10 Unbelievable Things OBs Have Said During Birth

Ob storiesI have a great respect for the medical community””doctors, midwives, nurses, and everyone else who supports expectant mothers during childbirth and often saves lives. But of course, medical professionals are people too. Sometimes they say the darndest things.

I came across an eye-opening website called My OB Said What that chronicles just that: The good, the bad, and the ugly things that have come out of the mouths of medical staff. To their credit, some OBs have been reported as saying encouraging, wonderful things to pregnant women. Others may need another lesson in bedside manner”¦

First, the good”¦

1. Your Husband Would Be Proud Of You.

2. You Must Be Tired, Get Some Sleep.

”Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him, you get some sleep.”

– Postpartum nurse to mother who was crying while struggling with pumping and feeding and soothing her newborn who was born with a cleft palate and could not nurse.

3. If A Home Birth Is What You Want, I Support You.

”Sure! If you are healthy and live close to the hospital, you can have your baby at home!”

– OB’s response when mother informed the OB that she was seeking a midwife for a homebirth.

4. Thanks For The Compliment”¦?

”Wow, you’ve got a really high cervix! Even after you push these two out, there’s no way it’ll prolapse!”

– OB to mother in stirrups during the placement of two IVF embryos.

Now, the bad”¦

5. Hey There, Irresponsible Unwed Mother.

”Do you need a paternity test, since you aren’t married?”

– L&D Nurse to mother while filling out the birth certificate paperwork. The mother had been married for 4 years and her husband was listed as the emergency contact in her chart.

6. That Miscarriage Was Meant To Be.

”This miscarriage was just nature’s way of getting rid of a problem. The baby would have had Down Syndrome or autism if it was born. Sometimes nature helps you avoid the stress of raising a disabled child by way of a miscarriage. You’re lucky, you know.”

– Emergency Room doctor to mother experiencing a miscarriage.

7. If These Scare Tactics Don’t Convince You, Nothing Will.

”Do you want me to show you photos of what will happen to your baby if you continue to take those.”

– OB to mother who was taking medication for a severe anxiety disorder.

8. You’re Pushing Too Loud!

”No noise! No noise!”

– OB to grunting mother during crowning while birthing unmedicated.

9. Nice To Meet You, I’m Captain Obvious.

”That is a huge head!”

– OB commenting to mother during pushing.

10. Most Unhelpful Advice Of The Century: Just Deal With It.

”There is nothing I can do and there are no safe medications you can take while pregnant. You just need to get over it and deal with it.”

– OB to mother during a prenatal, who shared that she had a history of depression and felt it was getting worse with her pregnancy. She requested a referral for additional help.

(Image: Maridav/Shutterstock)

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