Comments on: An OB you like or who makes you comfortable isn’t enough http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/ Vaginal birth after cesarean? Don't freak, know the facts. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:40:36 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jenn in St. Louis http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6782 Jenn in St. Louis Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:20:58 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6782 Diana, It is rather astonishing how many people think we are mentally ill because we have a problem with having unnecessary surgery performed on us. There is nothing wrong with my mind - I am just angry that someone would not wait for my body to finish labor on its own! I, in turn, have to wonder about the mental state of any individual who cannot grasp that concept. Hugs, Jenn Diana,
It is rather astonishing how many people think we are mentally ill because we have a problem with having unnecessary surgery performed on us. There is nothing wrong with my mind – I am just angry that someone would not wait for my body to finish labor on its own! I, in turn, have to wonder about the mental state of any individual who cannot grasp that concept.
Hugs,
Jenn

]]> By: Diana http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6713 Diana Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:11:45 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6713 Hi Jenn, Your story and letter are very familiar to me. I've written my letter to my gyn in January and received a phonecall from my home practitioner a few weeks later to offer me proffessional help for PTS. After that my gyn received an even angrier letter of course. Both letters are published on a Dutch blog (since I live in the Netherlands) called In Vrijheid Bevallen (Birthing in Liberty). I would like to ask you for permission to post your letter on this blog, since the women behind the blog want to encourage women to stand up to their OB/Gyns, because they probably do not even realise what women go through in a VBAC/TOL. Best regards, Diana (mother of Gijs c/s 31-07-2007 and Rob c/s 15-09-2009 although I swore never to be cut open again) Hi Jenn,

Your story and letter are very familiar to me.
I’ve written my letter to my gyn in January and received a phonecall from my home practitioner a few weeks later to offer me proffessional help for PTS. After that my gyn received an even angrier letter of course.
Both letters are published on a Dutch blog (since I live in the Netherlands) called In Vrijheid Bevallen (Birthing in Liberty).
I would like to ask you for permission to post your letter on this blog, since the women behind the blog want to encourage women to stand up to their OB/Gyns, because they probably do not even realise what women go through in a VBAC/TOL.

Best regards,
Diana (mother of Gijs c/s 31-07-2007 and Rob c/s 15-09-2009 although I swore never to be cut open again)

]]> By: Diana http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6654 Diana Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:09:30 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6654 Dear Jenn, Your story and letter are both scary familiar to me. I had a repeat c after tol last August and wrote my gyn an angry letter in January. I published my letter on a Dutch blog, since I live in the Netherlands, thats about laboring feeling at liberty. Two weeks ago I send the gyn a second angry letter because in reaction to my first letter I received a phonecall from my home practitioner if I wanted to come in to talk about proffessional help for ptss. Can you believe these people? I just can't stand being treated like a retard by dr's . Best regards, Diana Dear Jenn,

Your story and letter are both scary familiar to me. I had a repeat c after tol last August and wrote my gyn an angry letter in January. I published my letter on a Dutch blog, since I live in the Netherlands, thats about laboring feeling at liberty. Two weeks ago I send the gyn a second angry letter because in reaction to my first letter I received a phonecall from my home practitioner if I wanted to come in to talk about proffessional help for ptss. Can you believe these people? I just can’t stand being treated like a retard by dr’s .
Best regards,
Diana

]]> By: Jenn in St. Louis http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6640 Jenn in St. Louis Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:55:34 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6640 Amie, If you want, copy it and send it. If you haven't hooked up with the St. Louis ICAN chapter - do so. Lily, Ruthie, Nicole, et al are extremely valuable resources and can help guide you to the resources you'll need. Hugs to you!! Amie,

If you want, copy it and send it. If you haven’t hooked up with the St. Louis ICAN chapter – do so. Lily, Ruthie, Nicole, et al are extremely valuable resources and can help guide you to the resources you’ll need. Hugs to you!!

]]> By: Amie http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6464 Amie Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:23:12 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6464 Jenn in St. Louis- I'm also from St. Louis- and your letter brought me to tears because it is the letter I wish I would have wrote. It's been 8 months since my c-section and I remember it vividly. I feel so stupid to have not educated myself enough and to let myself be frightened by my doctor's "concerns." I'm currently in search of a new OB as we plan on getting pregnant again this year sometime. I've learned my lesson and thanks for sharing your story. Sincerely, Amie Jenn in St. Louis-

I’m also from St. Louis- and your letter brought me to tears because it is the letter I wish I would have wrote. It’s been 8 months since my c-section and I remember it vividly. I feel so stupid to have not educated myself enough and to let myself be frightened by my doctor’s “concerns.” I’m currently in search of a new OB as we plan on getting pregnant again this year sometime. I’ve learned my lesson and thanks for sharing your story.

