Author Archives: Unnecesarean

VBAC from a Care Provider’s Perspective

Share  What is it really like to be a hospital care provider attending VBACs? Janelle from Birth Sense describes it in this post submitted to the ICAN VBAC Blog Carnival. The whole post provides a very rational, no nonsense description … Continue reading

Posted in General, Hospital Birth, Informed Consent, Obstetricial Interventions, Obstetrics, VBAC | Leave a comment

Angie’s List Induction-Turned-Cesarean Commercial

Transcript of an actual Angie’s List review: At my 41 week appointment, my OB decided to induce me, but I guess I took longer than he expected because just as I went into hard labor, he told me he was … Continue reading

Posted in General, Hospital Birth | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Restriction of Food and Drink in Labor from a Medical Anthropologist’s Perspective

The recent Cochrane review, Restricting oral fluid and food intake during labour, analyzed five studies and concluded that women should be free to eat and drink in labor at will. Since the evidence shows no benefits or harms, there is … Continue reading

Posted in General, Hospital Birth, Obstetricial Interventions | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Quote of the Day: Make Yourself Look Important and Busy

“A doctor must do something. He cannot remain a spectator merely, where there are many witnesses, and where interest in what is going on is too deep to allow of his inaction.” Walter Channing, 1848 Harvard Medical School professor of … Continue reading

Posted in Labor and Birth, Obstetricial Interventions, Obstetrics | Leave a comment

No Intervention Necessary: Woman Has Surprise HBAC

This surprise out-of-hospital birth story focused on the toddler-as-midwife angle. Just as interesting, however, was the fact that this woman avoided surgery. She was scheduled for her fourth cesarean on December 6, 2009. Congratulations to the family. Two-year-old Jeremiha Taylor … Continue reading

Posted in Cesarean Section, Homebirth, Natural Childbirth, Unassisted Birth, VBAC | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Bring a Loved One, Friend, or Doula for Continuous Support

When discussion of doula care surfaces on the Internet, it is always surprising how many commenters dismiss continuous labor support by a trained professional as unscientific fluff. Couples who hire a doula are sometimes labeled as selfish, out for “the … Continue reading

Posted in Dad, DONA International, Doulas, Labor and Birth, Natural Childbirth | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

CDC Releases New Report Comparing U.S. and European Infant Mortality Rates

The CDC National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released a new report this morning which compares infant mortality rates in the U.S. and Europe. Authors of Behind International Rankings of Infant Mortality: How the United States Compares with Europe explored … Continue reading

Posted in Centers for Disease Control (CDC), General, March of Dimes, Midwifery, Prematurity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Obstetricians: They are listening

Think no one is listening to what you have to say as a birth activist? Think again…
Continue reading

Posted in Cesarean Section, Childbirth Education, Obstetricial Interventions, Obstetrics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cochrane Review Finds No Evidence for Treating Group B Strep with Antibiotics

The following is the summary of the recently published Cochrane review, Intrapartum antibiotics for known maternal Group B streptococcal colonization, which found that giving antibiotics is not supported by conclusive evidence: Women, men and children of all ages can be … Continue reading

Posted in General | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

NHS YouTube Video Campaign Teaches Teens that Birth is Humiliating

The Leicester NHS Trust posted an anti-teen pregnancy campaign video on YouTube aimed at teaching school-age girls and young women that sex (or unprotected sex) should be avoided because it can result in pregnancy, which will end with birth, which is excruciating, humiliating and shameful.

Click over to read more… Continue reading

Posted in Birth Trauma, Childbirth Education, Labor and Birth, Teen Pregnancy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments