Do not go to Kathleen Jones-Monte if you wan to avoid a c-section. I had more than the average amount of amniotic fluid near the end of my pregnancy. J-M sent me for 2 ultrasounds a week for 3 weeks in addition to the weekly vaginal exams and ultrasounds that simply checked the weight and height of the baby - that's 4 appointments a week for 3 weeks. These tests, it turns out, were completely unnecessary. The constant doctor visits and the demeanor Jones-Monte added undo stress. At 38 weeks, I had an ultrasound to measure the the baby. Jones-Monte started to suggest a c-section when I was 38 weeks - even though I explicitly said multiple times I didn't want a c-section. The reasons Jones-Monte gave were nebulous, but her tone was dramatic. Even though the prediction of a large baby and higher than average amniotic fluid are not indications for an elective c-section according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Family Physicians, Jones-Monte said things like ""you have a higher change of shoulder dystocia and a higher chance of chord prolapse. If either of those things happen when you are not at the hospital your baby will DIE!"" She became a bully. She even suggested a c-section to eleviate a mild pregnancy rash (PUPPS). The fact is, if doctors need to avoid all potential complications, regardless of how rare, then every baby should be born via c-section. However, c-sections carry their own risks, and c-section related risks are higher than the risks of vaginal birth particularly if you plan to have more than one child.
So, despite Jones-Monte's dire warning (that my baby would DIE!), she agreed to wait a full week to try an induction, which was a day before I was due. However when she did a vaginal exam close to my induction time, I had a very low Bishop score (no dilation, no effacement). For these reasons, Jones-Monte thought I would probably end up with a c-section anyway. So after some deliberation, I called her office to cancel the induction because the last thing I wanted was get induced, for the induction to fail and then have a c-section anyway because my body wasn't ready. When I saw Jones-Monte next, she treated me as though I had terribly inconvenienced her. She threatened to legally drop me as a patient.
Long story short: My choice at that point was either a home birth or a scheduled for a c-section. The midwife I liked was out of town that week, so I was scheduled with Monte for a c-section. I was sobbing as I entered the surgical room. When the procedure started, Jones-Monte never acknowledged me. She simply started to cut. During the procedure, she chatted with the other doctor about how fattening granola is. The anesthesiologist was the only person explaining to me and my husband what was happening to my body and my baby. I had a good recovery from the surgery in part because I was physically active through out my pregnancy. It was simply not my choice to have an unnecessary c-section, and I feel violated for that reason. The last insult came when Jones-Monte did not want to see me (I am assuming) for a check-up after the c-section where my incision was to be checked. Her assistant checked me (who is not a nurse), and removed two staples that were accidentally left in at the hospital.
In my discussions with others who have gone to her for obstetric care, we have noted that she routinely lies to her patients about the need for a c-section. Almost all of her patients end up with the surgery because of ""complications"" that only she can see. It is wise to question everything she does and get second opinions.
I recently had a baby girl, and because of my experiences with Jones-Monte, I decided to have my baby at home with a trained medical professional. It was a wonderful experience. My daughter was 8lbs, and I had a two-hour labor.
Pros: Good surgeon
Cons: Is very quick to perform a c-section, and will push for one
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