Hellobee Boards

I think it depends on if my doctor's advice goes along with my existing knowledge on the topic. For instance, my doctor said that caffeine was fine, which fit with what I had heard from others. Based on that, I felt comfortable continuing to drink coffee. She also told me that using certain acne medications was fine, but I heard that other people had been told not to use them. I did more research on my own and came to my own decision not to use them. So I think it really depends...but whatever the doctor says, I'm likely to do more research on my own. So I guess her word is just one input (but a heavily weighted one--I trust her more than I trust what my aunt says she did during her pregancy, for instance).

I take it as one point of consideration. Doctors are vulnerable to having an opinion that isn't evidence based, is based on their personal history/ideas/bias, nor does it take every situation into consideration, just like the rest of us!

For me it's definitely just an input. I think I used to be more trusting of doctors, but since my first pregnancy I've become a lot more hands on about doing my own research. It helps that DH is in med school because I have access to the newest research.

Guideline.... Then research or run it by my hubby and make decisions accordingly.

@sloaneandpuffy: LOL. Never seen CYA as an acronym but figured it right out. I agree.

Input, not gospel. I tend to question everything though.

It really depends on the situation. If what she says makes sense or agrees with me or what I've read, then I follow what she says. If I think something is just not right, then I peruse it more. This has backfired though. There have been times where I've resisted the doc's recommendation only to find out, when I finally started following what she said, that she was right all along.

Definitely just a data point. After all, they only know what they've been taught and they haven't been taught everything. Plus, there are so many things that they are obligated to say/recommend that may not apply to my specific situation.