United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I was just wondering if you think BPI also happens to very wealthy families too?

I am neither wealthy nor poor but do you think it could happen to a famous persons kid?
or, do you think wealthy people have 'better' doctors? Do you also think that famous people do not gain so much weight so BPI doesnt happen to their kids?
(I know weight gain is not the only thing that leads to BPI)

I know I'm gonna get killed for these questions! Im sorry if I offended anyone.
someone always gets offended on a question that is asked!

I'm not at all offended by your questions. But I was confused by something that you said. Weight can leads to BPI. I was not aware of this. I only gained 28lbs. and I was not overweight to begin with. Just wondering.

No offense here. Yes, I do think it can happen to wealthy people as well. There seems to be many well educated, afluent families that join us here and there is a young man that lives next door to my son that while not a movie star but is quite well off and he is an OBPI.

I'm sure it can happen to anyone regardless of wealth. What is interesting is that when you get involved in the legality, the attorneys want to know your financial and educational background. They give that information to a financial analyst for the lawsuit.

OBPI could happen to anyone!! Seems what matters the most is a compasionate and alert Doctor who is unwilling to risk Shoulder Dystocia but who is capable of delivering a SD birth too! I have heard about weight gain being a contribution too because generally it puts your body our of shape and produces a bigger baby but that is not written in stone either, just a possiblity!!

Just so you know, I only gained 13 pounds with Ashley, ROBPI, and she was 7lbs 14oz. The Doc's new I had a akward shaped pelvis but I didn't know about SD and it's risks so I chose to deliver naturally! Boy was I wrong!!

Anyway good luck and I hope you get the answers you need.

Lenni

We are not wealthy, we just live comfortable thanks to God. We have good insurance and had a good ob so I thought. Just a question though, why do they need the info on financial and education? Don't make sense.

I don't think your questions is to far off base. I think famous people can get people to do what they want. Even a doctor to do a C-Section upon request. I did not have that option even though I asked for it. I know a woman who is very well know by the medical field and she made them give her a C-Section upon request. Oh if this were true for the rest of us Gabrielle would be fine today. By the way why isn't it?

Pardon me for saying this (don't mean any harm) - but I've been to bpi picnics in different areas and since I have guilt about being heavy I look at these kind of things. Quite frankly - at picnics the majority of women there are normal sized women with a handful of obese women. So I wouldn't categorize 'fat' in the majority. The risk is in how much weight a woman gains during her pregnancy which puts the baby at a higher risk of being macrosomic. I think that being GD holds as higher risk for the babies because they grow bigger shoulders when the mom is GD and GD affects women of all sizes. And maybe affluent women may have less occurance of GD because their diets are at a different level of quality?

also - I think that someone paying cash for treatment will have a much different treatment than someone who comes in with an HMO that pays only 15% of what should be paid. How can the doctor NOT be a bit resentful about that. And maybe for the person paying cash, the doctor is actually there managing the labor- not rushing in at the last second as the head's trying to crown. I am sorry - I guess my resentment is showing.

Francine

I paid cash for the first and second baby... first baby the doctor was a no show Thank God... she was transverse and SD and the doctor who showed up to finish the job saved us all... the second baby he was waiting for me... he knew my biggest fear was that my kids would be hurt like me....

As for weight gain... I was skinny... gained only 13 lbs.. and my first was only 8 lb 3oz... no signs that I would have SD birth... I bless him every day especially now... I think because my Mom had no money that is why she did not get C-Section... they knew how risky her pregnancy was after loosing 3 children due to birth injury...

I think it is a matter of how well educated the doctor is and how intense and devoted he is to his patient's... that is what truly matters... I really don't think its all a matter of money... Lucky for me I have met doctors who are devoted to patient care... and I have met the others! too!!!..............

If someone one famous gets this or someone not so famous it is a matter of luck. I think the lack of information out there is what causes more problems... if the general population was Aware of the possibility of bpi injuy to their babies the doctors would have no choice but to be right on top of their game....

just my two cents...

I don't think weight gain and baby weight is really the same... my friends gained 50 lbs and had 6/7 lb. babies I gained 13, 14, & 17 lb.... and my last baby was only 9 lbs... the doctors said because I smoked when I was pregnant.... ok don't throw rocks.... they use to teach that the placenta was a barrier.... The only apparent risk was that I am short 5'3".

Kath

Ops... I also wanted to add... my Mom did not get Diabetes until she was in her mid 60's.....

She was 5'8" - I was 11 lb. 14 oz.
I was born when she was about 43 and I am # 8.

I never think any mother should feel guilty... it is never the Mother's fault... even with GD... that is something no mother has control over.

Kath