A Birth Activist Has Surgery
This week I went in for a non-birth related surgery. However, throughout the process I was glad that I am a birth activist. For one thing, what I’ve learned about reading before making decisions has never been more relevant. I had treatment options, though there were certain things that my doctor suggested. I knew I had choices. I knew I had rights to refuse treatment. In the end, I chose to pursue the treatment my doctor suggested, surgery, but I did so knowing I was informed. On the day of my surgery, the nurse was shocked when I – get this – actually wanted to read the papers she wanted me to sign. I asked the anesthesiologist in-depth questions about his drugs. These are things I learned from birth experiences. My surgery went well and I’m on the road to recovery. I feel confident about my doctor, my surgery and my choices. If every pregnant woman and new mother felt this way when faced with a choice we would be achieving our goals as birth activists.
Dr. Drew Sucks at Breastfeeding
I had caught a few episodes of “16 and Pregnant” on MTV this season. Mostly, I was disappointed at how many inductions were shown but all of the episodes I caught had vaginal births (albeit intervention-ful.) Tonight I turned on the “16 and Pregnant Reunion- Life After Labor” and most of it didn’t surprise me. They didn’t sugar-coat motherhood and the moms complained like crazy about how horrible labor was. No one mentioned a childbirth class or a doula. ?Then an audience member asked why none of the mother’s breastfed. One mother mentioned that she had tried breastfeeding and it was horrible. Dr. Drew interrupted her and yelled “It HURTS!” I’m pretty sure Dr. Drew has no personal experience with breastfeeding and has obviously not read any breastfeeding texts, ever. Breastfeeding should not hurt! Dr. Drew Pinsky is best known for radio/TV show Love Line where he gave advice on sex, love and relationships to teens and twenty-somethings. Dr. Drew is a bit of an icon but if he is giving out bad advice should today’s youth look somewhere else? What about Mary Jo Podgurski? If you want to see some interviews with the moms from “16 and Pregnant” you can look here. You can also write to MTV and suggest that Dr. Drew get some breastfeeding education at this address:
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Husband of A Birth Activist
What does it mean to be the husband of a birth activist? I was considering this as my husband and I were driving down the road today. We were discussing a couple with whom we had just had lunch. They were pregnant and assuming they would have a c-section for LGA. Finally, my husband said “You can’t always change people’s minds. Sometimes they are going to make decisions that will hurt them.” Obviously, as the wife of a birth activist, he listens to my rants frequently. But what does that mean for him? Do partners of birth activists feel the same way about the importance of normal birth? What about your partner? My husband agrees with me but doesn’t think it’s his responsibility to educate people the way I do. I’m OK with that as long as he stands up for our decisions and gives good advice if people ask for it. How does your partner act?
AMA Seeks to Label “Non-Compliant” Patients
One of the great things about being an informed consumer is that you get to take part in the care you receive. This is why informed consent and informed refusal are so important. Just because one medical professional believes you need XYZ doesn’t mean that it is always right for you. This is especially so in pregnancy and birth. If pregnant women blindly say yes to everything that is offered to them they will find themselves poked, prodded and worried, if not truly physically hurt.?
So when I read this article from ICAN, I couldn’t believe it. My chart would be the first to be labeled Non-Compliant. Just because I want to choose what happens to my body and my baby I am “ungrateful”? I don’t think so. I’m certainly grateful for a doctor who has taken the time to tell me their opinion. That doesn’t mean I have to agree.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate all we do as mothers. Rarely do we receive the credit we deserve for our work. Thank you for what you do as a birth activist. Helping women find their way joyfully into motherhood is a lost art in our world. Whether your role is doula, childbirth educator, midwife, friend or mom of a future mother or father, what you do is important.?
“Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers – strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.” —-Barbara Katz-Rothman
Women in Labor
I was having lunch with my doula today and asked her if she ever felt like she couldn’t talk to someone after their birth because of the way they had behaved in labor. She replied “No. I can excuse a lot.” When I think of the media’s portrayal of women in labor it’s screaming and frantic. While that can certainly happen (especially in cases where women are not well prepared) most women aren’t like that. “Quirky” is a good word for it. I love hearing stories of women’s labor where they decided they needed to rub one certain sheet or say one word over and over. What do you think brought on this image of women behaving like monkeys just because they are in labor? How can we change people’s attitudes about what labor looks like?
A Safer First Bath
One of the things that you may not think about as a benefit of homebirth is that you get to choose how your baby is first bathed. Having seen how some babies are scrubbed down in hospitals, I think it’s pretty scary. They may even use some baby products that you wouldn’t THINK of using at home. That’s why I was encouraged when I read about Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital in Oregon and their plan on using safer baby products for first baths. (Thanks to Tanya at Motherwear for alerting us to this!) How cool is that? If you read the article you will notice that this hospital has also Banned the Bags. Hooray!
Supporting Women with Epidurals
As I was lying in bed last night I was thinking about the differences in the way we treat women who have epidurals. For the most part, I think that women who are laboring without pain medication tend to command the attention of room. She *looks* like she’s in labor. But what about women, who for whatever reason, have an epidural? With of these births I think of the attention being drawn towards other things. Be that the dad, the grandparents or the television. How do we keep the focus on the woman and the birth when a woman is not feeling her body’s work? One thing that can help is hiring a doula. Doulas can help refocus the energy of the room. What about massaging her hands, talking to her about her baby, etc? What kinds of things do you think would help support a woman who is laboring with epidural anesthesia?
Aha Moment?
I just saw this commercial on TV. Having never dealt with infertility I don’t have personal experience to draw from. My sense is that giving someone struggling with infertility a baby gift wouldn’t be inspiring, it would be upsetting. What do you think?
Baby Sleep Issues
My daughter just hit six months (I can’t believe it!) but we’re starting to have some real sleep issues. How to get naps in/when/where etc.? I’ve heard great things about Elizabeth Pantley’s books and am excited to read her newest book??The No-Cry Nap Solution: Guaranteed?Gentle Ways?to Solve All Your Naptime Problems.” Click the link to learn more about the book or if you have a review or suggestion (crying it out isn’t compatible with our parenting philosophy) post a comment!