Claire Pregnant

Being ten days overdue I was all the more eager to meet our little man. I’d been to see the doctor a week after my due date to have a rather difficult conversation about what happens if I don’t give birth within another seven days. The answer was of course induction and even worse, I might like to consider being induced as part of a randomised controlled trial for research purposes (Oooh if that’s an option…?) - Naturally, I was a little defensive in standing my ground, not wanting to be induced at all and here’s where I found a difference between the manner of the doctor against that of the midwife.

My meeting a week before (on my due date) with a midwife involved a discussion about the lead up to birth and what happens next. Her manner was warm, approachable, informed and seemingly interested in my choices and welfare. To contrast I found the doctors’ bedside manner less skilful. The professional distance was off putting and the need to medicalise everything; exclusive. On asking the risks involved in postponing induction for an additional week her answer was succinct: ‘Stillbirth’. Hmm, well that answers that question thank you. Pau needed a translation and I firmly whipped at him A DEAD BABY! … Ahh. On probing her for alternative solutions to encourage the start of labour naturally such as acupuncture, acupressure… she replied ‘I’m a doctor not an acupuncturist, I can’t advise you on that’. There it was; a wide open door … (?) Shouldn’t she at least have advocated a service or given some information as to where I could find out more?

The bond between me and this woman could have been better. Aware that she was about to move on and give me a ’sweep’ I felt I ought to put my bruised pride away and prepare for the intimacy of her ‘internal massage’. The idea being by stimulating the cervix we’d bring on labour within the next 48 hours. So whoop she goes and tickles my fancy. I’m convinced the tension we shared contributed to her thorough approach…