The business of being born
My friend Jill sent me a link today.All women need to watch this.I’ve written about this almost three years ago. It’s happening in Malaysia. It’s happening in America.”We gynaes have lives too.” – my old gynae Dr Kim on why she thinks Cesarean is a good thing.Watch it. And let’s talk.
Asther
I have 2 gynae friends. One typical day, the husband of one gynae friend jokingly said to his wife, “Just do 2 Caesareans, then we can bring the whole family (they hv 3 boys) to Bali for a diving holiday!”
So wat I’m trying to say here is that THEY do make a lot of money from performing Caesareans. But it can be justified if the services during consultation, etc. are given with utmost care, feelings & interest strictly for the benefit of the pregnant patient.
This said gynae friend conducts home visits too & is ever cheerful & motherly towards her patients. Being a doctor, she’s a pro towards Caesarean, however she has nothing against normal birth too. It’s just dat she’s more confident on wat she knows & in control of if it is to be a C-section compared to normal child-birth procedure.
I’d advise every pregnant lady out there to see at least 2 doctors before deciding which one to stick with throughout the pregnancy. Also, don’t forget to ask the doctor’s opinion about child birth & C-Section and u can judge for yourself based on the doc’s opinion be it a practical or philosophical one.
I am pro-normal child-birth and will opt for natural birth if I can help it. Because it’s our birth right since the beginning of life and I want to experience it the conventional way but in a controled environment of course.
Here’s a blog from Mini-C about her recent labor experienc which led to an un-planned C-Section. It made me sad after reading it… Wat’s the value of it all when u’re about to give birth to your 1st child but u felt ever so lonely at that time?
http://bimboinside.blogspot.com/2007/11/labor.html
Feb 27, 2008 @ 9:47 pm
mspuzzles
Wow it is interesting! I did not know that these Dr want an easy way out. With their advice and all we would hv thought it was a matter of life and death. This something that need to be talked about. I am not a mother yet but we are trying for one. This is really an eye opener for me.
Welcome to the reality of healthcare, mam. Ironic isn’t it that if you want HONEST healthcare, you may just need to go to a government hospital and compete with those who can’t afford. It’s sad.
Feb 27, 2008 @ 9:48 pm
jennemede
I think the main point being made here and in the documentary as well is ultimately, who has more power? The answer would be the doctor. That is why they need to take the hippocratic oath and can get their licence revoked if they break it.
A big BUT: Running a hospital (or an OBGYN clinic) at the end of the day is a business. So it’s FAR from clear-cut because when it comes to delivering babies. Performing a Cesar may LOOK like the doctor is doing what’s best for the mother but he or she is profitting GREATLY from it as well in terms of $$ and time and effort. Conflict of interest? Totally.
Would he or she do it if a Cesar costs less than a natural birth? Think about it.
A natural birth takes more time, it’s more stressful, there’s apparently more risk so insurance costs more. The doctor SHOULD get paid more to do a natural birth.
So, if a gynae can charge you more for a natural birth over a Cesarean, would they be more motivated to go au naturel? If the answer is yes, then SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG because the right answer should be THE MOTHER GETS TO DECIDE.
In this day and age with the Net and everything, information is everywhere. And yet, we rely on our doctors to tell us what’s good for us our lives (and those of our children’s) are literally in their hands. We should be able to TRUST them. On top of being paid a lot of money to be trustworthy, they have sworn as well to do no harm. Contrary to what our mothers and mothers-in-law expect of those of us who have become doctors, it is NOT about the money.
It should NOT be but it is.
Should there be an appendix to the Hippocratic Oath that says I shall Not Profit From Saving Lives? A big MAYBE.
Feb 27, 2008 @ 10:21 pm
Erna
Disturbing. You trust your doctor to make a decision in YOUR best interest, not his pocket’s. When that trust is compromised, it’s rather frightening esp. for new moms. Haih. I agree that maybe the oath needs looking at…
Yup. It’s scary when I had Rae. It’s still scary today. It’s scary that it’s getting scarier.
Feb 27, 2008 @ 11:10 pm
Minchan
I think it’s very important to be comfortable with your gynae and to have a birth plan. I am very comfortable with my gynae whom I made very clear early in the pregnancy I wanted a natural birth. He kept that in mind but will advise if he feels uncomfortable with my decision. He gives the facts and ultimately, the decision is mine. Eg, my 2nd baby was overdue and I wanted to wait until I got into labour. He wanted to induce birth but respected my wishes. 8 days after my due date, Dr G gave me the facts about overdue baby, that the placenta may deteriorate, the amniotic fluid reduced and baby is continuing to grow.
As a first time mom, I was clueless about a lot of terms and options, including pain management, etc. With a draft birth plan which I got from the internet and which I could custom make, my husband and I went through the birth plan with my gynae. My gynae was able to advise what was feasible and not, what the hospital policy was about certain things listed on the birth plan and also the pain management I wanted to use, that I’m choosing to breastfeed, etc.
An expectant mom-gynae relationship is a partnership. Having that “can’t put your finger to it but you’re not comfortable with the gynae” feeling? Shop around for another one.
Mar 01, 2008 @ 9:52 am
jennemede
Min, I think that’s the trouble as well coz only after a few visits and you may already be halfway through the pregnancy before you get that feeling of uncertainty and you feel bad for ‘betraying’ your gynae by leaving, which doesn’t make any sense I know.
Mar 01, 2008 @ 10:18 am