Category Archives: Informed Consent

It Takes 500 Inductions of Labor…

When near the 40 week mark, and sometimes before, many practitioners start talking about the risks of continuing the pregnancy.  There are many things that simply aren’t known, bu there is a neat document that puts it all together and … Continue reading

Posted in Induction, Informed Consent, Labor and Birth | Tagged | Leave a comment

What Feminists Should Know About Birth Rape

The treatment received by laboring women from care providers during childbirth can sometimes be so abusive, degrading, and violating that many survivors of these childbirth experiences are now terming it “birth rape”. Recently, there have been blog articles about whether … Continue reading

Posted in activism, Birth Trauma, Informed Consent, Legal, Postpartum Depression | 42 Comments

Activist in Training: Kyle M. (post #2)

The cesarean section, like many modern medical procedures, has an important purpose that when used appropriately can save the life of a mother or that of her baby or both. That being said, there is no medical reason for a … Continue reading

Posted in Cesarean Section, General, Hospital Birth, Informed Consent, Obstetricial Interventions, Obstetrics, Postpartum | 1 Comment

Acitivist in Training: Jacqui C.

As a woman growing up in my family, birth was not something discussed unless it was to spread the word of another baby added to the family line.  Having a lot of kids is something to be proud of.  It … Continue reading

Posted in Birth Stories, General, Hospital Birth, Informed Consent, Labor and Birth | 2 Comments

Activist in Training: Zakiyah W.

It’s All About Your Options….. When I first decided to take Dr. Uzelac’s Biopsychology of Birth class I didn’t have any understanding of the status of child birth in the United States. From the depictions of birth shown in the media … Continue reading

Posted in activism, Childbirth Education, General, Informed Consent, mothering, Obstetrics | 1 Comment

Thoughts on Informed Consent, Refusal and VBAC

If you’ve been listening to the news lately, you’ve probably heard a lot about vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). The NIH held a consensus meeting to decide what was appropriate in VBAC care. The general thought was that the overall … Continue reading

Posted in American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), Cesarean Section, Government, Informed Consent, International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), Media, VBAC | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

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

But Why is VBAC so Important?

I am sure that I am not the only person to ask myself this with the announcement of the National Institute of Health VBAC Conference announcement.  But unlike most, I know more than my fair share about VBAC after having … Continue reading

Posted in Cesarean Section, Informed Consent, International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), VBAC | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Loyally Devoted to Doctor

I recently read the book The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N Aron, Ph.D. In the chapter called Medics, Medication, and Highly Sensitive People, the author states: “Keep in mind, too, that it is common to feel an attachment to … Continue reading

Posted in Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, Doulas, General, Homebirth, Hospital Birth, Induction, Informed Consent, Jennifer, Labor and Birth, Midwifery, Obstetricial Interventions, Postpartum, Postpartum Depression | 15 Comments

Violence in Maternity Care

The non-profit organization Solace for Mothers: Healing After Traumatic Childbirth is asking anyone who has experienced or has witnessed violent maternity care, to write a letter to Lynn Rosenthal, the presidential advisor on violence against women, and First Lady Michelle … Continue reading

Posted in Birth Trauma, Informed Consent, Jennifer, Legal | Leave a comment