OB Participation During Labor

mechanicwife · December 2016

Question for other second time Mom's.
How involved was your OB during actual labor? In and out of the room? Doing some coaching? Only there to catch the baby??? I switched OBs this time around because I wasn't impressed with how terribly busy my first one was. She was nice, but didn't have much time. Wondering now if I switched over something foolish. My new OB seems to have all the time in the world to discuss anything I want. And says he's totally open to whatever my personal preferences are for birth... which is a plus. But it makes me slightly nervous to see how totally happy he seems to be with anything I want to do. Like, is he serious, and this will follow through this well? Or is he just saying this to be nice now, and will change his tune when the time actually comes?

MotherofDragons · December 2016

My OBs were wonderful answering my questions and spending time with me throughout the pregnancy. During labor they took a very hands off approach. And my delivering OB was there at the final 3 pushes.

I loved how hands off they were. OBs (in my opinion) are there in case of a necessary intervention and to catch the baby.

mechanicwife · December 2016

I totally agree @Mother0fDragons about what an OB is for, which is why I'm nervous. Feels too good to be true kind of. Also makes me wonder just how often he's actually done this. Ought to be pretty often, he's every bit of 60 years old. I should just ask him next time. It would be awesome if his laid back approach is simply from doing so many births that he's utterly comfortable with it!

Assiram42 · December 2016

I had the same experience as @Mother0fDragons, my OB delivered all of my children, he is very patient and thorough during the pregnancy, but he was only in and out of the room during labor and was then called when I started pushing.

During my last pregnancy, he came in to break my water at 6 cm, then left to head back to his clinic (attached to the hospital) but I progressed so quickly from 6 to 10 (think 10 mins) and he barely made it back to catch her.

I like that he's in and out and only around towards the end.

kfry22 · December 2016

My OB is only five years out of med school and when I was pregnant with my son she had an 18 month old and was pregnant as well. She is incredibly down to earth and so easy to talk to. She has even gone so far as to suggest her favorite types of maternity clothes with me.

I showed up to the hospital at 9cm. I got in a room and she broke my water and stayed put. She waited with my husband and two nurses the hour it took for the transition phase because she noticed a lot of meconium when she broke my water and they were having trouble getting a NICU team. So for me, she was in there the whole time. I imagine if I would have come in at 4 or 5cm, it would have been a different story.

Ahutch428 · December 2016

I had a pretty short labor as I was induced around 7, and started pushing at 2:00. After 2 pushes the nurses went to grab the OB. I did one final push and my OB caught her, sewed me up, and delivered the placenta. I love my OB and really wanted her to be the one to deliver DD, but that day it wouldn't have mattered at all. I say pick an OB that will answer your questions and give you the care you deserve during appointments. As in my experience it didn't matter to me who was there during labor. I also didn't have a birth plan besides get baby out healthy, so I could see being more concerned about if you had an actual birth plan. Sorry for the novel, hopefully that helps!

arrowmama · December 2016

My OB was like 83 years old and I loved him. I felt he truly cared about me and the baby the entire pregnancy and super supportive.

I was induced and started 9pm with cervadil and he came to check on me after it was inserted and he told me in front of the nurses, to call him directly and not on call doctor if I needed anything or if things progressed. He then checked on me at 8am, broke my water and called several times for updates. He came for the end of pushing, maybe 15 minutes? Don't remember how much of pushing, then sewed me up for a really really long time from all my tearing, took pictures with us and congratulated us and family.

I was was just there with my SIL delivering her baby yesterday and the OB barely made it and seemed to take forever to get to hospital even though she's in the same parking lot! Literally 1 push and caught baby! Delivered placenta and sewed and was out! I thought it was weird!

delujm0 · December 2016

My OB checked in throughout labor but was brought in for all of the pushing, which in my case wound up lasting 2.5 hours. So she seemed pretty involved. My office has 7 doctors on staff and one of them is at the hospital 24/7. They rotate days. I met with all of them during my first pregnancy and would have been fine with any one of them delivering DD.

Wino0920 · December 2016

My OB was pretty similar to the others. Checked I throughout and was there for all pushing, which for me was 3 hours both times as well!! High five @delujm0 there are 4 docs in the practice so you see all docs during the pregnancy and I loved them all!!

mamaelle27 · December 2016

Agree with pretty much everything above. If you're having a textbook delivery you're going to see your OB more in the prenatal visits than in labor, and that's perfectly okay. Shout out to labor and delivery nurses who are truly awesome individuals. My nurse stuck with me during my entire labor and she was so motivational and calming.

