Category Archives: Induction

Labor Begins On Its Own

The first healthy birth practice is simple enough – let labor start on its own.? This means no meddling around.? You don’t need to tinker with a process that’s ultimately perfect for the vast majority of women.? Your baby’s brain … Continue reading

Posted in General, Induction | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Reducing Infant Mortality

Please watch this video and then spread the word about how to reduce infant mortality. Click here to visit the website and get help with writing to your legislator, or sending them this video. Reducing Infant Mortality from Debby Takikawas … Continue reading

Posted in Breastfeeding, Cesarean Section, Childbirth Education, Doulas, Homebirth, Hospital Birth, Induction, Jennifer, Labor and Birth, Media, Midwifery, Natural Childbirth, Obstetricial Interventions, Prematurity, Prenatal Care, Research, Water Birth | 1 Comment

ACOG Revises Induction Protocol

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issues a press release saying that there is a revision to it’s labor induction guidelines. The basics from the press release do not look very different from what I had heard … Continue reading

Posted in American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG), Induction | Tagged | Leave a comment

More Healthcare is Not Better Healthcare – well, duh…

I had to snicker when I saw the headlines that proclaimed that more healthcare was not better healthcare. I mean seriously, birth has been proving that time and time again. ?The more medicalized we’ve made birth the higher the cesarean … Continue reading

Posted in Cesarean Section, Hospital Birth, Induction, Obstetricial Interventions | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

New Study On Scheduled Cesareans

There is a new comprehensive study about the safety of cesareans before 39 weeks gestation.? From the article, Early Repeat C-sections Increase Risks, Study Finds, published in the Washington Post, there is this quote about the study: The study of … Continue reading

Posted in American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG), Cesarean Section, General, Hospital Birth, Induction, Informed Consent, Jennifer, Media, Obstetricial Interventions, Prematurity, Research | Leave a comment

March of Dimes Gives US a ‘D’ for Prematurity

This week the March of Dimes gave the US a report card on prematurity. As some would have suspected, we are not doing well. Overall the US got a ‘D’ but my state was given an ‘F’, as were the states around me. Below you will find a post where Dr. Laura Riley talks about some things to be done to decrease the number of premature births in the US. In fact, she talks about prematurity from inductions and cesareans that are on the rise. My question would be how much is caused by what the physician wants and how much is the patient’s impatience? With so much focus on one day, could we lower the prematurity rate by simply giving the 38-42 week span as the possible due date?

You can go here to sign the March of Dimes petition for premies. Continue reading

Posted in Cesarean Section, General, Induction, Labor and Birth, March of Dimes, Prematurity | Leave a comment

The Business of Being Born: A Critique

The Business of Being Born is in the news this week. This article specifically talks about the skyrocketing number of c-sections.

Incidentally, Christina Aguilera, despite being warned by Jennifer Block, the author of Pushed, joined the ranks of other stars who are too posh to push and went ahead with her scheduled c-section to avoid the pain of childbirth. However, it would seem that she did not escape the pain of childbirth by undergoing major abdominal surgery.

I saw a screening of The Business of Being Born last night. It was at a college campus in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was sponsored by an organization called Ten Moons Rising. Overall I thought the film was good, it was full of educational information, touching scenes of births, not so touching scenes of births, and several bits of humor thrown in as well. It was a well made documentary and would appeal to many types of people.

Spoiler Alert: If you’ve seen the movie and want to read my more in depth review click the “read more” button under this entry.

Continue reading

Posted in Celebrities, General, Homebirth, Hospital Birth, Induction, Jennifer, Labor and Birth, Media, Midwifery, Natural Childbirth, Obstetricial Interventions | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving Inductions

Well this weekend starts the tradition of the Thanksgiving Induction. Fueled with nothing other than the notion that being home for Thanksgiving Dinner (Where you’ll probably have to cook dinner…), be sure to have YOUR doctor, or insert some other social reason – many women will have their labors chemically induced and medically managed over the next 4-5 days.

This medical management and interference will lead to an increase in the complications that these mothers and babies experience. There is an increased risk of fetal distress, mothers bleeding, placental abruption and even cesarean section and its inherent risks. As a mother, you have the right to say, “No thanks, my baby will be born when he or she is ready.” As a mother, you have the right to say, “My baby deserves to chose its birthday.” Don’t hesitate to stand up for yourself and you baby, remember your baby can’t speak for itself.

If you’d like a good chuckle about the whole thing, be sure to see Hathor’s blog. Continue reading

Posted in Induction | Leave a comment

Seeing Clearly Now

I’m home and just catching up. I’ve already expounded on the whole issue of prematurity as it relates to inductions and cesareans and about labor hormones from the DONA International Conference. But I thought I’d talk a bit more about some other things I did while at the conference.

Can I say how nice it is just to hang out at a conference and soak it all up? Everyone there had something interesting to say or share. I truly enjoyed it. I spent a weekend immersed in birth, with a small side track to go to a Harry Potter Party with my son (14) who was with me in St. Louis. I got to dance and sing and talk and learn. Some of the things I learned just made me drop my jaw with their beauty and simplicity.

One of the main things I saw was how important it is for women to make informed choices. Here’s the kicker – most women don’t feel like they have choices. That is really scary. We really need to start the conversation on how to get women to see that they have opportunities to make decisions for themselves and their babies. It’s not just about epidural or not, it’s about which place of birth and which practitioner – and why. That’s what transparency in maternity care is all about – women seeing clearly what they are being offered by whom. Continue reading

Posted in Conferences, DONA International, Doulas, General, Induction, Informed Consent | Leave a comment

Tori Spelling and her son Liam

Celebrity Baby Blog has posted the interview with Tori Spelling talking about her son Liam’s birth. She was really frightened of her cesarean, which happened after a pitocin induction and when her labor stalled at 6 centimeters, plus some non-reassuring heart tones.

What struck me was how she said she was offended by internet rumors that she has scheduled a cesarean – she said she really wanted a natural birth. Perhaps someone needs to tell her about vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) now, during ICAN’s Cesarean Awareness Month. Continue reading

Posted in Birth Stories, Celebrities, Hospital Birth, Induction, VBAC | Leave a comment