Sincerely,

Amie

]]> By: Best of the Birth Blogs – Week Ending August 30th | ICAN Blog http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6264 Best of the Birth Blogs – Week Ending August 30th | ICAN Blog Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:15:44 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6264 [...] – An OB You Like or who Makes you Feel Comfortable is Not Enough:Jen shares a poignant reminder (in the form of a letter from a woman to her OB) that liking our [...] [...] – An OB You Like or who Makes you Feel Comfortable is Not Enough:Jen shares a poignant reminder (in the form of a letter from a woman to her OB) that liking our [...]

]]> By: Jenn in St. Louis http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6182 Jenn in St. Louis Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:32:11 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6182 I'm the author of the letter. I have decided to address the medical aspects of "Somewhere in MO"'s post. I am doing this for the pregnant Mom who may be reading, who thinks that being overdue or having meconium in the amnio was the reason for my C-section, and who might be use this as a basis for having a C-section. It was not. Though my doctor pulled out nearly every other common scare tactic, he never discussed either of these as reasons. My baby was not in distress from the meconium - he had none in his airway/lungs after the birth. Yes, I was 2 weeks past my "due date". I have a 36 day cycle. Even the earliest ultrasounds indicated the baby was 5 days younger than the "due date". I did not insist that the due date be changed to reflect that accuracy, and I should have. Monitoring indicated baby was FINE. Being 2 weeks past my due date did not necessitate my C-section. I am telling you all of this so you can go to your care provider, and ask "So, if my water breaks and there is meconium, what do you typically do?" and "If my due date comes and goes and 2 weeks later baby still isn't here, how do you typically handle that?" And if your care provider talks about interventions he/she may take, I'd recommend your follow questions be "Are there studies that show this intervention is beneficial? I'd like to read more about this - please provide me with the citation." Don't let him blow you off with vague assurances that he knows what he is doing. Per the slogan of this site - Get the Facts. I’m the author of the letter.

I have decided to address the medical aspects of “Somewhere in MO”’s post. I am doing this for the pregnant Mom who may be reading, who thinks that being overdue or having meconium in the amnio was the reason for my C-section, and who might be use this as a basis for having a C-section. It was not. Though my doctor pulled out nearly every other common scare tactic, he never discussed either of these as reasons. My baby was not in distress from the meconium – he had none in his airway/lungs after the birth. Yes, I was 2 weeks past my “due date”. I have a 36 day cycle. Even the earliest ultrasounds indicated the baby was 5 days younger than the “due date”. I did not insist that the due date be changed to reflect that accuracy, and I should have. Monitoring indicated baby was FINE. Being 2 weeks past my due date did not necessitate my C-section.

I am telling you all of this so you can go to your care provider, and ask “So, if my water breaks and there is meconium, what do you typically do?” and “If my due date comes and goes and 2 weeks later baby still isn’t here, how do you typically handle that?” And if your care provider talks about interventions he/she may take, I’d recommend your follow questions be “Are there studies that show this intervention is beneficial? I’d like to read more about this – please provide me with the citation.” Don’t let him blow you off with vague assurances that he knows what he is doing. Per the slogan of this site – Get the Facts.

]]> By: Ruthie http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6179 Ruthie Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:58:44 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6179 Furthermore, "somewhere in MO"....please produce some studies that show 48 hours is so awful. In 1997, ACOG issued a practice bulletin stating that 72 hours of expectant management is the course of action after waterbreaking (that means, wait and see for 3 days)....then in 2007, they issued a new practice bulletin changing that to 24 horus, but they included ZERO studies to show the decreased mortality/morbidity of changing the time frame. Furthermore, “somewhere in MO”….please produce some studies that show 48 hours is so awful. In 1997, ACOG issued a practice bulletin stating that 72 hours of expectant management is the course of action after waterbreaking (that means, wait and see for 3 days)….then in 2007, they issued a new practice bulletin changing that to 24 horus, but they included ZERO studies to show the decreased mortality/morbidity of changing the time frame.

