NYT articles on fetal monitoring, increase in c-sections and rise in severe complication

[Anonymous]

New York Times today published two articles together:

The first states that constant fetal monitoring may result in more unnecessary c-sections but that companies are trying to sell it even harder with AI features.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/health/electronic-fetal-monitoring-c-sections.html?unlocked_article_code=1.zE8.9OGk.5ow7MgZTDhZQ&smid=url-share

The second shares that due to the rise in c-sections, there is also a rise in a complication called placenta accreta where the placenta attaches to scar tissue left by prior c-sections, increasing the risk of hemorrhaging.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/health/placenta-accreta-c-sections.html?unlocked_article_code=1.zE8.ACSL.BuFrerSj6fvf&smid=url-share

Scary!

[Anonymous]

Re: fetal monitor. I remember the nurse wouldn't let me use the restroom because the baby's heart slowed down when I stood up (had to use a bedpan).

C-sections: I had two c-sections. I figured the second was likely because of the first (failure to progress) but I suppose I could have tried for a vbac first.

[Anonymous]

I hated the fetal monitor; I felt like I was tethered to the bed and not able to even adjust positions to relieve discomfort or cramping without setting it off. I'm still mad about that thing almost 10 years later.

[Anonymous]

I gave birth to my first 20 years ago and this was a thing then. The system sucks and women pay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I gave birth to my first 20 years ago and this was a thing then. The system sucks and women pay

The system is designed to keep women alive, and if you look over the course of history, the current one does a very very very good job. They may overprescribe c-sections but it’s 10000% better than the alternative.

When you find the solution that strikes the *perfect* balance you go ahead and let us know!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I gave birth to my first 20 years ago and this was a thing then. The system sucks and women pay

The system is designed to keep women alive, and if you look over the course of history, the current one does a very very very good job. They may overprescribe c-sections but it’s 10000% better than the alternative.

When you find the solution that strikes the *perfect* balance you go ahead and let us know!

We can do better than “good system compared to the medieval times”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I gave birth to my first 20 years ago and this was a thing then. The system sucks and women pay

The system is designed to keep women alive, and if you look over the course of history, the current one does a very very very good job. They may overprescribe c-sections but it’s 10000% better than the alternative.

When you find the solution that strikes the *perfect* balance you go ahead and let us know!

The problem is that overprescribing c-sections minimizes the risk of harm to the current baby/pregnancy, but significantly increases the risk of future pregnancies. Specifically, the rates of placenta accreta--which is incredibly dangerous and can lead to both maternal and fetal death--have increased significantly because it's safer, from a litigation perspective, for OBs to deliver by c-section.

[Anonymous]

I factored use of fetal monitors in my choice of hospital when I gave birth. I didn't like a lot of things about the hospital I used (GW) but did like that they didn't use these (they may used them where there are known issues with the fetus that need to be monitored, but for an otherwise healthy pregnancy, they didn't) and actually encouraged use of a doula, moving around during labor, etc. Their recovery department was really mediocre but I was pretty happy with their L&D team and policies.

[Anonymous]

I find PP's post about no monitoring at GW strange, because I was monitored continuously there with no known issues and it was ridiculous considering I was trying to do the whole doula/midwife/move around and work that baby out approach.

With my second I was at Sibley and while they strapped the monitor to me when I checked in, they treated it more like a backup indicator than robot boss - when it moved and we lost the heartbeat they were never concerned because it was pretty obvious nothing was wrong and the baby just wiggled out of range.

[Anonymous]

The medical industry never does anything wrong so this NYT article must be incorrect. We should trust all doctors 100% of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I gave birth to my first 20 years ago and this was a thing then. The system sucks and women pay

I was coming to post the same thing but 18 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find PP's post about no monitoring at GW strange, because I was monitored continuously there with no known issues and it was ridiculous considering I was trying to do the whole doula/midwife/move around and work that baby out approach.

With my second I was at Sibley and while they strapped the monitor to me when I checked in, they treated it more like a backup indicator than robot boss - when it moved and we lost the heartbeat they were never concerned because it was pretty obvious nothing was wrong and the baby just wiggled out of range.

I had the opposite experience at Sibley 18 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I gave birth to my first 20 years ago and this was a thing then. The system sucks and women pay

The system is designed to keep women alive, and if you look over the course of history, the current one does a very very very good job. They may overprescribe c-sections but it’s 10000% better than the alternative.

When you find the solution that strikes the *perfect* balance you go ahead and let us know!

We can do better than “good system compared to the medieval times”

Agreed. We do not need to chose between a current bad system and no system. I’m always struck by people who can’t see other options.

[Anonymous]

I too hated mine. Couldn’t move.

My biggest issue was the impatience of the nurses and doctor. I had super long labors. 3 of them. I mean 2 plus days in the hospital on pitocin. They threatened c section almost hourly. But in the end, when baby had finally descended, I pushed the babies out in 45 min or so. No issues pushing.

Why all the threatening about c sections??? I hear so many moms say they have c sections for failure to progress and I think they just didn’t wait long enough.

[Anonymous]

Two years ago when I gave birth at WHC, I requested wireless monitoring, and it was great! Not all the rooms had it, so it was not offered unless requested. I could walk around for the majority of my labor. The connection was spotty at times, but I never felt like that caused a huge problem. Eventually I have to be wired up, towards the end. Ended up doing a vaginal birth after an induction. I was worried about C-section given baby had 99% head.