Am so angry at Inova Fairfax Hospital and Dr. Al-Khouatley

[Anonymous]

NP here. File a complaint all you want, no one did anything wrong. Or you could use that precious time to spend with your (thankfully) healthy newborn before you have to go back to work.

[Anonymous]

Good point, 14:16. Moreover, energency medicine does not mean the doctor gets a free pass for gruffness. Plus the doctor could have discussed it all with OP after things calmed down and explained why, for example, she dove in and started cutting anyway. OP, you should write the doctor a letter (have your husband read it before you send it) and ask for a response. Sorry the delivery was less than ideal, but congrats on your baby!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with a lot of people here, hearing that you are not fully numb and hearing too late I already started cutting are enough to warrant fear and is disconcerting. I would want to know why she had already made the cut before the anesthesiologist had given the go ahead...

Gee, I wonder if it was because it was an emergency and she was trying to save the baby's life.

You must know that all unscheduled c-sections are called emergency c-sections right? It does not necessarily mean that the baby has to come out right this second and every moment counts. I think those of you who are being so hard on OP need to lay off. OP I think you need to bring this up with the doctor, maybe her response will clear the air between you two.

No, I don't believe that all unscheduled c-sections are emergency c-sections. But when OP wrote that she had an "emergency c-section" I took her at her word that the situation was an emergency.

[Anonymous]

OBVIOUSLY a healthy baby is the most important thing. Doesn't that go without saying? But it doesn't mean that the medical providers should be excused for anything they did so long as the end result was good. At best, it sounds like they were unpleasant and unprofessional. Not malpractice, maybe, but enough to feel very traumatic to a woman who is already in an intense situation. And that's not acceptable. I'm glad OP shared this so I know not to use this doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry you had to go through such a scary time, OP. And that you had to do it without any support.

I also had an emergency c. (A true emergency -- it was touch and go as to whether they had time to do the spinal or if they just needed to put me under.) In a situation like that, everyone's moving fast and some of the checks and counterchecks don't get done. My surgeon started the incision and I yelled "I feel that!"

Definitely talk out your feelings with your husband, and certainly with your doctor. (Or write a letter if you're not comfortable doing it in person.) We can handle a lot when we feel like people are behind us, helping us. But encountering trauma without support or understanding adds another layer of distress to the situation and makes it harder to process what happened.

Very nice response.

OP, I will say that although your experience does not sound like the kind of birth any of us wants (esp. if you didn't have a husband or anyone there with you to make you feel less than totally alone), I hope it will not diminish your experience to say that it's possible that by the time of your 6-week appointment, you may feel differently about this, or at least better able to express yourself to your doctor. I would give her a chance at least to talk about it with you before just complaining-- not because it's the best thing for her, but because it might be the best thing for YOU to hear what she was thinking and get an explanation for what was a very scary experience for you. Doctors see so many births that many things become routine, and some doctors forget that this is NOT routine or familiar for their patients. I think some doctors also pretty much assume that their patients have taken childbirth classes and read books and such and have memorized exactly what will happen in certain situations so they don't have to walk us through them step-by-step. If your doctor doesn't have time to at least discuss your birth with you at the 6-week visit, well, then I think there's really a problem.

[Anonymous]

My epidural stopped working mid-way through my c/s (baby was already out). While the anesthesiologist was fixing things, the OB proceeded with the surgery. And it was NOT an emergency (c/s was scheduled, and other than the epi not working, the surgery seemed to be happening according to plan). So, if OP's situation was a true emergency, I can see them being in a rush to get the baby out.

I am surprised that the OP was not told she would swell - I was specifically told that would happen, my feet were already pretty swollen when I left the hospital and I was told it would get worse before it got better (which it did). I honestly don't see this as a a cause for a complaint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with a lot of people here, hearing that you are not fully numb and hearing too late I already started cutting are enough to warrant fear and is disconcerting. I would want to know why she had already made the cut before the anesthesiologist had given the go ahead...

Gee, I wonder if it was because it was an emergency and she was trying to save the baby's life.

I am the poster that you are quoting. The doctor could take the time to say "hey this is an emergency we need to go in for your babies sake" or take the time AFTER to explain that. Also like another poster commented I am fairly certain all unscheduled C-Sections are called Emergency C-Sections.

