Anonymous wrote:After a c-section, my disappointed wife was talking with her (awesome) OB, who said, "Well, it would could have been worse. 100 years ago you and the baby would have died." Definitely put things in perspective.
When an OB responds to someone’s birth trauma with “it could be worse—100 years ago you wouldn’t have survived,” it can feel dismissive and unhelpful. Comments like this often come across as minimizing the patient’s experience, suggesting that because they and their baby survived, their trauma isn’t valid. Going through a difficult birth, like an emergency C-section, can be physically and emotionally overwhelming, and comparing it to historical outcomes doesn’t help someone process the pain they actually feel.
A more supportive approach would acknowledge that the experience was hard and that their feelings are real and important. It’s essential for women to feel heard and understood, especially in vulnerable moments. A compassionate response would encourage open dialogue, showing that their well-being matters—not just physically, but emotionally too. Mothers need to feel safe talking about their trauma and get the support they need to heal.It is inappropriate for a doctor to tell her or anyone what/how someone else “should” feel and smacks of CYA if they thought you might be litegous.