Anyone know of Dr Simon Turner (Perth Obstetrician)?

[Jasziza]

A friend of mine is pregnant for the first time. She's wanting a natural birth, no epidural, but feels like she needs an obstetrician. She's had Simon Turner recommended to her and is booked in to see him. Do any of you Perth mammas know anything about his modus operandi? Attitude towards natural birth, respect for women's wishes, etc etc?

I know this is an unlikely place to post a question about an obsty! But maybe some of you have had sisters or friends who have taken a more mainstream approach to birth and so have crossed paths with him.

For the record, I'm pretty well versed on the cons of having a pregnancy / labour "managed" by an obsty (I wouldn't go near one with the proverbial unless absolutely necessary). I've shared a fair amount of information with my friend already but she's committed to the obstetric thang. I have however lent her a copy of Misconceptions... couldn't help myself!

[hanabi]

If she wants a natural birth, she doesn't need an obstetrician. That would be a big mistake. In Perth, do you not still have the Community Midwifery Program and the opportunity to home birth? Even if it is a hospital birth under a continuity model of midwifery care it would be better than inviting an unknown obstetrician to share your pregnancy and childbirth journey. They are specialists in complications. Midwives will refer her to an Ob if she develops complications requiring medical assessment. Otherwise, obstetricians are notorious for finding complications where there are none.

Hopefully a Perth member will come along shortly and clarify the availability of good midwives in the public system.




Oh, hang on. Just read the last par properly and I'll step off my soapbox. Find her a copy of New Active Birth, or even The Birth Wars by Mary-Rose MacColl which is Australian and highlights the differences between the mechanic/obstetric model and the organic/midwifery model with relative impartiality. If she's a smart woman, get her Obstetric Myths vs Research Realities by Henci Goer. They should all be available through public libraries.

Maybe she'll read Misconceptions and come to you with questions. We can live in hope.

[Destini]

My sister swears by this guy..I don't know why. She has given birth three times, and every time she has had an epidural, episiotomy and forceps. But then again, she never wanted a 'drug free' birth.

Sorry I couldn't be of any more help!

[Avalon]

The CMWA do a really informative lecture/info session called "Choices in Childbirth" that detail the stats of public and private hospitals in Perth. Does this doc operate out of one hospy exclusively? You dont have to be a member or on the program to access their events. At the end of the talk and slideshow there's Q&A. Perhaps you could go along with her and ask some 'pertinent' questions...

[lcorteen]

I had a natural labour at Attadale hospy under the care of Dr Chris Gunnell. the midwives call him 'magic hands' because he is so gentle. He was fantastic and Iwould highly recommend him to everyone, but especially to anyone wanting a VBAC of a natural birth but in hospy. I was recommended to have a c-sect after a 3rd degree tear and went to see him to get a 2nd opinion. He was brilliant. Used hypnobirthing techniques on us, 'let' me go 14 days overdue without any pressure to induce. He told me not to actively push and said he would support the head to reduce the risk of tearing, but didn't make it to the birth. His words rang in my mind as I laboured and even though the middy was saying 'OK push now' i remembered his words and let my body do the work. Had to use all my control not to push, but didn't and had NO TEAR!! He is just lovely. I remember him saying 'I don't understand women's need to give birth naturally - it makes no sense to me as a man. But I understand that it is a strong urge and so I see my job as supporting that desire and helping ensure it happens' What a guy. He has 4 kids....OK, I'll stop gushing!!

He is VERY hard to get into so if she is interested she needs to call NOW! From memory he has a partner by teh name of Simon but I can't really remember and I can't remember his surname.

His office is at Attadale hospy. and I think he works there and St Johns Murdoch. I wouldn't go to St Johns - their lactation consultants are from the dark ages and called my first bub 'naughty' because she wanted to latch in her own way rather than their prescirbed way.

Hope that helps. You probably know WA has the highest c-sect rate in the country. Pretty impressive in a country with the highest rate in the world. I was the only vaginal delivery in the whole hospy. The fact that I did it without drugs made me a superstar and the middies made such a big deal of it. Makes me feel sick that all the other women in the ward had that wonderful experience taken away from them, many of them unnecessarily.

