Why do most doctors discriminate in medicated births?

I’ve noticed my personal ob and others online have been very condescending towards people who opt to have as little intervention as possible. One story read that on this woman’s hospital tours she asked if having an iv was hospital policy and the nurse replied with “you’re birth center parents” or something like that. And when talking about labor with my ob she told me to just go ahead and get the epidural that she’s been in the field for years and everyone wants to be brave... why don’t people take births with no interventions seriously???

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COMMENT (33)

Ch

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Didn’t have that experience in Ireland either. I told them I was hoping to go as natural as possible and they said ‘ok’ and that was it. I agree that its probably about the money in America. The more medical intervention you have, the more further intervention you are likely to need so I doubt it’s about their concern for anyone’s health.

Ch

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Mine in Australia didn't. My midwife sat in the corner for 9houulre and didn't intervene unless I was asking for something like towels.

Ch

Ch • Apr 25, 2021
9hours**

Ka

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Definitely common in the US because hospitals are profit-based businesses. The more interventions you have, the more they can charge you and your insurance. On top of that, so many women do not take birthing classes and become scared of the pain to the point that they’re more easily persuaded to accept interventions like epidurals, even if they originally didn’t want them. Read The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill. It’s absolutely amazing! I’m going to a midwife birth center because I want an unmedicated birth with no interventions. I would have my baby at home if that were an option where I live, but unfortunately very few midwives in my area are able/willing to make a 2 hour drive. I was born at home and my mom didn’t have an epidural with my two brothers who were hospital births. She said if she hadn’t read and researched and learned about transition labor, she probably would have been scared enough to get one.

Da

Dani • Apr 25, 2021
I SO wish my hospital offered water birth or laboring! I was in the bath from 5pm to 5am (with short breaks out of the water) with my second and the water helped me SO much! It just took all the back pain away and I’ve had back labor both times. With the water I didn’t have to start to really breathe through the contractions till probably 5am so figured it was prob time to go since I was prob heading into transition but I so wish I could just stay in the tub! OB has warned me this time to be careful or I’ll end up having an unassisted home birth since it’s my third. 😂 I’m like girl, my labors are long! I think we’ll be alright! But I guess ya never know!

Ka

Ka • Apr 25, 2021
My birth center offers gas and air for pain relief. I’m also planning a water birth as I’ve heard it’s absolutely glorious to be in a warm bath in labor. My mom nearly had me in the tub because she loved being in the water, but our tub at home was much too small to give birth comfortably.

Ka

Ka • Apr 25, 2021
In all honesty, I can’t say I wouldn’t opt for an epidural if I were to be induced with pitocin. That shit is no joke. I’m avoiding induction at all costs because of that very reason, and it’s better for mom and baby’s health to go into labor naturally, when possible.

Ca

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Because they want to push drugs and c-sections on women to make more money and get them in and out as fast as possible. It’s all about their convenience it’s disgusting. Obviously not all are like that.

Ke

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My OB respects my decisions and requests, but I also respect his. He has been delivering babies for 40 years and he’s an extremely popular and liked doctor. If he says “I think you’ll feel better if you get the epidural,” I’m going to trust him. Why would I ignore someone with decades of experience?I was induced twice because my body doesn’t dilate on its own. I followed his lead because he has delivered babies. He has more experience than my two deliveries. Of course, no doctors should be disrespectful and rude, but they SHOULD offer an alternative perspective. And in my opinion, women are very hung up on being brave or acting like they have to prove something. I’m no superhero, give me the epidural! But your wishes should be respected and taken seriously up until you or baby is in distress during labor.

b

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Watch the business of being born.

b

b • Apr 25, 2021
I just watched it during my second pregnancy. Eye opening.

Ca

Ca • Apr 25, 2021
Great doc. I watched it as a teenager it changed me so much

A

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I used to be labor and delivery tech and I’m all for little intervention, however the iv and fetal monitoring shouldn’t be questioned just because it’s there to save your life and your child’s. Even if we don’t go into the room we are watching your baby from the outside and making sure their heart rate doesn’t do anything funky. And an iv is quickest to give you anything instead of having to try to find a vein and wasting the time that can be used to save you or your little one

🌹

🌹 • Apr 26, 2021
Iv only takes a few seconds to put in if needed. It really can inhibit some moms though when they’re having a natural labor because of all the “rules” once it’s been placed. Fetal monitoring is also obnoxious because it’s not always right. Checking with a doppler every so often is sufficient. With my first, the fetal monitoring showed her in distress and they wanted to do an emergency C-section. I insisted on scalp monitor which showed she was absolutely fine 🙄 the contractions on my smaller body were just making it impossible for the external fetal monitoring device to read her hr. Same thing happened with my third, we were told he had no more hr and they were about to wheel me out for a C-section. When I pushed him out. His apgars were 8 and 9 despite being a 33 weeker. I’m sure a lot of women don’t insist on a double check before being cut open to see how often it actually is wrong. This time, I’ll allow an iv port because i hemorrhaged after all 3 of my kiddos and need pitocen right after delivery but there will be no efm tying me down unless there’s a reason to worry (last time my placenta abrupted so obviously a reason to worry then)

A

A • Apr 26, 2021
Until you can’t find a vein or you blow it. An iv isn’t a huge inconvenience I’d rather have it and not need it then to need it and not have it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m all for doing your birth how you want it and not being shamed for it. But fetal monitoring and ivs i stand by if you deliver in a hospital. Everything else is meh

Me

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I’m in the states and our hospital is very pro-non medicated births. They support medicated options if the mother wants it, but they spent way more of our class talking about and practicing non-medicated pain management. Just depends on the hospital’s philosophy.

An

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So OBs are mostly like this. However I have had a midwife with everyone of my children and have always been supported with all three of my unmedicated births. My midwife is even allowing me to go unmedicated with my twins as long as it’s safe to do so.

Si

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I think it’s the reverse in the UK! Or certainly you are not judged for whatever type of birth you choose. Home births are not considered weird here and water births and mild/moderate pain relief is pretty normal thank goodness!