tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21213555471737869542024-03-12T22:45:41.846-07:00Instinctual BirthWe know how to give birth instinctually. We are taught to fear birth, when in reality, the knowledge is encoded in our body's cellular memory. We instinctively know how to breathe... we instinctively know how to birth. It is organic to our body's processes. Birth is a part of life, and the vast majority of births do not need to be jump-started, assisted or done for us. We owe it to our babies to give them the best start in life.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-38151318603560629992010-05-27T22:10:00.000-07:002010-05-27T22:10:30.017-07:00Top 100 Natural Birthing BlogsI am incredibly honored to be listed at number 24 on the Top 100 Natural Birthing Blogs! Wow! Thank you!<br />
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I guess I should write here too... I've been spending time developing my breastfeeding blogs, <a href="http://atmybreast.com/">atmybreast.com</a> (my personal one) and <a href="http://breastfeedingrevolution.com/">breastfeedingrevolution.com</a> (my change the world one). Please hop on over there and check them out, too. :)Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-6816067680032211882010-03-21T11:52:00.000-07:002010-03-21T11:52:18.171-07:00Wet NursingWould you nurse another woman's baby? We hear stories of heroic women during disasters breastfeeding two, three or even up to eight babies so they won't starve. Would you do it?<br />
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If, for some reason, you could not nurse your own baby, would you hire another woman to do it if you were financially capable of doing so? The benefits of breastfeeding are well known, and it seems that they continue to discover more good things about it every day.<br />
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With all the issues surrounding formula feeding like contaminants in the formula, recalls and other problems, wet nursing almost seems like a dream come true. Generations ago, wet nursing was popular. As described in Gabrielle Palmer's "The Politics of Breastfeeding," noblewomen used wet nurses because their families dictated that they must be ready to breed again and produce more heirs. Some women made a good living for their own families by wet nursing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0WS9FijCxnGFyygaoqXmDH2l1xIlJl-hagF_2tZ8U_Cq86T4J6CfFmt8sgLw7ak8vmbbPxa9u4zH052ijJOIHRTUK7OCowY0uHdrNx-h47GBAZ395WK-CaN99arPykiIW_YCN81Hfws/s1600-h/babypencilaceo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0WS9FijCxnGFyygaoqXmDH2l1xIlJl-hagF_2tZ8U_Cq86T4J6CfFmt8sgLw7ak8vmbbPxa9u4zH052ijJOIHRTUK7OCowY0uHdrNx-h47GBAZ395WK-CaN99arPykiIW_YCN81Hfws/s320/babypencilaceo.jpg" /></a></div>Judith Waterford, a wet nurse in the early 1800s, was written about by the medical community. She worked as a wet nurse for over 50 years, nursed six children of her own and was still able to produce milk at the ripe old age of 81. At her peak, it is said "she produced two quarts of breastmilk unfailing every day." She was sad to report at the age of 75 that she could not produce enough milk to feed more than one baby at a time. Can you imagine it?<br />
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How many of you would sign up to be a wet nurse if you could still nurse your own child at the same time? I freely admit that I would. I've nursed eight children of my own. They are all healthy and have grown well. If I could help support my family by providing the best baby food on earth to someone's child, I'd do it.<br />
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Maybe we should form a wet nursing co-op. Those of us who are confident in our nursing abilities could offer to nurse the children of those who for one reason or another cannot. Who benefits the most? The baby! Who suffers? The formula companies! They promise nutrition they cannot deliver, especially to those babies most at risk. If only we could figure out how to be paid for our efforts, everyone would benefit. Our families would have more income. Babies would be fed more nutritious food. Other parents could rest easy knowing their babies were getting the best even though they could not provide it themselves.<br />
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I know someone will bring up the problem of contagion. Any woman interested in wet nursing would have to have a health screen, of course. This should be a no-brainer. From what I read, some companies in California that offer nannies are also starting to offer wet nursing services. Is the wet nurse making a comeback?<br />
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What do you think? Please post comments below.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-33147866793572599402010-03-11T13:01:00.000-08:002010-03-11T13:01:22.836-08:00VBAC Mamas, Unite!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINVoC2aUBKDBaRwgfdirIUjzQacfmLIMgT2tEQvyea-5wAqwv-EpGNe9m0U-L4YcCkpDWNr3SSgKzQwiq1EyQDO4UpcBpHOHfx3g4UwtxvjWEijTlWpHjpi5LsV2eY92dk9TPpd5BQkI/s1600-h/belly.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINVoC2aUBKDBaRwgfdirIUjzQacfmLIMgT2tEQvyea-5wAqwv-EpGNe9m0U-L4YcCkpDWNr3SSgKzQwiq1EyQDO4UpcBpHOHfx3g4UwtxvjWEijTlWpHjpi5LsV2eY92dk9TPpd5BQkI/s320/belly.png" /></a>I'm a proud VBAC mom. My first birth was a cesarean. Luckily, my next birth took place during the VBAC renaissance, and even though they were whispering in the corner about a repeat cesarean, it didn't happen. I had my first vaginal birth accompanied by a giant episiotomy. That didn't stop me, though. My next VBAC had no episiotomy. The VBAC after that, the doctor almost didn't make it in the room to catch in time. By that time, I'd had enough. My next four VBACs were at home with midwives. Seven successful VBACs.<br />
