New mom yelped when a gyno ripped tape off her C-section scar 6 weeks postpartum without warning — his response made her question her pain
Women remember the way they were treated during doctor visits, beyond the importance of consent, communication, and basic sensitivity. Six weeks after giving birth, Alex Ostebo, a new mother, returned to her OB-GYN for her postpartum checkup. She had a female doctor throughout her pregnancy whom she trusted and loved, but when she went into labor, the only one available to deliver her baby was a man. Under the Instagram handle @ostebograms, she recalled her experience on September 12, 2026. During the visit, she was asked to show the male doctor her C-section scar. Then, without warning, the doctor reached for the tape covering the scar and ripped it off. His excuse left her thoroughly disturbed.
The mother said she immediately yelped in pain, describing the sensation as similar to having a wax strip pulled from skin that had spent six weeks healing. Her husband reportedly jumped up, apparently ready to confront the doctor. But the doctor remained unfazed. His explanation was that it was simply "easier to rip it off like a Band-Aid." The woman said she couldn't help wondering whether the doctor would take the same approach with every woman recovering from a C-section, particularly without first telling her what he was about to do.
Her major concern was that something that reckless was done to a recently operated area without warning or giving her a chance to prepare for it. She asked other women whether she was being overly sensitive or whether the doctor's approach was as unsettling as it had felt to her. It left her wondering: when you're still recovering from childbirth, shouldn't a doctor tell you before touching or removing anything from a healing wound?
The post also drew reactions from other women, with several saying the experience was troubling and should not be dismissed. @mirandaspancakes wrote, “Even a waxer will give you a warning,” while @alessandra25vet urged the woman to “file a complaint,” adding that she believed there was a pattern of unnecessary pain being inflicted on female patients. Another commenter, @cathbaabe, echoed the call for action, writing, “You need to report it though in all seriousness.”
For many women, getting a doctor to take their pain seriously can be a struggle in itself. In another story, a 22-year-old woman named Niamh recalled visiting a male gynecologist after discovering a large, painful lump in her breast. She said the doctor initially dismissed her pain as imaginary and blamed it on breastfeeding or her menstrual cycle, despite neither applying to her. He eventually examined her briefly, but Niamh described the examination as “manhandling.” After she pushed for a scan, it confirmed the lump, and she was told she needed surgery. The doctor said he was “uncomfortable” performing the procedure because her “breasts were too nice to destroy.”
For more such stories, you can follow @ostebograms on Instagram.