tubing. I just kind of looked at him like, "Yeah, no shit."
Exactly.
Wow...your OBs talked to you over the curtain? I felt a little like a one night stand.
I'm with Maegan- my OB gave everybody in the room (except me and my husband) an entire female anatomy lesson at my expense ("these are fallopian tubes, and ovaries, and here's how you stitch this...") while I was strapped down. I asked him questions (and asked to be closed with surgical glue)and was completely ignored (and stapled shut). I still have nightmares about it...
If you do not mind an MD wading in I have an opinion on this. I am guilty of talking about anatomy to the students during a c/section but I always make sure my patinet has cleared for the nursing/NP/med/tech/and NMW studets to be present. Teaching out load is the only way to instruct. I cannot show the anatomy to mom but if partner wants to see I am fine with that. I try to back around the curtain holding the newborn and let mom be the first to touch her child. Sorry partners (husband/girlfriend/boyfriend/significant other). Mom first. I am thwarted on occasion but usually make it. Surgical glue is now used but is more expensive then a sub Q stitch and has a higher infection rate. It also itches like the devil. It seems to be a poor substitute for skill. Staples have the worse infection rate and should be reseved for patients with a high keloid tendency or skin under extreme tension (fluffier patients for example). Not talking over the curtain can also be as bad as too much. Sometimes I am just busy but I do try to keep Mom informed of progress. Then I get the patient who snaps at me that they do not want to hear about their being operated on. Alas I have yet to find the fine line here. I have read through some of your previous blogs. The most important part of your provider interaction is interaction. Talk to them. If you are not satisfied find someone else. I have given free interviews for over two decades and been both accepted and rejected. If you ask to interview a provider and they want to charge for the interview it is a horrible sign. Not that they are poor practicioners but money comes first. I think most Ob's try. We are just usually poor conversationalist. And worse spellers.
hey jo Anne, thanks for your comments. nice to have a doc who engages in the debate.
i was lucky enough to have a lovely obgyn and paed at my emergency c sect. the anesthitist, however, was a jerk. he didnt greet me and then when he was walking out after the op and i asked when i would stop shaking he said "christmas" over his shoulder. what a jerk.
OB, I think your comment is one of my favorite ever. Thanks for stopping by. -Jill
My OB didn't peek over the curtain during my breech C-section, but when I switched OBs for the next pregnancy, the new one sized me up and said, "You could probably have delivered that breech baby vaginally."
JoAnne - THANK YOU. I have been unable to even THINK about seeing another OB since a horrible experience with a failed VBAC. Your post gives me hope that not all doctors are like the one I foolishly chose.
@JoAnne -- That's terrible if they didn't ask you first. Being so vulnerable on the table, then getting ignored just has to sting that much more.
Wow, OB...I think your response is great. I said OK to students being present during my various visits or procedures, but I didn't want them doing anything hands on (sorry, I value education, but my body more!). :)
I think some docs tend to have a uniform practice of care...and sometimes a personal connection is lost in that. When interviewing a doc for my second birth...only ONE of them charged me. That was an immediate 'no' decision. Thanks for your input.
"OB" Thank you for weighing in. It is nice to hear from an OB who seems honest and sensitive at the same time. You sound like a great doc! ;)