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Women today rarely get the opportunity to even try a VBAC. Hospitals ban them. Doctors trick women into thinking they can have one and then pull the rug out from under them late in their pregnancies. Yet the evidence shows that VBAC is still a safer route to go than repeat cesareans.<br />
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This week, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has had a panel meeting to discuss this very issue. I haven't had the opportunity to listen for myself yet, but I've been reading the comments posted by others, outlining the "Hurray!" moments and the "I can't believe they still ignore us" moments.<br />
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On the <a href="http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20100310/nih-panel-end-bans-on-vaginal-birth-after-csection">WebMD</a> site, David DeNoon reports, "Hospitals and professional societies should end bans that that keep many women who've had a C-section from opting for a natural birth in later pregnancies, an NIH advisory panel today urged." This is definitely a welcome beginning.<br />
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<a href="http://commonsensemd.blogspot.com/2010/03/decline-of-vbac-hearing-hoofbeats.html">Kenneth Lin</a>, a family practice physician from Washington DC, writes about the obstetrical tendency to see zebras instead of horses. He writes, "If an Ob/Gyn is feeling uncertain about how well a patient's labor is progressing and has an inflated estimate of the probability that something might go wrong (the zebra), it's very hard to resist the temptation to eliminate the uncertainty by delivering the baby surgically, then and there." He ends his article positively with "a trial of VBAC is successful more than 75 percent of the time. It's a real shame that women in the U.S. are discouraged from attempting them more often."<br />
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All this sounds great. Maybe women will get more opportunities to have their own VBACs. Maybe the cesarean rate will go down. Maybe... but then we see the extra caution thrown in. "Only qualified candidates" and "eligible patients" are the phrases that begin to crop up. Isn't that part of the problem now? Obstetricians are removing almost every woman from being qualified or eligible. Let's just schedule that cesarean... what do you say? You can pick a convenient time (for the doctor!) and we'll have your baby out in no time!<br />
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Kind of defeats the whole purpose, doesn't it? The real result is shown clearly by Courtroom Mama on Jill's <a href="http://www.theunnecesarean.com/blog/2010/3/10/nih-vbac-consensus-development-conference-gift-horse-or-troj.html">Unnecesarean blog</a>. Apparently, on day one, two members of the panel, Dr. Anne Lyerly and Dr. Howard Minkoff stated without hesitation that a woman could not be operated on against her will. The next day, when Susan Jenkins, the attorney for the <a href="http://www.thebigpushformidwives.org/">Big Push for Midwives</a> campaign, asked questions about this, the panelists ended up skirting the issue.<br />
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Here is a portion of Courtroom Mama's transcript from her post. Read the full article at the link above to the Unnecesarean blog. SJ is Susan Jenkins. LM is Larry McCullough, the ethicist on the panel.<br />
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<div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: small;">"SJ: Dr. McCullough, just one quick follow up question, if I may, on that. The conclusions that are reached in the draft, at least the draft opinion that we saw this morning, indicate that the position of the committee is that only where it is considered “medically reasonable”—whatever that means—would the woman have a right to refuse. And the definition of medically reasonable…well, there is no definition of medically reasonable.</span></div><div style="color: #990000;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: small;">LM: Well, actually, there is, and the concept is when the alternatives are roughly medically equivalent. What we said is that shared decision-making should be followed, where the physician refrains from making a recommendation and really helps the woman make a decision that reflects her values and preferences, which is the goal of the informed consent—</span></div><div style="color: #990000;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: small;">SJ: Right, and what if her values and preference is to say “no” at the end of all this?"