My opinion won't mean anything here with more experts commenting on it, but I wanted to share my bit.
Just wanted to say, I'm very big on having a natural vaginal birth, I did so with my last two children with little intervention except induction for PE with my first, I had no pain relief either birth, I was too scared to even have gas in case of harming my babies, went home very early with my second, 4 hour discharge. Both babies were posterior which made things a little harder. This time I've already given my caregivers a hard time because I'm adamant about wanting a natural active birth like before and I'm getting told because of my history I will need more monitoring and I need to accept that intervention is a possibility.
BUT, with the birth of my DS, I would have and he would have benefited from medical intervention. I had a midwife that wanted self glory, I can confidently say that now after discussing my traumatic experience with both OBs and other midwives, that she acted very dangerously. I was only just turned 19 and I didnt' speak up when my DS's head was stuck on my perinium which made the pushing stage 2 and a half hours, all of which she made me lay on my back for. I was told when I pleaded with her to get a dr 'it won't make it any less painful you know!', this is after 10 hours of an induced posterior labour, and I didn't even have gas. She made me feel like I was failing for even asking. The other midwife in the room was begging her to consider calling a doctor, she kept insisting that 'she' could do this. I now know what a dangerous stupid thing this was for her to do, to not even consider getting a medical opinion, I was in a hospital. I am not thankful I avoided a episiotomy or a vacumme extraction, my DS would have been better off out of there much quicker than he was and it would have saved all the blood tests and stress to treat the severe jaundice he had from the massive bruising on his head from it being squeezed for so long.
Another lady on here has posted her story about a similar situation with the midwife working in a similar way when the head got stuck half out, she wasn't so lucky and her son has ongoing problems from it, pretty bad ones.
Even though I fight tooth and nail to control my birth, I still feel very reluctant to trust midwives after that experience. I kicked them all out when I was in labour with DD and only allowed them in for small checks and then when I needed to push. I lost faith in them after my first experience. I am hoping this one will restore it, I am planning if all goes well to give birth in the midwife run birth centre.
Yep, it's not all black and white.
Last edited by Aranah; March 1st, 2007 at 09:28 PM.
Nat, mrmoo, Tara - I am so APALLED and angry about your stories. I just don't know what to say. Except for the fact that, Nat - I swear I would hunt that nurse down and BELT her one if that she did that to me.O M G.
There is obviously good and bad eggs all over I suppose. I had on OB for my first - but only to due a heart condition. He was a kind and lovely man and did the right thing by me and my baby.
The point is - a crappy midwife with a dangerous "hero" complex is not motivated by massive amounts of money - I don't know what motivates people like that to stay in the proffession, but it can't be money...
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