https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:16:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy/page/2#post-299019 Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:31:06 +0000 pastemoo 299019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: :) I have looked into my local ICAN chapter but just haven't been yet--never was able to go. Next meeting is next weekend!<br /> Thanks for that. It was really helpful. I really like the lawyer analogy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy/page/2#post-297810 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 23:32:47 +0000 plantains 297810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in the camp of those finding the article very judged especially number 10 which talks about leaving your baby in the nursery. No reason not to get a little sleep for a couplevf days if you can. The nurses bring the baby in every two hours to breast feed so i don't see what the issue is.</p> <p>As for me, I was induced at 41 weeks and after labouring or 21 hours i ended up with a c-section. My recovery was great, my scar is invisible and I don't feel bad about it at all. I probably will it go for VBAC with #2, I will just have another section and be done with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy/page/2#post-297722 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 21:12:11 +0000 runsyellowlites 297722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pastemoo: I'm so sorry! My birthstory with DS was ALOT like yours! And thinking back I've had ALL the same "what if" thoughts.... ESPECIALLY about when I went in b/c I was in prodromal labor and was only TWO centimeters when they admitted me. It was a recipe for "failure" and fail I did. Well atleast that's how I thought about it for a long time. I mean I have almost EIGHT years between DS and DD most of which I didn't even know about vbac so I thought I was "cursed to cesareans".</p> <p>There will come a time where your blame shifts and you won't feel so responsible. I promise! It's just really hard to see past that at first.</p> <p>The reason information like this helped me was because....... If I had a civil court case and went to ensue the services of an attorney I would trust that attorney to represent me according to the laws that HE/SHE learned, went to school for, and took oath too. I would never be expected to go learn the laws regarding my type of case... EVER! SO..... I started learning what evidence based medicine says/is showing and realized that it wasn't my job to make sure I didn't have unnecessary things done in my l&amp;d.. it was my doctors &amp; nurses... the ones that KNOW THIS STUFF ALREADY, went to school for it, and took OATH to practice in a way to best benefit ME and not harm. As much as we are informed ladies, it isn't our job to make sure we're given the right plan of treatment, it's theirs! When interventions are overused and misused we are the VICTIM not the responsible party. THAT'S how I started to be able to deal with things and then became as informed as I could be so I was ready to fight tooth and nail if I had to... thankfully I just decided I was better off staying OUT of the hospital and went with a homebirth midwife that had alot of experience with vbac. Yea, I still transferred to my no-vbac hospital BUT things were handled so greatly that I still got the delivery I wanted (before they could send me back to have a repeat done).... and even if my hospital did allow vbac I can almost guarantee that I wouldn't have succeeded with how long and slow my labor was, being home under the care of someone that knew my body was capable really made all the difference.</p> <p>Anyways, have you considered looking into your local ICAN chapter? There will be other moms that have experienced the same thing you have AND providers that are pro- women's ability that you can get connected with. (hugs)</p> <p>(op sorry to threadjack) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy/page/2#post-297706 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 21:05:10 +0000 photojane 297706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jholler25: fwiw, I didn't read your post as "judgey" at all! totally got your sense of humor :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy/page/2#post-297700 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 20:59:22 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 297700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pastemoo: there's no way in hell the csection was yor fault. All those medical professionals around you knew what they were talking about. Don't sweat it---:) for the record you did exactly what I woulda done and were both FTMs so no one can blame us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297687 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 20:53:18 +0000 PrincessBaby 297687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DigAPony: I was just making a joke about vaginas splitting in half to lighten the tone;) That's the way I speak - I tend to make things more colorful than simply using normal wording...I honestly don't care one way or the other what others choose to do...If it sounded that way, I apologize! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297643 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 20:25:18 +0000 pastemoo 297643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBehr: Aww. :( Hugs! And.. my cousin's wife had to have a planned c-section for #1 because she (baby) had a serious medical condition. No one in her area did VBACs so she had #2 by Csec. #3 she tried to labor at home but ended up at hospital w section #3. BUT #4 and #5 were BOTH VBA3C. :D So it is possible--she had to pay for midwives to come out to her area. After 3 sections, 2 of which she did not want, she everything in her power to get people who would let her have her VBAC.<br /> But I hear you on hearing those constant what-ifs. Ugh those darn what ifs!