Most women that I care for during pregnancy discuss their birth plan at some point. Many will only ask questions related to aspects they did not understand, such as “what is an episiotomy?” Others have very detailed plans down to the ambiance of the room such as “I want low lighting, do not say the words pain or contraction in the room, and do not ask me if I want an epidural” Some women ask about the c section rates of my practice, and a very few ask for an elective scheduled c section. However, I have never been asked by a patient what I think her individual c-section risk is. This is a hard topic to broach by obstetricians as we are living in a time in our culture where there is a push for “natural” delivery, which means different things to different people, and there are women posting on social media about their doctors being aggressive and forcing them into a c-section or not providing patient centered care where the woman felt there was an adequate discussion centering her desires. This has created a difficult balance where I want to talk to my patients more about c-section however I do not want them to think I am overly prone to take my patients to the operating room. The delivery of a child is analogous to the wedding day for many women and they do not want their wedding planner focusing on what to do if there is a hurricane the day of.
C-Sections Happen. Be Prepared.
C-Sections Happen. Be Prepared.
C-Sections Happen. Be Prepared.
Most women that I care for during pregnancy discuss their birth plan at some point. Many will only ask questions related to aspects they did not understand, such as “what is an episiotomy?” Others have very detailed plans down to the ambiance of the room such as “I want low lighting, do not say the words pain or contraction in the room, and do not ask me if I want an epidural” Some women ask about the c section rates of my practice, and a very few ask for an elective scheduled c section. However, I have never been asked by a patient what I think her individual c-section risk is. This is a hard topic to broach by obstetricians as we are living in a time in our culture where there is a push for “natural” delivery, which means different things to different people, and there are women posting on social media about their doctors being aggressive and forcing them into a c-section or not providing patient centered care where the woman felt there was an adequate discussion centering her desires. This has created a difficult balance where I want to talk to my patients more about c-section however I do not want them to think I am overly prone to take my patients to the operating room. The delivery of a child is analogous to the wedding day for many women and they do not want their wedding planner focusing on what to do if there is a hurricane the day of.