Many Women and Providers Are Unprepared for an Evidence-Based, Educated Conversation

[Lali07]

Totally agree Carang, trouble is, mothers aren't provided with all of the facts, and society often reject facts to avoid 'making' mothers feel guilty..

 

[miran]

Couldnt agree more Carang.

 

[thanka2]

I do often feel that some of the complications seen in hospitals are as a result of being in the hospital in the first place, by being tethered to machines, flat on the back, anxiety, unnecessary interruptions and prodding, time limits, oxytocic drugs, infection etc.

This reminds me of something a blogger I follow wrote yesterday:

Dear TLC/A Baby Story: I *dare* you to show a normal birth. Not even natural, just one that doesn't depict women in the worst pain of their lives. One that doesn't portray women crying in pain like hurt little girls because they're not allowed to get off the bed to move around and manage the pain. One that doesn't show women with serious bleeding disorders having a f**ing cesarean, which puts them at additional risks. One that doesn't show a woman basically being pitted to distress on national tv. Get a clue already! You are brainwashing women!

I don't think that many women are taught or realize that movement during labor (which means you can't be constantly monitored or strapped down to a bed) actually not only usually decreases the pain of labor but makes it go along faster. It also gives the women a sense of control to move with what her body is doing--to partner with her labor instead of resist it.

For me, when I was in labor this last time in HK the staff in the public hospital did their best to try to insist that I lay down, flat on my back, strapped up to the baby monitor because that is protocol. Does it mean a safer birth? No. Actually, the chances of that fetal monitor being wrong are admittedly 50%! My OBGYN told me that while I was pregnant--that if the fetal monitor shows "fetal distress", 50% of the time it's actually wrong. So, you'd be better off just flipping a coin, in my opinion.

But, the point is the hospital comes along with all these protocols which often have no legitimate justification except "this is how we do things for our own convenience." Anyway....why did I refuse to lay down and do things "by the book"? Because, I was aware and educated of what the purpose of movement in labor is and other ways to manage my pain. I wasn't looking for the staff to do it for me. I was participating in my own labor, not letting it just "happen to me." Very few women really know anything about this in any useable way, I think. It's not a standard part of the education that goes on in the hospital and some hospitals (like the ones in HK) actually actively resist it--nevermind trying to encourage it.

So, that's why women labor at home--for reasons like this--because they do know what they're doing and it's the best choice for them. I think the cases of women being "bullied" into having a home birth are probably few and far between because if you are going to have your birth at home in most circumstances you have to really, personally, actively seek out that type of experience--it's not the standard nowadays in birth. But, if you're educated and know how to stand up for yourself, the good news is that any woman can overcome any sort of "bullying"--education is the key.

 

[Sarah_Lotus]

Dear TLC/A Baby Story: I *dare* you to show a normal birth. Not even natural, just one that doesn't depict women in the worst pain of their lives. One that doesn't portray women crying in pain like hurt little girls because they're not allowed to get off the bed to move around and manage the pain. One that doesn't show women with serious bleeding disorders having a f**ing cesarean, which puts them at additional risks. One that doesn't show a woman basically being pitted to distress on national tv. Get a clue already! You are brainwashing women!

There is a new drama series in the UK called Call the Midwife. It is about a group of young midwives and older nun midwives serving in the East End of London in the 1950s. Most of the births are home births. It seems quite accurate in the way it portrays birth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/24/call-the-midwife

 

[HappyV]

I think women need to take responsibility for their own health - and that means doing your research, talking to as many people as possible, and then making the choice based on science and preference.
I have seen so many women here talking about which OB they prefer, and so many people seem to want a hand holder who will make them feel all reassured and happy. Give me the straight talk, anyday. It's safer for me and the baby.

BTW - what the local hospitals practice is not 'evidence based' medicine. What they (mostly) practice is staff-convenience-based medicine. Very little of the way they manage either vaginal or CS birth has anything to do with what is best for the patient or baby - it's all about their staffing roster and the $$$.

 

[Sarah_Lotus]

New TV series is having an affect! Or more likely the Time is Right for both.
www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/21/midwives-revive-tv-series-values?newsfeed=true