</p> <p>I know so many of you say the article is about the medical community and not about us moms. Still, when I see an article written this way it seems like I should have been able to do something differently because I KNOW the c-section rate and unnecessary intervention rate is so. I KNEW that going in and I was just so sure it wouldn't happen to me. Even before the c-section as soon as they told me they were going to do one I lost it. It sucked. I felt like if I had waited longer to go to the hospital they wouldn't have done monitoring which wouldn't have led to pitocin which wouldn't have led to internal monitoring, which wouldn't have led to introducing an infection to me and the baby, which wouldn't have led to c-section. And I am the one who chose to go to the hospital when I did even after all the books, magazines, and websites I read that had information like that article.<br /> However that was the first article that pierced me so painfully. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297612 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 20:08:02 +0000 jedeve 297612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think this is meant to criticize mothers, but to help them be aware that a lot of standard medical practices aren't helpful. It's not our job to be our own doctors, but educated patients can help reduce these. But it's the doctor that really should be focused on that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297583 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 19:33:42 +0000 MamaBehr 297583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My second baby was a c-section because my first was a c-section. I wanted SO badly to have a VBAC but no doctor in my area would allow me to do this! I would have to travel into Houston to the teaching hospital in order to attempt a VBAC. What kills me even more is that my water broke with my second baby, I really really really wonder if he would have come out vaginally and I'll never know :( I hate hate hate that. I have to agree with @pastemoo I always feel like my c-section was my fault (even though I pushed for an hour and was all the way dilated) and because of that my second pregnancy resulted in a c-section and now I am doomed to ALWAYS have a c-section... :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297572 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 19:04:29 +0000 photojane 297572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>hm... this article did nothing for me. for the record, having the nursery keep your baby so you can shower or nap after pushing a figurative watermelon out of your vajay does not make you a bad mommy. i hope that this article doesn't make any of you feel guilty or less worthy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297567 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:59:49 +0000 Arden 297567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DigAPony: What you said. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297551 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:36:53 +0000 runsyellowlites 297551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@prettylizy: agreed! I certainly didn't feel like I was dying or being ripped in half &amp; as soon as she was delivered I felt amazing! My MW was telling me out of her 800 births she's only seen ONE 4th degree tear but many of the epi moms that I've gotten up know have had 3rd &amp; 4th degree tears, they just seem to be common. Every women definitely has her right to choose but I think the difference of outcome really says something about what may benefit more moms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297540 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:23:22 +0000 ladyfingers 297540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for posting -- the article did seem to be a weird fit for Consumer Reports, and it makes me feel bad for choosing a doctor instead of a midwife lol but whatevs. It does give me an idea of what to watch out for and what to ask for -- only obtaining interventions in the event that the baby will suffer from a lack of them. There comes a point, though, where I need to trust the provider we've chosen and their ability to recommend what's best for me.</p> <p>Speaking of judgey, I had an acquaintance tell me that ultrasounds are bad for my baby because they can hear them and that I shouldn't have any. So I told her I've already had 6. That shut her up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297539 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:22:16 +0000 prettylizy 297539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: I totally agree. I think the article is just trying to offer ideas that are not so much the common choice any longer.</p> <p>and FWIW, I did have some interventions and ended up w Pitocin after 40hours from when my water broke, but still didn't have an epidural. I never felt like anything was being ripped in half, and had the easiest recovery with the least pain of anyone I know. I know plenty of people who opted for the epi and ended up with some awful tears (3rd degree) and were in tons of pain for much longer than the 20 minutes it took me to push her out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297526 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 17:54:25 +0000 DigAPony 297526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: Totally agree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297524 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 17:52:27 +0000 DigAPony 297524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jholler25: "I really try to not judge- just because I feel like it's so easy to do. You want an epidural instead of feeling your vagina ripped in half? Go for it!" To be fair, that's a pretty judgmental/holier-than-thou statement. It makes it sound like someone who doesn't want an epidural is crazy.