Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

cksmithy

(488 posts)
40. I read the ProPublica article
Sat Mar 14, 2026, 05:44 PM
11 hrs ago

and it describes the circumstances of two woman. A little confusing, I think one woman was 24 hours labor the other 12 hours before the courts intervened. My own personal experience for my first birthing experience 1971, 12 hours of contractions not strong enough to get to 10 cm. Baby's heart rate started to drop, so I got oxytocin, and was told to push. It took 2 hours of excruciating pain and pushing. I am pretty sure they used forceps too. My daughter, was almost 9 pounds, doctor said, she was just to large for my muscles and uterus to push her out. I was a small thin woman, now I am smaller but not thinner. If the doctors wanted me to have c-section, I probably would have said yes. My second daughter, (a pound lighter), I barely made it to the hospital in time, 3 pushes and a another beautiful baby girl.

The article, as far as I can tell, didn't detail the babies actual health conditions, that could of made a difference in the story. I don't know what the doctors do now, but after 10 hour of labor they broke the amniotic bag, didn't make a difference in dilation, then gave me oxytocin, which led to delivery.

It is truly a hard call. You could be right or wrong, but the patient, the woman giving birth, should be the one making decisions.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

a 3 hr hearing when she is in ACTIVE LABOR??!!!! mopinko 19 hrs ago #1
Wow. That is appalling. The child is more important than the woman, no matter what. Biophilic 19 hrs ago #2
Extreme situation. But perhaps it was the safest option for woman and child. paleotn 18 hrs ago #4
What's extreme about this situation is forcing someone who's in active labor into a court hearing to establish legally WhiskeyGrinder 18 hrs ago #5
What about dying makes it unacceptable? paleotn 18 hrs ago #6
People make medical decisions that result in their own deaths all the time. WhiskeyGrinder 18 hrs ago #7
And that's perfectly fine with me. paleotn 12 hrs ago #37
You're reccing your own posts? Crunchy Frog 1 hr ago #67
Exhibit A: all those Jehovah's Witnesses who refuse blood transfusions for themselves OR their children. ShazzieB 12 hrs ago #39
The pregnant woman's profession was assisting women to deliver safely....got it? Hope22 18 hrs ago #9
Exactly what part of viable, at term, and in fetal distress do you not fucking understand? paleotn 12 hrs ago #38
Your last sentence... GenThePerservering 11 hrs ago #42
Tell that to the person who I responded to, not me. paleotn 10 hrs ago #43
The hearing was three hours long. Quiet Em 9 hrs ago #46
She was in labor for 12 freaking hours!!!!!! paleotn 9 hrs ago #47
and? Quiet Em 9 hrs ago #48
And? An obstetrics team is going to go to all that trouble unless it's for a good reason? paleotn 8 hrs ago #57
No, I'm not an OB-GYN and neither are you. Quiet Em 6 hrs ago #59
My son was born after 30 hrs. of labor. Whats your point? Lochloosa 9 hrs ago #50
Medical professionals didn't go to this extreme unless there was good reason. paleotn 8 hrs ago #56
12 hours of labor is NOT. VERY. LONG. Crunchy Frog 1 hr ago #68
The woman stated she had already had a life threatening complication from a C Section. Hope22 6 hrs ago #61
Yes, I'm willing to sacrifice the lives of some full term fetuses to protect women's rights to bodily autonomy. Crunchy Frog 2 hrs ago #66
It was the woman's profession, but in her own case she was not making the safest decision karynnj 10 hrs ago #44
3 prior c-sections Freddie 8 hrs ago #53
Completely agree karynnj 8 hrs ago #54
My first was a C-section buzzycrumbhunger 7 hrs ago #58
If ONLY the decision was based on the health and welfare of the mother... the existing slightlv 10 hrs ago #45
The patient in question is a doula. usedtobedemgurl 9 hrs ago #49
Because she's a doula doesn't mean she is a good doula. ToxMarz 8 hrs ago #51
Sure. Of course a judge knows better. Ok. usedtobedemgurl 4 hrs ago #62
I worked in that field. When you're in the hospital, you don't have a choice. LeftInTX 17 hrs ago #20
It's not as rare as people think, and it doesn't matter if someone thinks it's "safest". Crunchy Frog 2 hrs ago #65
only the fetus stage Kali 18 hrs ago #8
Yup, the kid is on his or her own. Biophilic 17 hrs ago #19
It seems to me... GiqueCee 14 hrs ago #34
... Solly Mack 19 hrs ago #3
Whose body is it? dlk 18 hrs ago #10
In states like Florida, the state has control over a woman's body erronis 17 hrs ago #11
It's not just Florida. In almost 30 states, hospitals can override the advance directives of pregnant people. WhiskeyGrinder 17 hrs ago #14
Darwin's body. paleotn 12 hrs ago #36
Jeezus. If men gave birth, this would not be a thing. Joinfortmill 17 hrs ago #12
Eh, men do give birth and it still is a thing, but likely because of the discrimination trans men face. WhiskeyGrinder 17 hrs ago #13
I've had four c-sections Mossfern 17 hrs ago #15
I'm so glad you and your babies survived these! erronis 17 hrs ago #17
Thank you for this thoughtful post. LisaM 17 hrs ago #21
I think the trauma Mossfern 17 hrs ago #24
I was a nurse in newborn. LeftInTX 17 hrs ago #23
I was surprised to learn episiotomies aren't recommended anymore Sympthsical 14 hrs ago #33
I had three kids: LeftInTX 13 hrs ago #35
Interesting. Thank you for sharing! Sympthsical 8 hrs ago #55
Beyond appalling. Mother first, unless both can be saved & the mother's wishes unclear (& she is hlthe2b 17 hrs ago #16
I was going to share this. Thank you so much for doing it! ... littlemissmartypants 17 hrs ago #18
Hands off women's wombs. perverts! GreenWave 17 hrs ago #22
Women of reproductive age need to get the hell out of Florida. This is absurd. Quiet Em 16 hrs ago #25
I see no reason for a judge to be called into this. Ilsa 16 hrs ago #26
If it's an emergency C-Sect, fetal distress, certain maternal conditions, unknown fetal conditions etc. LeftInTX 15 hrs ago #28
Oh, I know, I've been there. I was relieved when Ilsa 15 hrs ago #29
This message was self-deleted by its author MorbidButterflyTat 14 hrs ago #31
That sounds terrifying MorbidButterflyTat 14 hrs ago #32
I lived in a county that for a time had the highest Ilsa 15 hrs ago #27
Wondering... MorbidButterflyTat 14 hrs ago #30
I read the ProPublica article cksmithy 11 hrs ago #40
Glad I posted this thread. It's good to get a reminder about just how easily so many people are willing to sign away WhiskeyGrinder 11 hrs ago #41
3 prior c-sections are a HUGE risk. But, AllyCat 8 hrs ago #52
This story really bothered me so I did some more research Quiet Em 6 hrs ago #60
This is like Rosemary's baby! C Moon 2 hrs ago #63
This is absolutely disgusting. Under no circumstances should women ever be robbed of the right to Crunchy Frog 2 hrs ago #64
Interesting to see how much anti-choice sentiment there really is here on DU. Article and the responses Crunchy Frog 1 hr ago #69
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»They Didn't Want to Have ...»Reply #40