Mtnmommy · December 2016

I barely saw an OB at all. I mainly saw an LPN throughout my pregnancy, and she was wonderful. In fact, I requested her again for this time around. With my insurance, I'll only saw an actual MD two or three times during the pregnancy. My labor was pretty easy, so I really only saw the OB initially to see if there were any complications, and then again at delivery to deliver the baby, deliver the placenta, and stitch up my tears. My nurses were incredible. They were so helpful and supportive.

mombod · December 2016

Just wanted to add to that if there are other FTMs reading that are using a midwife. My midwife was there the whole time. She let me do my thing and talked or assisted when needed and checked the babys heart rate (I didnt have a monitor). Then she coached as needed, helped DH catch the baby, and delivered the placenta. She then helped get the baby latched and eating.
Every practice is different so I recommend having this conversation so you can manage your expectations.

BelhurstBride · December 2016

My OB is amazing throughout my pregnancy. Despite being one of the most popular in our area I never feel rushed during my appointments and she takes the time to answer my questions thoroughly.

She was was on vacation when I had DD1, who came a week early. The OB on call was only there when I ready to deliver. My nurse was actually studying to be a MW and was amazing through my labor.

My OB was actually on vacation again for DD2, who came two weeks late. She left me in care of the MWs in the office. (There weren't any MWs when I had DD1.) I arrived already crowning and DD2 was born before the MW made it- the nurses caught DD2. The MW who sewed me up after was actually the nurse I had with DD1.

halfthetree · December 2016

Most OBs show up when you're 8-9cm, leave you be and show back up when nurses report you're pushing or sounding grunty.

They are not labor support, and I have never seen an OB provide labour support when mom is in active labor but not pushing. Sure the odd "you're doing great, this one is almost done, almost there" is thrown in while they are examining, but I've yet to see a cold cloth prepared or a hip squeeze from an OB.
If you're looking for labour support, hire a doula or go the CNM (hospital access midwife) route!

mechanicwife · December 2016

Not looking for labor support, I'm hoping to get a doula for that.

I wish a birthing center was an option here, there aren't any in the area. Mostly, I was just wondering what the norm was.
My original OB didn't have the time to see me until two days later when I called saying I miscarried. I had to have a different doctor see me, and get my Rhogam shot rounded up. When I got pregnant again and wanted blood work done it was the same story. (This was after DD was born, and I noticed she didn't seem have time during my pregnancy with her either.) That's when I switched. I got in same day with the Doctor who is seeing me now. He's been super awesome so far. Involvement during pregnancy seems to be what people are shooting for. So, I didn't switch over something silly!

delujm0 · December 2016

I will add that there was an L&D nurse with me for the entire time I was admitted and she was amazing. It's not like they leave you totally alone in there. Someone was in the room the whole time. Those nurses know what they're doing, they very literally delivery babies every single day, or at least every day that they are at work, while most doctors see hospital time only a few days a week (assuming they're in a large practice that rotates hospital shifts) and are in the office the rest of the time.

acrose0226 · December 2016

FTM here - and I'm using a midwife practice. I'll deliver in a hospital, but the midwife and midwife assistant will be with me throughout all of my labor in the hospital, will deliver the baby, will make sure that the baby is given directly to me to nurse and snuggle for at least an hour before getting weighed/measured, will make sure that I'm allowed to eat/drink throughout labor, etc. In talking with several friends who have used both midwives and/or OBs, the time, attention and care that midwives give is much more than an OB is able to provide.

LMMama · December 2016

I didn't see my OB when I delivered

He sent me for an induction. I delivered the next day with two mid wives I had never met. And he showed up about an hour after my DD was born. Honestly it didn't bother me at all. As long as someone was getting that baby out.

owensmom0807 · December 2016

My OB checked on me every four hours until it was time to push. I pushed for 2 hours and she was the there the entire time.

DewyK · December 2016

With my first child, my OB was in my room quite a bit. The L&D floor was pretty empty so she was in there and we were just chatting. I had had my epi at that point, so I enjoyed the small talk.

With my second two, I saw the OB quickly in the beginning while she came in to say hi and check on me, then for the duration of my pushing and just shortly after the baby was born.

In all my experiences, the nurses have played a much more significant role (in terms of my needs, time spent checking on me, caring for me, etc.) than my OB.

mechanicwife · December 2016

Thanks everybody for the input btw, this was nice to read through and get some perspective.

keniialise · December 2016

My first OB showed up in the final pushes, she was amazing though (even got pulled over on the way to the hospital and still showed up) she wasn't even on call but her husband was the ob on call and she chose to come be there for me.

My second ob induced me on on a Sunday even though it was his day off, he showed up about a hour before I pushed and he was great as well!

My third I had a midwife, and although she was there she ignored her page and let the other midwife deal with me (she's far from my favorite person) the midwife on call ended up being a blessing and I'm happy she was the one there in the end.

