Who deserves a good birth?

My first day as a midwifery student at my preceptors birth center I was informed that they did not accept clients who were not planning to exclusively breastfeed. Being the breastfeeding advocate that I am and the doe eye’d student I was, I became the booby Gestapo. Our intake forms questioned mothers about their feeding plans, not for the chance to educate them as to choices, but rather to eliminate them as candidates for care. That is right. The owner of the birth center deemed those who would or could not breastfeed unworthy of the opportunity to have a midwife attended birth. As one of the largest practices in South Florida this decision often meant mother’s were doomed to have a hospital birth, which in South Florida meant an almost 50% chance of cesarean.

As I moved into my own practice I adopted the same policy. No boobs, No Birth. I watched women walk out my door and couldn’t help but wonder what became of those mothers and babies. Suddenly one day it dawned on me that I was playing birth god, judge and jury, and all around know it all midwife. Who was I to say who deserved a good birth? These families had sought out midwifery care, only to be told they didn’t deserve it.

More recently I have noticed such practices run rampant in midwifery. Not limited to breastfeeding however, families are judged on their decision about vaccinations, western medicine, carnivorous diets, and so many other personal life decisions. It seems that midwives are at a loss when a Meat eating YUPPIE chooses a homebirth.

Was good birth intended only for certain people? Who made the criteria?

While it is the obligation of the midwife to inform her clients as to the risks and benefits each choice they make holds, is it really their place to impose their system of belief on her clients? Is that not the very reason we home birthers avoid hospital birth? Perhaps we can make them understand our point of view, and us theirs.

It is time we all re-examine our image of who is an out of hospital birther. I can’t tell you how many times I have been told I don’t “look” like one.

Outrage Over the CDC & Circumcision

There has been a great outpouring of rage over the anticipation of the CDC’s release of new guidelines that would recommend routine circumcision for all newborn boys in the United States. ?This blog is, however, one of action, not merely feeling. ?So I would urge you to read up on the subject and send a level headed, strongly worded statement of your beliefs to people who are making these policies. ?There are plenty of talking points available.

• Male Circumcision and HIV: The AAP Project
• Intact America (petition as well)

Please post a comment if you have some other great activist related websites on the topic.