Thats disgusting. Extremely unprofessional.
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Thats disgusting. Extremely unprofessional.
Kelly xx
Creator of BellyBelly.com.au, doula, writer and mother of three amazing children
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So true. In no other field would consent be assumed for a medical procedure. If a patient is unable to give consent someone must do so on their behalf. We don't even take organs from the dead without consent in this country.
Registered User
I am a HCP and therefore would like to think I have some idea when it comes to consent etc. I was one of those women in the other thread that said I had an episiotomy with forceps delivery and was not directly asked if I consented to being cut. I did not know I had had an episiotomy until after the epidural wore off and I was in a huge amount of pain that one of the midwives .
After labouring for 30 hrs I was exhausted and I just wanted my baby out. I was under midwife care throughout my pregnancy & labour until I was told I was 'failure to progress' in which case an OB was called in, I was told to shuffle down the bed, and 10minutes later my baby was born. She didn't even acknowledge me or tell me her name when she walked in. She just explained how she would work the forceps. No mention of episiotomy nada
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MadB, I could almost have written your post word for word, except I had a vacuum assisted delivery.
I'd had an epidural, so although I felt no pain I could feel the tug of the scalpel on my skin *shudder*.
I was never asked for consent, nor even told that I'd had an episiotomy until 3 days later when I asked the nurse who was cutting my stitches how everything was healing down there, and she said the 2nd degree tearing and the cut were healing well... It's not until right now that I realise how wrongly I had been treated, and how angry I am about it, and am determined not to let it happen ever again
So yes, informed consent is a must. NEVER assume consent in any situation.
Registered User
Wow I am absolutely outraged at how many people this has happened too. That is awful! I had in my birth plan that I did not consent to episiotomy and I also told DH if he saw anyone coming at me with the scissors to stop them!
Luckily it was never mentioned but I am so sad and outraged for all you ladies who weren't so lucky
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Here's a question in a round about way. Ds 2i had tearing as he was face up. Dd i had tearing cause i didn't stop pushing lol. But ds1i was cut, no question, 3times even though i screamed and begged her to stop. She cut up- not down and didn't stitch anything afterwards. It changed alot of things after, one being i get uti easy now.
Anyways, my question is, why would she cut up-not down? and why couldn't it be sewen back up? it bled for ages, like weeks.
She was busy, hospital team and 3of us were giving birth at the same time, met 1of the others in a class run at a birth centre. But still, there was no ripping other then the cuts up she did.
Sorry if it doesn't make sense, the barefoot princess is covering me with kisses
BellyBelly Member
I think I must be an exception to the rule. I had an epi. I didn't realise at the time. I didn't feel it. DD was coming out very fast (I saw on my hospital notes recently when seeing my ob for #2 that it took just 13 mins). I knew I had stitches afterwards, I thought it was because I tore. It wasn't until I saw my hospital notes back in my room that I saw 'epi' written and realised what had happened. It healed very well.
I say that I'm an exception to the rule as I honestly don't mind it was done. I think if I knew they were doing it I would have been more nervous. TBH, my main wish for the whole birthing experience was to have DD in my arms safely and that happened. TBH, if I had the exact same birth with this bubs I wouldn't care, I just want my baby.
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This is what I have been trying to say, always thought it was a necessary evil. I just have a massive fear of being cut....and needles lol. Although new research says tearing is actually better (which also had me freaked out), either way that area may get mutilated!
BellyBelly Member
I had a massive fear too, which is actually part of the reason I'm glad I wasn't told. I didn't need to worry about it about to happen.
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Wouldn't you have rathered you'd not been cut at all though?
BellyBelly Member
Yes, if I wasn't going to tear then I do wish that, but if I was going to tear (and I guess i trust my ob in that they wouldn't have cut me unless I was going to) who is to say it wouldn't have been worse than the cut? Yes, it could have been less and I guess we will never know either way. Either way, I guess I'm happy with how my body has healed and feel that I had a pretty positive birth experience over all. I guess I've got a pretty simple way of looking at it.
Last edited by chody47; August 5th, 2012 at 09:00 AM.
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His thread has mad me so angry. And horrified for all women. And disgusted. Did I mentioned that.
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Why are you horrified an disgusted?
Registered User
I would say because women are being treated like slabs of meat, having their genitals cut without any warning or even being asked.
Tearing is almost ALWAYS less painful, quicker to heal, carries less risks, less infections etc so I know I would be livid if I was cut instead of being 'allowed' to tear naturally.
I have birthed 9lb babies with only a graze and a 7lb baby with a small tear so its impossible for an ob to predict you will tear and how badly imo.
Registered User
Because women are having their genitals cut (often without true medical need, just in the name of routine) without their permission, and the only reason it's not seen as assault is because the person doing it went to university for a few years more than most people.
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I think there is a difference between having a relationhip with an OB (through the private system) that you have chosen and you trust to do the right thing when it is game time, versus having your child delivered by someone you have never met before within the public system.
I would also prefer to be cut, with or without my informed consent, if it meant having a healthy child born alive at the end.
I imagine most HCP would see that as their end goal and would assume, rightly or wrongly, that most women would too.
Registered User
Same here. And I agree with Chody too, I dont mind that I was cut. I went public, but I still trusted that the ob who was there with me had my sons best interests at the top of his priority list. When I saw him grab the scissors and asked what they were for and he told me, I was fine with it. Maybe I feel so 'meh' about it because I had zero healing issues with it and it wasnt painful. Idk. I definitely was not treated like a slab of meat, or feel like I was assaulted or anything like that.
Registered User
in some cases an episiotomy is needed. But in those cases there is still time to explain what and why to the woman and get consent.
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