Raine822
12-10-2008, 12:50 PM
Hello,
First, I'd like to say hello! I'm new to this forum and though this may be a great place to get advice. My name is Kim and I have a 3 month old daughter.
Second, I apologize in advance as this post will be long.
I am seeking advice on how to handle our birthing experience the next time we have a child. My experience recently was horrible and i do not wish to repeat it. Here is the story:
Prior to delivery I did all the research on options, medical interventions, and how to have a good birth experience. I followed all of the suggestions(mostly asking politely for what I wanted/did not want). The doctors and nurses involved repeatedly ignores my requests and tried to make me feel guilty for my decisions and physical characteristics of my child. It started when my water broke early on in the labor process causing me to go to the hospital still in very early labor. The doctor on call was determined that i was mistaken and not in labor(I was already a week overdue). I was placed immeaditly on an efm on my back and left alone/told not to move around. The doctor came back several hours later to check me and decided to admit me even though she had said that I was not in active labor. She turned to the nurse and demanded i be given a saline IV and a sleeping aid injection. At this point i first made my wishes clear of no unnecessary medical interventions and i asked to be involved in all decisions relating to treatments. The doctor spoke to me as if i were a stubborn child stating it will help me sleep and told the nurse again to just give them to me. I once again told the nurse i wanted neither as i did not need them and asked if the was a medically necessary reason for them. She said i could refuse the medication but the IV was necessary but would give no reason why. They continued to pressure the medication until i was so stredded i took it. I was left to sleep all night and not checked until the following morning.
That morning the doctor cam in to "check" my progress. The next thing i know she is trying to insert something into me. I pushed her away and demanded to know what she was doing. She impatiently snapped that she was breaking my water as she did not believe it broke the day before and if i didn't want to get this going she could release me to go home. Now terrified at this doctor i allowed to to try. No water came out. She nonchalantly stated that "i guess it did break yesterday." At this point i stopped being polite and demanded that my wishes be observed. (also they had only removed the efm for 30 minutes at this point-leaving me on my back to remain still all night). I got the head nurse in the room who assured me that a new doctor would be on in an hour and that i would be informed going forward.
I continued to be strapped to the bed with the IV for several more hours. During this time I did not progress at all and was only allowed one more 30 minute walk to try and progress naturally. The new doctor started to push inducing with pitocin. This time my questions were answered as to the medical benefits and risks but I still was not allowed any other natural options(walking, changinf positions). This left me feeling as i had no choice or woud face a c-section. About an hour after starting the pitocin I was still not dilating any more but the pain was unbearable and made wore by the fact that i could not move around to relieve the pain. They tried to give me another sedative but it did nothing for the intense pain. I ended up with an epidural that i may not have needed.
Labor progressed rapidly as they kept increasing the pitocin and finally it was time to deliver. The new doctor and nurse were somewhat more peaceful and informative but still it was their way or no way. After 45 minutes of pushing the doctor asked if he could do an episeotomy(sorry-spelling). At this point i was exausted and frustrated and allowed him to.
After the birth of my daughter the pediatrician began to ignore my wishes to be informed and involved. I requested to be present when my daughter underwent any exam/treatment and it went ignored. They took her from my room whenever they wanted to do an exam and did not speak with me until hours later. The pediatrician also was very demanding that I follow his instructions even when they had no medical basis. (No feeding at night after 8 weeks, not allowed in our room after 8 weeks, ect.). He called it mommy abuse for our daughter to expect comfort and nursing from her mother between the hours of 1am and 9am. He also disreguarded our request for no artificial nipples and brought her to me while forcefully holding a paci in her mouth.
I appreciate the time it took if you read this. I really need advice on how to avoid this with our next child. Please help if you can!!
Kim
First, I'd like to say hello! I'm new to this forum and though this may be a great place to get advice. My name is Kim and I have a 3 month old daughter.
Second, I apologize in advance as this post will be long.
I am seeking advice on how to handle our birthing experience the next time we have a child. My experience recently was horrible and i do not wish to repeat it. Here is the story:
Prior to delivery I did all the research on options, medical interventions, and how to have a good birth experience. I followed all of the suggestions(mostly asking politely for what I wanted/did not want). The doctors and nurses involved repeatedly ignores my requests and tried to make me feel guilty for my decisions and physical characteristics of my child. It started when my water broke early on in the labor process causing me to go to the hospital still in very early labor. The doctor on call was determined that i was mistaken and not in labor(I was already a week overdue). I was placed immeaditly on an efm on my back and left alone/told not to move around. The doctor came back several hours later to check me and decided to admit me even though she had said that I was not in active labor. She turned to the nurse and demanded i be given a saline IV and a sleeping aid injection. At this point i first made my wishes clear of no unnecessary medical interventions and i asked to be involved in all decisions relating to treatments. The doctor spoke to me as if i were a stubborn child stating it will help me sleep and told the nurse again to just give them to me. I once again told the nurse i wanted neither as i did not need them and asked if the was a medically necessary reason for them. She said i could refuse the medication but the IV was necessary but would give no reason why. They continued to pressure the medication until i was so stredded i took it. I was left to sleep all night and not checked until the following morning.
That morning the doctor cam in to "check" my progress. The next thing i know she is trying to insert something into me. I pushed her away and demanded to know what she was doing. She impatiently snapped that she was breaking my water as she did not believe it broke the day before and if i didn't want to get this going she could release me to go home. Now terrified at this doctor i allowed to to try. No water came out. She nonchalantly stated that "i guess it did break yesterday." At this point i stopped being polite and demanded that my wishes be observed. (also they had only removed the efm for 30 minutes at this point-leaving me on my back to remain still all night). I got the head nurse in the room who assured me that a new doctor would be on in an hour and that i would be informed going forward.
I continued to be strapped to the bed with the IV for several more hours. During this time I did not progress at all and was only allowed one more 30 minute walk to try and progress naturally. The new doctor started to push inducing with pitocin. This time my questions were answered as to the medical benefits and risks but I still was not allowed any other natural options(walking, changinf positions). This left me feeling as i had no choice or woud face a c-section. About an hour after starting the pitocin I was still not dilating any more but the pain was unbearable and made wore by the fact that i could not move around to relieve the pain. They tried to give me another sedative but it did nothing for the intense pain. I ended up with an epidural that i may not have needed.
Labor progressed rapidly as they kept increasing the pitocin and finally it was time to deliver. The new doctor and nurse were somewhat more peaceful and informative but still it was their way or no way. After 45 minutes of pushing the doctor asked if he could do an episeotomy(sorry-spelling). At this point i was exausted and frustrated and allowed him to.
After the birth of my daughter the pediatrician began to ignore my wishes to be informed and involved. I requested to be present when my daughter underwent any exam/treatment and it went ignored. They took her from my room whenever they wanted to do an exam and did not speak with me until hours later. The pediatrician also was very demanding that I follow his instructions even when they had no medical basis. (No feeding at night after 8 weeks, not allowed in our room after 8 weeks, ect.). He called it mommy abuse for our daughter to expect comfort and nursing from her mother between the hours of 1am and 9am. He also disreguarded our request for no artificial nipples and brought her to me while forcefully holding a paci in her mouth.
I appreciate the time it took if you read this. I really need advice on how to avoid this with our next child. Please help if you can!!
Kim