When doctors start quoting the research like this, they are often talking "through their hat".
Since he is apparently up to date with the research, why not ask him to produce the evidence he is using as the basis for his practice? It shouldn't be up to you to find something to refute his claims, but his responsibility to provide the research he is using.
Doctors will get away with making these kinds of wild claims unless we start questioning them. I was contacted recently by an obstetrician who wanted to challenge something I have written in "Preparing for Birth: Mothers". He claimed that there was research that showed one of my statements was wrong and he said I should change what I have written "so that I am not scaring the women". I wrote a friendly reply, asking that he give me the reference he was quoting, so I could be sure to have my information correct. I pointed out that I would gladly make changes but would only do so if I had reliable research evidence. Until then, my book would remain unchanged. I am still waiting to hear back from him....! My suspicion is that he didn't think I would call his bluff, but take "his word" for it.
How about trying this tack with this obstetrician. You could quite easily say that you want to make sure your practice is evidence based, and would welcome an update on this research that you must have missed..... it would be interesting to see how he handles this! Challenging him in this way might also help you to feel a bit better about this awful outcome and perhaps make him think twice before trying it again.
Best wishes,
Andrea
At 11:53 PM 5/03/2004, Geesje and Steve wrote:
Hi,
Why do obstetrcians not see this?
I'm hoping someone can help me. I'm sorry if I don't make much sense but I'm very upset and full of emotions after witnessing a horrific twins birth last night. It was the worst birth I've ever seen in the 20 years that I have been in midwifery. My grandfather's vet did a gentler job with the cows! And to make it worse the obstetrician thought he had done a brilliant job! He got both twins out within 8 minutes. On questioning prior to the birth, on how long he would wait for the second twin to engage he said that he aims to get the second twin out 5-10 minutes after the first because this is what all the research advises. "If you wait you're only waiting for trouble" . Silly me thought he was going to wait at least one contraction to see what happened. How wrong I was.. .
Now if anyone keeps up with research, it's me! But I have not read that it is advisable to act, instead of wait to see if the second twin engages, especially if they are both cephalic - like these twins were.
Can anyone tell me where I can find the research that states that an epidural in a twin labour is best practice and the research that states that the second twin should be born (with of without force) as soon as possible after the first. As well as any resaerch that disputes this.
Being Dutch and having worked as a homebirth midwife in Holland I have always had reservations on supporting high risk births at home but after seeing what happened last night I can fully understand why some women seek homebirths for high risk births.
Geesje
From: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Mary Murphy To: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>list Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 7:51 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Quote of the Week
From Midwifery Today: "H. Deutsch, a psychologist active in the 1940s, knew that at the time of birth, it is not just a vagina that is opening, the woman's entire psyche is open and vulnerable."
----- Andrea Robertson Birth International * ACE Graphics * Associates in Childbirth Education
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: www.birthinternational.com
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