“If you don’t let us give you Pitocin, your baby could die.”
Her doctor said it with complete finality, but there was no medical evidence to back up his claim, as the midwife in the room attested to.
The doctor was on his fifth delivery of the day and was overheard telling a nurse he was ready to go home — and was playing golf later that day.
I’m a doula, and my client who shared this story with me, ended up having a C-section she feels she was pressured into.
Shame, which has sidled its way into the ingredients of our culture, commonly mixes into childbirth. Women are constantly being pushed to accept unnecessary interventions they’re not comfortable with, just to suit the needs of those that have a hand (often literally) in their birth experience.
There are of course beautiful exceptions to this rule in the form of doctors and midwives who put their clients’ needs first and only suggest intervention if it is medically needed or requested by the birthing woman. In fact, that needs to be the rule.
You likey? Subscribe to the newsletter for more (and receive a free relaxation recording!)
Bailey Gaddis Blog 