Posted June 1st, 2010 in
A 28-year-old Somali woman, G2P1, full term, presents in active labor. After several hours of labor, the fetal monitor indicates increasing fetal distress. The obstetrician recommends Cesarean section. The patient refuses a Cesarean, stating that her first baby was delivered Cesarean because her obstetrician estimated the baby was too large to safely deliver via vaginal birth. The surgery was very traumatic for the patient, and her baby was normal weight, so she does not believe the doctors when they advise her she needs another Cesarean. She repeatedly verbalizes, “My baby will be fine.