]]> By: Malissa http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6178 Malissa Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:35:04 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6178 Somewhere In MO- I sure hope you are not in the medical profession and if so I sure hope Jenn continues to be strong and follows through with prosecuting you to the full extent of the law if you are, I hope she follows through and exposes you for who and whatever the Hell you are to publish her personal and private information for the world to see. Everyone is entitled to there opinion but are NOT Everyone is entitled to our Medical information that is suppose to be protected by our HIPPA laws. Good luck to you and I sure hope your life continues to be that pathetic and you continue to feel the need to expose peoples personal information. If you are with this OB's medical team, I sure hope that Jenn continues to keep all of us informed on the outcome of this, because if they can provide her with you IP address for releasing her personal medical information and it will lead her back to this "Medical Team", I sure as Hell want to know that my privacy is protected where ever I may need to go with myself or my family. Good Luck Jenn, and stay on this, you may be protecting the next Victim by doing so! Somewhere In MO- I sure hope you are not in the medical profession and if so I sure hope Jenn continues to be strong and follows through with prosecuting you to the full extent of the law if you are, I hope she follows through and exposes you for who and whatever the Hell you are to publish her personal and private information for the world to see. Everyone is entitled to there opinion but are NOT Everyone is entitled to our Medical information that is suppose to be protected by our HIPPA laws. Good luck to you and I sure hope your life continues to be that pathetic and you continue to feel the need to expose peoples personal information. If you are with this OB’s medical team, I sure hope that Jenn continues to keep all of us informed on the outcome of this, because if they can provide her with you IP address for releasing her personal medical information and it will lead her back to this “Medical Team”, I sure as Hell want to know that my privacy is protected where ever I may need to go with myself or my family. Good Luck Jenn, and stay on this, you may be protecting the next Victim by doing so!

]]> By: Patti http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6177 Patti Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:15:47 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6177 Obviously you are a minority here, Miss Somewhere in MO. And not having the courage to actually sign your name shows that you are afraid, wrong, etc. I suggest you look into yourself and the other women that posted on this site and see that many women experience this and are feelilng the same as Jenn. Kudos to her again and again for speaking out! Obviously it was time that someone had to do it. Obviously you are a minority here, Miss Somewhere in MO. And not having the courage to actually sign your name shows that you are afraid, wrong, etc. I suggest you look into yourself and the other women that posted on this site and see that many women experience this and are feelilng the same as Jenn. Kudos to her again and again for speaking out! Obviously it was time that someone had to do it.

]]> By: Chrissy http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6175 Chrissy Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:31:57 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6175 What the heck does being overdue or having mec in the fluid have to do with a vaginal delivery? Two of my 3 had mec, which revealed itself up to an hour prior to delivery and were still delivered vaginally. Maybe you should follow up your snarky comment with details that make sense? What the heck does being overdue or having mec in the fluid have to do with a vaginal delivery? Two of my 3 had mec, which revealed itself up to an hour prior to delivery and were still delivered vaginally. Maybe you should follow up your snarky comment with details that make sense?

]]> By: Somewhere In MO http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-6113 Somewhere In MO Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:21:15 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-6113 What you don't know is that Jenn in St. Louis was two weeks overdue and had a lot of meconium in the amnio fluid. This wasn't just some low-risk birth she's bellyaching about. There was reason for the intervention and she can't stop carrying on about it. What you don’t know is that Jenn in St. Louis was two weeks overdue and had a lot of meconium in the amnio fluid. This wasn’t just some low-risk birth she’s bellyaching about. There was reason for the intervention and she can’t stop carrying on about it.

]]> By: Why does your OB matter? « Enjoy Birth Blog http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-5940 Why does your OB matter? « Enjoy Birth Blog Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:50:33 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-5940 [...] Some OBs will say they are VBAC friendly, but in the end they prove they are not! [...] [...] Some OBs will say they are VBAC friendly, but in the end they prove they are not! [...]

]]> By: Sheridan http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-5703 Sheridan Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:47:28 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-5703 Hugs to this mom, but what a powerful example of the importance in choosing your care provider! Hugs to this mom, but what a powerful example of the importance in choosing your care provider!

]]> By: Lisa http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4981 Lisa Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:12:45 +0000 http://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/26/an-ob-you-like-or-who-makes-you-comfortable-isnt-enough/#comment-4981 Good for you, Jenn. If more women wrote these letters, doctors would be forced to sit up and listen. Cases like yours are exactly why I am committed to being a Coach and educator for birthing women. As it happens, I am a Professional Health and Wellness Coach who helps people to discover and choose exactly what is right for them. If there is a woman out there who feels that she can benefit from working with me, please feel free to contact me on Facebook: Lisa Merrick (I'm the Lisa who went to Reed College), or email me personally at LovingLotusHands@gmail.com. Good for you, Jenn. If more women wrote these letters, doctors would be forced to sit up and listen. Cases like yours are exactly why I am committed to being a Coach and educator for birthing women. As it happens, I am a Professional Health and Wellness Coach who helps people to discover and choose exactly what is right for them. If there is a woman out there who feels that she can benefit from working with me, please feel free to contact me on Facebook: Lisa Merrick (I’m the Lisa who went to Reed College), or email me personally at LovingLotusHands@gmail.com.

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