</p> <p>The title of this article is "Ten Procedures to THINK TWICE About," which to me implies that the goal is for all women to make informed, educated decisions that work best for themselves and their families rather than accepting everything the medical establishment tells them as the absolute best way to go, no questions asked. Asking questions and researching things on your own is great! Everyone is different. For example, if I were in @jholler25's position, I would also totally have an induction so my husband could be there--that's what's best for the whole family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297458 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 16:16:33 +0000 Mrs. Pen 297458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: @jholler25: I will be the first to admit I WAS one of those pg moms!!! I totally planned a lovely, natural waterbirth with midwives. I was SO excited. And while I was heartbroken that I didn't get that, I see how every woman and their birth is SOOO different.</p> <p>I ended up being transferred to the hospital and induced. Both of which I never planned on or even researched about because I was so set on my natural birth. But it was SUCH a great experience and everyone took amazing care of me. I no longer have a fear of hospitals or the feeling that they are "bad" or "evil" and want me to fail at natural birth. Having a different birth than intended really opened my eyes and I am so much less judgmental now! I am still sad I didn't get the birth I wanted, but I'm also happy that I learned from my experience. And I do hope that eventually I get the birth I want, but that doesn't mean I think everyone should do it the same way as I want to.</p> <p>@pastemoo: aww sweetie!! I know it was really hard for you, but I know that it wasn't your fault and was necessary. I really, really hope you can find healing and come to terms with it soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297444 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 15:56:58 +0000 Ree723 297444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe I read the article wrong but I clearly got the message that there is definitely a time and a place for each of those interventions - of course there is. A healthy mum and baby s the goal here and sometimes it takes more interventions to reach that goal, which is fine.</p> <p>I just think the article was saying that the medical community is so quick to rush into a lot of these interventions without justified cause. And I think a lot of people go along with this because it doesn't even occur to us to question our doctor when our baby's health is the issue. That's all I thought the article was saying - I don't think it said anywhere that these interventions were always bad and no one should ever have them, just that they're maybe happening too frequently without justified cause and without people realizing the risks that come with trying to manipulate pregnancy without medical cause. Sorry if that sounds judgy, it's not a criticism of individuals but of the system as a whole. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297413 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:53:00 +0000 runsyellowlites 297413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Minnie_Girl: I love childbirthconnection.org! It had great unbiased, matter-of-fact vbac vs. erc info so I refer a lot of expecting moms to their site! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297381 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:16:13 +0000 Minnie_Girl 297381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting article! It seems like there's more and more awareness of the issues within the US maternity system. I'm currently reading the Milbank report on evidence-based maternity care in the US. The CR article seems to draw heavily on that information, just with more..."reporting flavor," haha. </p> <p>The Milbank report is a really good read. It explores the overuse/underuse of interventions and care practices, and how they can best be used. It's super interesting, compelling information for all of us women who are trying to navigate the US maternity system. And it's completely non-judgey. </p> <p>If anyone's interested in reading the report, you can find it here: <a href="http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ClickedLink=1082&#038;ck=10575&#038;area=2" rel="nofollow">http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ClickedLink=1082&#038;ck=10575&#038;area=2</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297366 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 13:51:39 +0000 calsmom 297366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One huge thing I regret everyday is being unnecessarily induced. I am sure my labor and delivery would have been much smoother. It was a traumatic experience that I don't want to go through again! I hope to go into labor on my own next time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297362 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 13:47:12 +0000 pastemoo 297362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: @Honeybee: Thanks.<br /> @autumnlove: Hugs!<br /> @Andrea: YES! Mama needs to recover, too!<br /> @jholler25: &lt;3. LOL. You want your vagina ripped in half? Great! Cuz I totally do next time. Haha.@runsyellowlites: How did it help you? It made me feel worse about my "emergency'C. The more I learn the more I think I shouldn't have gone to the hospital after my water broke because then they start doing checks and then pitocin and whatnot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297302 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 12:15:38 +0000 runsyellowlites 297302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: Thanks for posting this! It was actually part of my extenstive research of birthing options when I was pregnant with DD. first go round with DS I had pretty much all of those things &amp; ended up with an "emergency" cesarean. It took a really long time for me to not blame myself &amp; finding things like this actually helped me! It reminded me that I was the patient &amp; it was my doctors that decided to practice in a way that isn't/wasn't evidence based.... The only mistake I made was, unfortunately, trusting my doctors believing they wouldn't use procedures that put me &amp; my baby at more risk. Yea, I have a healthy baby, but what about being able to have a healthy baby without all the negative risk &amp; consequence.... Ie. risk of placenta accreta &amp; uterine rupture in future pregnancies (not just labor but through all subsequent pregnancies). These were the things I was NOT made aware of the first go round but I got to worry about with DD. </p> <p>Now, I 100% understand that there is a place &amp; time for every single intervention listed BUT it's certainly not all the time or even most of the time which is how they're used now. If the benefit doesn't outweigh the risks (all risks) then doctors shouldn't okay doing them.