Gena, IMO there are doctors and then there are doctors.
My SIL was pregnant with twins and had to argue w/her OB all
through the pregnancy. He wanted her on bed rest and she refused,
etc. etc. She went to the hospital for a monitor check in 38th
week and he asked if she wanted to be induced. She said no. The
*&##@% then went ahead and stripped her membranes. Now, this is
not medication, of course, but it surely is an intervention to
induce labor. My brother nearly punched him. Thank goodness
nothing happened, she carried until 3 days short of 40 weeks,
delivered vag., boy weighed 3 kilo, girl 2.7.
I'd like to have the wonderful dieticians respond to my theory of
why higher birthweight babies now than in the 40s and 50s. When
my brother and I were little, mom was told to give us daily
vitamins, which she did religiously. My mom was born in Hungary
just before WWI, and was often hungry when a little girl, forget
vitamin supplements! I weighed 6 lb 8 oz. BUT *I* had vitamins!
And my kids weighed respectively 8'9", 7'12" and 8'6" (and the
heaviest was my only girl.....).
From the little I know about the physiology of birth, I don't go
for the business of larger babies being the reason for more C
sections. I mean, we're not talking about 14 pound monsters. The
pelvic bones of the mother soften and the baby passes through.
CPD is often used when the OB (a) needs more cash, or (b) is
afraid of malpractice suit.
Sorry, everyone. I get kind of worked up on this. First, it was
my nephew and niece being trashed, and second, Silent Knife made
a huge impression on me. I never had a C/S, but the tears
streamed down my face. Judy Knopf, who apologizes for any hurt
feelings caused.