Moore2love2014 · December 2016

My actual ob didn't deliver my son. I had a different dr who I had only met once prier to having him. She was really friendly, but wasn't there till it was time to push. Before active pushing she was sitting on my bed texting her family. It was Christmas so her daughters were talking to her, it I wish dr wouldn't be aloud to carry phones with them when they are supposed to be helping someone get ready to deliver. That's the only complaint I had with her. Otherwise she was great!

sls · December 2016

delujm0 said:

I will add that there was an L&D nurse with me for the entire time I was admitted and she was amazing. It's not like they leave you totally alone in there. Someone was in the room the whole time. Those nurses know what they're doing, they very literally delivery babies every single day, or at least every day that they are at work, while most doctors see hospital time only a few days a week (assuming they're in a large practice that rotates hospital shifts) and are in the office the rest of the time.

It must depend on the area. I was lead to believe in my birthing classes at the hospital that I would have a nurse with me the whole time. I did not. I had crap shoved in my cervix, I was thrown in a hospital room, and I was ignored for 3 days. No nurses, not even when active labor started. Not when I cried from the pain, not when DH went looking for someone to help--they came and gave me a morphine shot and then hightailed it out of there. The nurses and OB showed up about half an hour before DD was born, and that was it.

As you can tell, I'm not pleased about it. But let it be a cautionary tale for you: make sure the hospital is 100% clear with what they're giving you.

NarrowHouses · December 2016

I had a similar experience to @GinaReed

DD wasn't delivered by my OB. She was born on a Saturday in December and the OB was definitely coming from a holiday gathering. He was only in the room when it was time to push.

TBH it didn't really make a difference for me I had a nurse with me the whole time who was a rock star and I appreciated her presence much more than my OB.

Knottie42089123 · December 2016

sls said:

delujm0 said:

I will add that there was an L&D nurse with me for the entire time I was admitted and she was amazing. It's not like they leave you totally alone in there. Someone was in the room the whole time. Those nurses know what they're doing, they very literally delivery babies every single day, or at least every day that they are at work, while most doctors see hospital time only a few days a week (assuming they're in a large practice that rotates hospital shifts) and are in the office the rest of the time.

It must depend on the area. I was lead to believe in my birthing classes at the hospital that I would have a nurse with me the whole time. I did not. I had crap shoved in my cervix, I was thrown in a hospital room, and I was ignored for 3 days. No nurses, not even when active labor started. Not when I cried from the pain, not when DH went looking for someone to help--they came and gave me a morphine shot and then hightailed it out of there. The nurses and OB showed up about half an hour before DD was born, and that was it.

As you can tell, I'm not pleased about it. But let it be a cautionary tale for you: make sure the hospital is 100% clear with what they're giving you.

I'm so sorry you went through that. I used to work at a hospital and let me tell you that is completely unacceptable at any hospital. Hopefully you deliver at a facility with much better patient satisfaction this time. It's so important and, actually, I think there might be some gov't reimbursement tied to patient sat scores nowadays.

mechanicwife · December 2016

@delujm0 That's awful!

sls · December 2016

I have midwives this time, and as long as the (twin) pregnancy goes smoothly up to 30 weeks, I get to keep them. If it doesn't... I guess I'll pay for a doula.

Xath · December 2016

Our practice (at home) has you meet everyone there ahead of time, as there's no guarantee of who will be on call when you deliver. If you have a planned delivery (induction, version, cesarean, etc) it will be your OB; otherwise it's the luck of the draw. So I made a point to have an appointment with every OB in the practice so I'd know who I was comfortable with (which was everyone it turns out). Since I had cesareans each time, my OB was there the whole time.

They also have someone check on you/baby after delivery and before you are discharged. I had at least 1 visit/day from my practice while I was in the hospital.

semicolon · December 2016

My first pregnancy I asked for nurses who enjoyed medication free births, because they made the difference. I had the same nurse the whole labor and she was amazing! The OB was only there at the end. Awesome experience.

My second pregnancy ended in stillbirth and we knew and scheduled an induction. They assigned a nurse to only me, because of the circumstances and my midwife was in the room a lot...again, it was an unusual experience, but amazing in it's own way.

Linsbins · December 2016

Lurking, I was on June 16.

Check with others who delivered at your hospital. I had an ob but could have been assigned to a midwife for my regular checks, and it was the midwives who were with me for 40 hours of labor. I saw the ob (the on call one, not mine) once her head was mostly out and then the ob sewed me up. I would recommend to women delivering at my hospital to go to a midwife if possible, just based on their availability during labor. I might have felt more comfortable if I had known or met one of them before. Good luck!

nkdealph · December 2016

I had a lukewarm experience with my OB when I had my son. It was on a Friday afternoon so I'm guessing he just wanted to get home. He broke my water and left and 45 minutes later the attending OB came in and caught my son after 3 or 4 pushes. I felt brushed off because my OB could have stuck around for less than an hour and been there :-/ But on the plus side I had an incredible experience with the attending who is my OB for my current pregnancy. Honestly, the nursing staff do most of the "work" and are your cheerleaders. They were wonderful!

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