</p> <p>I probably seem in the judgy camp &amp; can totally agree... But my problem isn't with the moms it's with the medical community &amp; that they really should change their model of practice. I'm sure having friends &amp; other moms I talk to experience horrible outcomes because of their misuse of technology just adds to how I feel. If a mom is aware of all the risks and still chooses to go along with the intervention then that is there informed choice to make. Since most aren't fully aware though I guess something in me just gets very protective of women in a time that they should be able to be vulnerable &amp; trusting but can't because of things like this. :-/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297287 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:54:52 +0000 PrincessBaby 297287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stargal: Seriously! I was actually really amazed at the "flip" that happened to a couple of moms! So it worked, actually even better than I had anticipated! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297284 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:50:11 +0000 stargal 297284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jholler25: haha i thought i was the only one who secretly hoped people who were overbearen would have to get what they were judging about...i feel guilty admiting it. lol....hey atleast it teaches them to not judge so eaisly, right?!?!? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297272 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:41:24 +0000 PrincessBaby 297272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Whew sorry for the rant! I haven't finished my Maxim Mocha Gold coffee this morning and it shows!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297270 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:40:00 +0000 PrincessBaby 297270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: This is terrible to admit, but when I see Moms who overbearingly post about things like no meds, etc, and I feel like they're being judgey, I secretly hope they end up with what they're judging against. It worked a couple of times, and I was pleased to see the judginess go away after delivery went in a direction that they had formerly judged against. Maybe I am a bad person for wishing that on them!</p> <p> I really try to not judge- just because I feel like it's so easy to do. You want an epidural instead of feeling your vagina ripped in half? Go for it! I do too! You want to feel your vagina ripped in half? More power to you! You want to do CIO? Great! You think it makes the baby have abandonment issues when he/she gets older? That's fine too. I just want to do what's the best for my baby and my situation at that moment, and no one can ever really know what that may/may not be! The ONLY things that matter is that the baby gets here safely and is loved to pieces after he/she is born. The rest is just small stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297255 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:31:12 +0000 sorrycharlie 297255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jholler25: totally agree. I get so sad when other Moms get judgy...oftentimes, those same moms end up with things (either by choice or not) that they were against, such as inductions, epidural, c-section, formula feeding, CIO, etc. It's so easy to throw stones, but really..it doesn't help anyone! :(</p> <p>I haven't given birth yet but I've had a couple ultrasounds after 24w for growth concerns. I can see how those are perhaps linked to c-sections *maybe* in the fact that discovery of issues leads to an earlier delivery, but that's not always a horrible thing. I'm so glad that they monitored my LO's growth just in case. </p> <p>And yes, I totally plan on BEGGING my OB to induce me on my due date if I don't go by then...I challenge anyone who has thrown up multiple times a day, every day, for 34 weeks to NOT want to be done by 40 weeks! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297246 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:21:51 +0000 stargal 297246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i dont like this article, i feel like its meant to judge moms and make them question thier decisions (that u cant change). plus find it highly contradictive, one sided and narrow minded. alot of these things like ultrasouds after 24 weeks cant be avoided.<br /> personally i am thankful for my ultrasounds and fetal monitoringand felt like it helped bring my baby here safely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/consumer-reports-10-procedures-to-think-twice-about-during-your-pregnancy#post-297227 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 10:55:03 +0000 PrincessBaby 297227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ditto @mrs. yoyo and @looch....It was kind of "Judgey" for me. Especially because I'm in violation of the one about getting induced "for convenience." It makes it sound super petty. Yeah, I want to have my baby while my husband is not thousands of miles offshore working. It's a little more than convenient to have him present at the birth of our first baby. And of course induction increases the chance of C-section. So I might be on the bad list for that too. Whatevs! Every pregnancy/labor/delivery is different, and I get so sick of Moms who think they know more or better and want to force their opinions or judgement on others. </p>