Disgusted by 'The Doctors'

On the Friday (1/9/09) episode of The Doctors, they dedicated the entire hour to all things pregnancy related. One segment was on a girl with Crohn's disease who was trying to decide between vaginal and elective c-section. The doctors said neither path would impact/be better for her illness.

Then, there, started the on-set debate between all the doctors, about vaginal versus elective c-sections. Dr. Masterson, the OB on the show said "some women may want to protect their vagina and go the elective route." Then, to top it off, Dr. Ordon, the plastic surgeon, made a comment about c-section babies coming out looking better.

WELL OH MY FREAKING GOD, I could have jumped through the TV and smackedabitch, two bitches actually. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?! These are doctors, who whether they understand it or not, are shaping the minds of all who watch this show, and lets face it, you know the majority of viewers at 2pm are 18-24yr old, less educated, un- or under-employed women, if the commercials I see at this time tell me anything about the viewership. To validate elective c-sections for what are essentially cosmetic reasons, is absolutely irresponsible on their part. Maybe OB's don't get it, they really aren't a part of the daily struggle post partum, but that your milk and ability to breastfeed, your baby's respiratory health, weight gain, among many many other factors are ENHANCED AND BETTERED by a vaginal birth. AND ALL OF THOSE REASONS SUPERSEDE ANY COSMETIC ONES.

Thank god there was a voice of reason, Dr. Sears, the pediatrician, and son of the Dr. William Sears, mentioned the benefits to the respiratory system of a baby getting squeezed while exiting the birth canal. But the show, and the OB just skimmed over that fact like it was meaningless. The respitory benefit of vaginal birth is just the beginning. The connections of the ear nose and throat are correctly placed when the baby is squeezed, resulting in less ear infections in VD babies. The mucous that the baby picks up in its nose in the birth canal carries immunities to the baby. We aren't even mentioning all the good hormonal triggers that happen for the mommy as a result of vaginal birth.

Yes, there are risks to both types of birth, you could bleed out from either type, have a Level 4 tear up your whoooha or get sepsis from an infected incision. We are lucky that if there is an issue, c-sections are available when medically, let me say that again, MEDICALLY, indicated. I have good friends who have had to have c-sections, because their or their baby's life was in danger, and I am so happy for the doctors who delivered healthy babies under such circumstances.

I understand choice, and since it is an option in the US medical community, women should have a choice. But women should know that their choice does impact more than their pretty vagina. I am sorry, but your baby's health and well being is the utmost importance, and The Doctors should promote vaginal births and that their benefits do outweigh the risks for nearly 100% of non-at-risk women.