Medical abuse happens. We all know it does. It happens in the pediatrician's office when the doctor chooses the $100 antibiotic instead of the $4 one because the pharmacy reps for the more expensive drug just took him/her to lunch; even though the cheaper drug will do the trick just as well. It happens when a surgeon recommends knee surgery without informing the patient that physical therapy often works just as well, if not better.
As a doula, I can tell you it happens a lot in obstetrics. It happens when doctors and midwives use phrases intended to coerce procedures on pregnant women and their babies that are unnecessary and non-evidence-based. It also happens when care providers get frustrated with the baby's choice of labor day because it is inconvenient for them and interferes with their schedule. I personally know of an instance where this happened. This doctor was irritated that mom was in early labor the night before Thanksgiving. Mom was sent home drugged on Ambien, told to take more in 12 hours, and the doctor would see her Friday. This mom was told she was not in active labor (probably true) and then made to feel as if she could not leave the hospital until she took these meds, even though she verbalized that she did NOT want them. She spent the next 24 hours terrified because her baby was hardly moving.
I have heard reports of doulas who steer moms to doctors with high C-section rates because the births are easy and quick money. I have heard reports of child birth educators who do not discuss the negative aspects of some procedures because their OB GYN husbands perform them routinely.
As a doula, I can tell you it happens a lot in obstetrics. It happens when doctors and midwives use phrases intended to coerce procedures on pregnant women and their babies that are unnecessary and non-evidence-based. It also happens when care providers get frustrated with the baby's choice of labor day because it is inconvenient for them and interferes with their schedule. I personally know of an instance where this happened. This doctor was irritated that mom was in early labor the night before Thanksgiving. Mom was sent home drugged on Ambien, told to take more in 12 hours, and the doctor would see her Friday. This mom was told she was not in active labor (probably true) and then made to feel as if she could not leave the hospital until she took these meds, even though she verbalized that she did NOT want them. She spent the next 24 hours terrified because her baby was hardly moving.
I have heard reports of doulas who steer moms to doctors with high C-section rates because the births are easy and quick money. I have heard reports of child birth educators who do not discuss the negative aspects of some procedures because their OB GYN husbands perform them routinely.
| Are these doctors, midwives, doulas, and childbirth educators acting in their clients best interest? No! Are these examples of a system of medical abuse of the public? Absolutely! Do these examples mean that all pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, obstetricians, doulas, and childbirth educators are actively seeking to medically abuse the public? Would it be logical to assume that all people of these professions supported such actions? Of course not! It’s just not true. |  |
The mother I mentioned did not have a doula. I was not at this labor or birth. Could I have stopped this from happening? I don't know, but that's not really my job. My job is to inform a family of risks and benefits, to support them when they make their choices, and to create as positive of an experience as possible for the mom and baby. What I could and would have done here is encourage mom to understand early labor signs and active labor signs before labor began. I would have encouraged her to examine her provider’s behavior to see if it was in line with her birth goals. If she desired, I would have helped her find a new provider. I would have done my best to help her manage out of the hospital for much longer than she did. If she had gone in at 6-7 cm, instead of 2, I'm sure the on call doctor would have caught a healthy baby girl that Thursday, probably between their bites of cold turkey and pumpkin pie. If I had been in that room when mom was uncomfortable with this medication, I would have not been intimidated by the staff and I would have helped her hold her ground. Would she still have taken it? Maybe, but she would not have felt alone. She would have had someone in her corner. She would have also had the opportunity to process the events with me for as many days, weeks, months, or years as needed. She would have had real support.
Doula support is needed in birth, not to facilitate medical abuse, but to help educate parents in how to avoid it. It is not the Doulas job to stand between a woman and her chosen caregiver. It is a Doulas job to be the hand to hold as they speak up and out and make hard choices. To be the witness to their experience. The victim stays a victim unless we teach them how to stand up to their abuser for themselves. Mothers must be taught how to hold their own hand out and scream, “NO!” Sometimes, new parents need a hand to hold while they do it.
I can not promise a perfect birth experience in any birth location. No one can. What I can do is be there to help mom have courage to face the room and take the stage, because its her production and she is running the show.
If at least one person in the room is standing beside her holding her hand, a woman can discover the inner strength to stand up for herself in labor. I have witnessed it. I will witness it again!
That is my job. I love my job!
Doula support is needed in birth, not to facilitate medical abuse, but to help educate parents in how to avoid it. It is not the Doulas job to stand between a woman and her chosen caregiver. It is a Doulas job to be the hand to hold as they speak up and out and make hard choices. To be the witness to their experience. The victim stays a victim unless we teach them how to stand up to their abuser for themselves. Mothers must be taught how to hold their own hand out and scream, “NO!” Sometimes, new parents need a hand to hold while they do it.
I can not promise a perfect birth experience in any birth location. No one can. What I can do is be there to help mom have courage to face the room and take the stage, because its her production and she is running the show.
If at least one person in the room is standing beside her holding her hand, a woman can discover the inner strength to stand up for herself in labor. I have witnessed it. I will witness it again!
That is my job. I love my job!
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