Aspen Women’s Center

I believe a sign (shown in photos here) that demonstrates the physicians lack of willingness to accept a woman’a right to labor support really says it all. They do not practice evidence-​based care. Run away!

I had my daughter with a physician from Aspen Women’s Center in 2006. My care provider was frequently dismissive of my questions and concerns. I said that I didn’t want an episiotomy, and she wound up giving me one after only about 10 – 20 minutes of pushing. I know of at least one other patient who was given an episiotomy immediately after verbally declining (!). I suffered from dyspareunia for three years after having the episiotomy. Wait times for appointments were ALWAYS more than 1 hour, and then you would only see the doctor for 5 minutes. The office staff was incompetent as well as rude. They failed to update my insurance information when I told them to, then acted like it was my fault and told me I would have to give the updated information to their lab myself. Their lab hours conflicted with my work schedule, so this was a huge pain to me.
And then, of course, there is the now-​infamous, poorly-​punctuated, anti-​doula sign in the lobby (which I’m told has since been removed). Given the established medical benefits of having a doula, I find AWC’s stance towards doulas to be nothing short of unethical. Seriously, anywhere is better than here.

I don’t understand why any health practitioner would feel the need to post a sign telling you to go somewhere else if you want a birth support person such as a «Doula» or want to birth naturally using deep breathing and relaxation for support such as using the bradley Method. I’m really saddened that women would choose such a practice and turn their bodies and their birthing rights over to such a dehumanized way of caring for women.