[Anonymous]

Op I was pissed at my nurses and the on call doc after my delivery for repeatedly telling me that I was making no progress and to just settle down and wait until morning to start pitocin. This went on until 10 minutes before delivery. Anyway, since it was the oncall doc, even though I brought this up at my 6 week appt I never got to figure out why they did this to me. Although I'm definitely *over* it, I wish i had pursued it with the oncall doc to figure out why I got such shitty care. Good luck and congratulations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with a lot of people here, hearing that you are not fully numb and hearing too late I already started cutting are enough to warrant fear and is disconcerting. I would want to know why she had already made the cut before the anesthesiologist had given the go ahead...

Gee, I wonder if it was because it was an emergency and she was trying to save the baby's life.

I am the poster that you are quoting. The doctor could take the time to say "hey this is an emergency we need to go in for your babies sake" or take the time AFTER to explain that. Also like another poster commented I am fairly certain all unscheduled C-Sections are called Emergency C-Sections.

No, there is a HUGE difference between an unscheduled C-section which happen all the time for things like "failure to progress" and an emergency C-section which is rare and means that the baby needs to come out immediately or it's life or the mother's is on the line. With an unscheduled c-section the urgency is much diminished.

[Anonymous]

While the Op may have some valid complaints the fact that she screamed and cried because they had to poke her more than once to get a vein does say whiny. It isn't that painful to have an IV put in.

[Anonymous]

Agree with pp. I have very small veins that also sit on a tendon. Even with a child sized needle (its thinner) it always takes them at least 10 min. I have never screamed or cried. Pps who suggest sending a letter to the medical bored...for what? Gruffness? Difficulty finding a vein? I see nothing on this thread that warrants the medical board to be alerted. No negligence, no permanent harm....

[Anonymous]

Just curious, but why is it that swelling is so common after a C-section?

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm truly sorry about the lack of sympathy from the assholes on this forum. It was a traumatic experience for you and I'm very sorry for that. I couldn't care less whether other people think it was or wasn't a bad experience, it's your experience that matters.

I do suggest that you get a little time away from it and if it still bothers you, then call the practice to discuss it. Yes, maybe it was an emergency C section, but doctors perform them all the time. That doesn't mean it has to be an emergency panic like crazy and forget about bedside manner c section.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm sorry you went through what you did.

I had an experience similar at a different hospital where my DD received horrible care and I did ultimately file a complaint with her ped practice. So, if after you have some time to heal, you still feel that you were unhappy with your care, it might be helpful to either talk to someone at the practice or file a complaint if warranted.

Best wishes for you and your new baby!

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm sorry your experience didn't meet up to your expectations. As others have said an emergency c-section is just that an emergency and they try to get the baby out as quickly as they can and make sure that everyone is okay. You are a bit hormonal still from the birth and I would give it a couple of weeks to see if you still feel such anger! If so, then either discuss or if you don't feel comfortable, write a letter.

Dr. Al-Khouatley delivered my twins almost 7 1/2 years ago at Inova FFx. I had the complete opposite of your experience. I was on bedrest at the hospital when my water broke at 32 weeks. I was freaking out because in my mind it was way too early. Dr. Khoury's group, I think the doctor on call early in the morning was Dr. Bronksi then Al-Khauatley came in around mid day and she is the one that ended up doing my delivery. Again, I experienced nothing but the best and most professional care. The anesthesiologist was so sweet, I was so stressed I couldn't arch my back the way he needed me to, even though it's not typical procedure he allowed my DH in while he gave me the epidural. Dr. Al-Khouatley was nothing short of professional, and loving with me during a very traumatic time in my life. She was kind and reassuring during the c-section and quite frankly fast. At one point I asked DH have they started cutting yet and he said yes they are done, next second I hear one of my boys crying and the next minute I hear the other. While I didn't get to spend anytime with the babies as they both needed to be put on breathing monitors, I was so grateful for the care I received. Luckily, I didn't swell, I did get a fever two days later, so had to stay an extra day in the hospital. The day following my delivery, Al-Khouately comes in my room and asked if I had taken a shower yet, and I said no, I'm in so much pain. I had been on bedrest for 12 weeks, she did say to me, get up take a shower and you will feel better, I will come back in 2 hours and I want to see you showered and walking around. I thought I'd die, but I did survive, in plenty of pain, but I had two little boys!!! One funny tidbit about Dr. Al-Khouatley is that she is so short she has to stand on a step stool to deliver the babies. She also delivered my neighbors triplets and without complications.