Birth Rape

I just read this article the other day; More Than a Traumatic Birth. After reading the article and the comments, it is apparent how controversial the term “Birth Rape” is. The term isn’t just controversial, but the idea of a birth that a person would classify as a rape, seems to be something that is very jarring to most.

I personally had a birth that fits into the category of “birth rape”, however, I generally don’t use the term, as it causes uncomfortable silence and ends conversations that I want to have. It is difficult though, not having an understandable term for what happened. Describing the birth as “traumatic” paints pictures of a birth that went physically wrong which required major interventions, which is not exactly what happened in my case. The actions of the hospital staff and midwife were the major source of emotional trauma for me.

How do you feel about the term “birth rape”?

Vote for Birth on Labor Day (BOLD)

Ideablob has 8 groups in the running this month for $10,000. Birth on Labor Day (BOLD) is one of those groups. They need your votes!

Did you know that last year alone, BOLD raised more than $75,000 for mother friendly maternity care? Let’s help them help moms and babies by voting for them and spreading the word. Voting ends soon, so vote today!

Scared of Normal?

Today I was talking with another pregnant woman about her upcoming birth. She said she was scared to give birth vaginally and had chosen a scheduled c-section. I must have looked at her like she had three heads. I explained that I am petrified of a major abdominal surgery. What is it about our culture that makes women fear what is normal and natural? How can staples and sutures in your belly be a better alternative?

Luckily, this did give me a chance to discuss my views on elective cesarean sections and clear up a few of her misconceptions. Then I went on to tell her a few things that my husband and I are doing to avoid an unnecessary surgery.

For example:
* Attending a good childbirth class series.
* Hiring a doula.
* Choosing a practitioner who believes in the power of a woman’s body to birth without intervention.

Healthy People 2020 Needs YOUR Help

This year there are regional focus groups and meetings on the goals for the Healthy People 2020. You can submit pre-written questions or sign up to attend to have your voices heard about your thoughts on what the goals should be in 2020.
Topics to think about might include:

• Disparities in maternity care
• Transparency in maternity care
• The rising cesarean rate
• The rising Maternal Mortality rate
• Breastfeeding rates

Share with us what questions you have submitted!

Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS)

I’m in sunny Florida! It’s actually a miracle that I made it here, but I’m enjoying the warm weather and its snowing in home. Thursday was our first full day and we had a full day workshop on various topics. I was a part of the Grassroots Activist Committee (GAC) workshop on doing GACSTATS (collecting facility level data from all 50 states) and The Birth Survey (a type of “consumer report” for birth care).
It was very thrilling! We were given instructions on how to make this happen in our states, where to get the information and how the information is gathered and used. Nasima, Elan and I worked on showing how people could market the Birth Survey.
Last night Dr. Charles Mahan gave a very inspirational speech on the changing statistics in the world of birth. Having been an OB for 40+ years, he had seen a lot.

Want to talk about Birth Alternatives?

KQED is asking for people to talk about alternative birth trends and in general. Want to join the discussion? You’ve been invited…

Planting Seeds of Fear

Recently, I heard this story:

A woman chose a doctor for her prenatal care. The doctor told her that because she has red hair, she is probably going to need a c-section.

This woman is having her first baby. She is young, healthy, eats well and exercises daily.

Her doctor is planning major surgery without any evidence that it is needed. The mother was not even in her third trimester or in labor.

She was able to see through this man’s plans to plant seeds of fear in her mind and she changed providers. That is great news. But why aren’t doctors held accountable to provide evidence based care?

When ACOG scorns midwifery, which has been proven time and again to offer families the best outcomes, it seems that it is only to take our minds off of what they are doing, or perhaps not doing, for women’s health.