Abstract
Almost 20 years ago, we both finished Ob/Gyn residency training programs and joined obstetrics and gynecology practices in the northeastern part of the United States. We each remember our in-hospital days–Thursday and Friday, because they always began by starting several inductions on the labor floor and then performing 1 or 2 scheduled cesarean deliveries. Scheduling deliveries was the norm in those days. Patients would eagerly take out their brand new Palm Pilots to pick a date for their induction or cesarean. Once a patient had reached “term,” defined as 37 weeks gestation, everyone agreed that it was fair game to start planning for delivery. The high rate of planned delivery represented a perfect storm in which patients’ and providers’ interests aligned precisely. What patient didn’t want to schedule her induction or cesarean by the light of a day and avoid a mad dash to the hospital? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to tell your boss exactly when your maternity leave would start and be sure that Grandma was in town to watch your other kids? And planning was a win–win for providers as well, because it allowed you to personally deliver your patients. Once a woman had reached 37 weeks, delivery was often scheduled on your hospital day and … Address correspondence to Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH, Montefiore Medical Center, 1695 Eastchester Rd, Suite 301, Bronx, NY 10461. E-mail: siobhanmdolan{at}yahoo.com
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