Let us know how your friend goes. xx Louise

Oh, and feel free to PM me if she wants to chat

[hanabi]

Louise, I do so love hearing about open-minded and trusting obstetricians. Not that you needed him anyway.

[Greenmama2AJ]

Dr Gunnell is known for being a great obstetrician - especially if you need a VBAC (and I think that says a lot about an OB).

I have heard of Dr Simon Turner - but nothing particularly crunchy. He has delivered some of my friends at Subi I think.

I had Dr Mincham, for my 2nd pregnancy, at Murdoch SJOG. He is anti-monitoring, let me go over 8 days, I laboured and birthed on all fours, no monitoring, ate and drank what I wanted (but it was 2am in the morning so I pretty much just drank a few litres of water, I wasn't hungry). I discussed all of my natural birth plans with him beforehand and he was very supportive of everything. The midwives rock (but the lactation nurses do suck) I had an awesome natural birth.

I'm pretty sure that all private OB's in Perth will have high rates of c-sec's. Too many people too posh to push perhaps? A push for early inductions to suit timetables? I think that there are many women who actually ask for intervention. And also, with free natural birth options in Perth, if you are naturally inclined you tend to go through the Fremantle CMP or birth center - not spend the money to go through the private hospy's.

Good luck with your search x

Just a tip: get your friend to research a Bradley birth too (a partner assisted natural birth in a hospital setting). That worked well for us!

[lcorteen]

Just found this article on VBAC by the lovely Dr Gunnell.

Dr Chris Gunnell

gotta love this quote:

Vaginal Birth after Caesarean (VBAC) is a viable and safe option for most.

[Jasziza]

Thanks so much for all of your replies, ladies!

Looks like she's going with Simon Turner - she reckons he's very confident and straightforward, which she likes and feels comfortable with. She's a pretty upfront person herself, so I hope that she can advocate strongly for herself. Her DH doesn't sound like he'll be a strong advocate of a natural birth (though I hope I'm wrong) - apparently a friend of a friend was telling them about her magical waterbirth at the FBC and he said waterbirthing was unnatural... hmmmm... Anyway, I'll pass on the tip for researching a Bradley birth, thanks Mel.

Anyway, my friend has booked into a great prenatal yoga class with a teacher who is an inspirational advocate of natural birth, so hopefully she will be well prepared.

I was recommended to have a c-sect after a 3rd degree tear I remember him saying 'I don't understand women's need to give birth naturally - it makes no sense to me as a man. But I understand that it is a strong urge and so I see my job as supporting that desire and helping ensure it happens'

I found Dr Gunnell's comment really interesting - at first I thought it was lovely.... but then I thought some more about it. When he says he doesn't understand the need to give birth naturally, does he mean that he doesn't understand the incredibly well orchestrated mechanics of labour that have so many benefits for the mother and child?? But maybe he said this is in a humorous manner and I'm just reading too deeply into it. It wouldn't be the first time! :LOL

[lcorteen]

Well good news about the yoga, and sounds like she is open to info. Shame about the hubby. Mine was totally petrified and in hindsight I would have had a doula or friend with me as well as him.

I found Dr Gunnell's comment really interesting - at first I thought it was lovely.... but then I thought some more about it. When he says he doesn't understand the need to give birth naturally, does he mean that he doesn't understand the incredibly well orchestrated mechanics of labour that have so many benefits for the mother and child?? But maybe he said this is in a humorous manner and I'm just reading too deeply into it. It wouldn't be the first time! :LOL

Yeah... think you misunderstood. I think he was just in awe that women would want to go through pain for a prolonged period of time (not that it has to be that way of course - just look at those amazing women on orgasmic birth)... I think he just felt that he couldn't cope with it himself was my feeling. I think he fully understands that natural birth is, well... natural! Just not something he would want to do having seen it a few thousand times and from a mans POV I guess???