If you need a C-Section, this doctor is the guy to go to. He stitched up my wife's incision with great skill. The scar is barely noticeable. I imagine the skill comes from performing LOTS of C-sections.
So we birthed our first two children with Dr Herriges. If you go with the flow and submit to the medical model of childbirth, He is the nicest OBGYN you'll ever come across. That was the experience of the first birth. We were 1 week overdue, my wife was induced, induction failed (surprise!!) and she was sectioned. Thankfully he did say my wife could have a natural birth the next time around.
After this experience along with lots of reflection, my wife felt this experience just wasn't right. Things didn't add up. So, she educated herself on natural childbirth and VBAC and soon I jumped on board as well.
She designed a birth plan and wanted to take ownership of her birth experience. When she presented Dr Herriges with her plan, out came the red pen and many many requests were slashed off the list. His dismissive remarks of natural childbirth as being "granola" were many. He also employed his manipulative statements regarding possible risks factors: "there is a 1% chance of (insert complication) happening, but if it happens to you its 100%."
So we carried on and foolishly & did not search for another provider.
On the day of birth as labor dragged on for hours and hours, Dr Herriges pushed to have us sign consent to C-section forms. We refused and he was NOT pleased. He proceeded to engage in a yelling match with my wife (WHILE IN LABOR) explaining his disapproval or our own research on Vaginal Birth after C-Section and he dismissed that being in a calm setting and focusing on the birth would have any positive influence on getting labor going.
Next he warned us that the risk of carrying on without intervention would lead to a baby born with palsy because the baby was tachycardic. Thankfully we educated ourselves on tachycardia and how to understand the medical instruments. The baby was fine.
He also explained that my wife's pelvis was untested and probably unable to birth a baby.
After continued conflict with Dr Herriges, I took him outside and instructed him to stay away from our room and he was banned unless I requested his presence.
6 hours later....our baby was born vaginally. No Palsy, Healthy, 10 lb baby boy.
Funny thing....while waiting for the Placenta to pass, Dr Herriges looked up to the clock (it was 10pm) and unwittingly said, "well looks like I missed my daughter's birthday party."
Needless to say our next baby will not be born in a hospital or attended by an OBGYN. It will be at home with a Midwife.
Thanks Doc! read more