The sad reality of what obstetrics has become

This was written a few weeks ago on my family blog:

I am sure many of you remember the inhumane way I was treated as I birthed my daughter, only b/c of my choice for a natural childbirth. Well I filed a complaint with the group where dr. b works. I was not in pain, was NOT freaking out, and everything was going just as well as a birth could go. The doctor was mad b/c he had to get his tush out of bed and come in, then ticked b/c I wanted a natural delivery.
Let me also remind you I met the "doctor" about 25 minutes before our little blessing was born.
Some things this doctor said to me:

When walked in the room he commented with "nice view", b/c of my hands and knees position (how are you an OB?)

"you are getting an IV for when your birth is shot to hell"

"I am going to let you bleed out and die on the table"

"you should have stayed home"

"You are killing your baby" (b/c I would not lay on my back to push)

"When your baby dies it is your choice" (again b/c I did not push laying down)

Then as S's head was bulging he said he was going to give me a c-section.

He belittled me the entire time and brought a very cold prescense with him to the room. I begged him to stop talking to me the way he was.

He threw a fit about 5 times and slammed the door numerous times as well. I asked the nurse why he was acting that way and she said b/c he had to come in and I was not his normal patient. This was all in 25 minutes! He did not even deliver her, he stood next to the bed while the nurse delivered her, he did not check her over, did not check me over, did not examine the placenta or ANYTHING. As soon as her feet were out the doctor stormed out of the room and NEVER came back. He made everyone in the room beyond uncomfortable and am disgraced that such a terrible person was able to witness the beautiful birth of my child.
There was no problem at all in the birth, it was a complicated free and amazing birth. This doctor had something majorly stuck up him tush and was upset I was the one in control NOT him. It's MY body, My baby, *I* can make the RIGHT choices for us. Not some doctor who has to have control and *thinks* he is God. Over the years womens bodies have not magically lost it's ability to birth a child. I trust my body to do what it was MADE to do!

So I file a complaint, tell them of the emotional abuse and NEGLIGENCE of this doctor! I get a call from the office saying that they let the doctor know of my dissapointment with him. When I inquire if this was all they were going to do, she says "Yes, what else would you like?" "How about to make sure this never happens to another patient again!"

She also told me the doctor delivered the baby and he did check the placenta and checked me for tears. He did NONE of this! How can a doctor of ALL people treat someone the way this jerk treated me? I do not understand it! My doula H wrote a letter as well and she sums up how I feel pretty well.

here is part of what she wrote:

I have never before witnessed this kind of treatment from a physician. Most doctors are pleased to have patients who take responsibility for their own care and are informed about the birth process. C and her husband were fully prepared to have a natural birth with minimal intervention. They were successful but the outcome could have been very different because of the actions of Dr. B.

I’m not sure why Dr. B treated this patient the way that he did. Neither she nor her husband said anything to Dr. B. They did not deserve this type of treatment (no patient does) and what followed the birth was total negligence. If C had suffered from complications after the birth (such as hemorrhage, perineal tear, etc) there would have been no doctor there to treat her.

I hope that something like this never happens again. T has a reputation for being the most “natural birth-friendly” hospital in the area. Many mothers seek out this hospital because they believe they will have a better birth experience there. Hopefully this was an isolated incident and Dr. B does not treat all of his patients in this manner.

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I am so grateful I had such a wonderful support team to keep me calm and guide me to the right decisions while this doctor spewed filth at me. J and H were awesome. The nurse we had also did well to not let the doctor infulence her and pretty much did her own with me. We all blessed to have the nurse we did.

I am grateful it was not just J and I there, atleast someone else can testify to the Medical Board that this kind of abuse is going on. We are not sure what steps we will take next. An apology would certainly be enough, but it does not seem like that would happen any time soon.