</span></div><div style="color: #990000;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Ms. Jenkins was then reminded of the long queue of people wanting to ask questions. Just what is "medically reasonable"? According to who? Apparently not according to the mom in question. Informed consent seems to have just been dumped into the trash. Pregnant women obviously don't have the same rights to equality as other medical patients. </span></span></div><div style="color: #990000;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">While we all joke about "pregnancy brain" it isn't something that should remove our rights to bodily integrity and decision making once we check into the hospital or accept a doctor's care. All the talk the panel made earlier of "the doctor and woman should be making these decisions together" seems to have been to placate the masses of women hoping to have a vaginal birth. "Making decisions together" is just another euphemism for the doctor saying "Don't worry your pretty little head about it... we'll just cut that baby right out. You won't need to even break a sweat."</span></span></div><div style="color: #990000;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I think this panel brought up some great points. It has gotten articles about VBAC in major papers like the LA Times. But we can't stand idly by and let it turn into the same old line. VBAC mamas, unite! Let your voices ring out. Demand the right to birth your babies the way nature intended. Every baby deserves the best birth possible. Every mom deserves to give birth.</span> </span></div>Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-39242575686335271602010-03-10T23:44:00.000-08:002010-03-10T23:44:26.370-08:00Breastfeeding Politics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIY-b3CI8Q0qlbytodA_sDSGXD6Bz_his0svMtkH2ci1q-NeuoHCjU0-30d6K5BxlexoHzgkVlZkjndTMuPtRohuvf6AU6IxSNWyHESEHPyjePigPqxSHwVI1VtT-YD0ORH4D5Q_04o3Q/s1600-h/babypencilaceo_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIY-b3CI8Q0qlbytodA_sDSGXD6Bz_his0svMtkH2ci1q-NeuoHCjU0-30d6K5BxlexoHzgkVlZkjndTMuPtRohuvf6AU6IxSNWyHESEHPyjePigPqxSHwVI1VtT-YD0ORH4D5Q_04o3Q/s320/babypencilaceo_400.jpg" /></a></div>I hate politics. All the arguing. No listening. Just dissension everywhere you look. This week Facebook was once again targeted for removing photos of breastfeeding. Why can't people consider breastfeeding as a normal part of life? <br />
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I started reading <i>The Politics of Breastfeeding: When Breasts are Bad for Business</i> today. It was written by Gabrielle Palmer. I've only finished chapter one and I am already nodding my head in agreement. The author states, "Women have had to prove (as it happens very successfully) that they are 'as good as' men, but men do not yet have to show that they are as good as women." This statement really hit hard. It's true. <br />
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Elsewhere in this chapter she discusses how the very men who are discovering the miraculous assets of breastmilk seem to demand that no woman should bring her nursing baby to work with her. Ewww. Come on. This is 2010. Certainly we can all get over the fact that our breasts make milk. They are built to do so. This milk is the best thing ever created to grow little humans. Nothing... NOTHING... can replace it. Artificial milk has a place in those rare times when breastmilk is not available, but the truth is that human babies should be fed human milk. Not soy milk. Not cow milk. HUMAN MILK. <br />
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I have often chuckled at the phrase I've seen on countless shirts on Cafepress: I make milk. What's your superpower?<br />
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It's true. This is a miraculous substance. I have nurtured eight children with this liquid abundance. They have grown healthy and strong. They are rarely ill. They have lots of energy. All of them old enough to get tall are taller than I am. Breastmilk really does a baby good, to paraphrase the old dairy council slogan. <br />
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So... what is your superpower? I make milk that grows healthy children. I make milk that nourishes them mentally, physically and emotionally. I am proud of this fact. I don't hide it. <br />
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Bah humbug on the politics. It should be enough that breastmilk nourishes the human race as it was designed to do.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-64631852842380686342010-02-23T10:20:00.000-08:002010-02-23T10:20:59.377-08:00New Birth Center in HaitiThis was in my inbox this morning. If anyone is interested in staffing a new birth center in Haiti that will treat the women there with the care and respect they deserve, please contact the people listed below.<br />
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<i>Hi, All -<br />
The person organizing this is my preceptor, Jesica Dolin. Jennifer Guillardo runs the birth center I work at, Andaluz Waterbirth Center. I am hoping to put in a couple of weeks over the summer in Haiti, as well. Please pass this email along to midwives/nurses/docs and midwifery/med/nursing students you know.<br />
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Best,<br />
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Jocelyn</i><br />
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<b> PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO MIDWIVES, NURSES, DOCS WHO BELIEVE IN NATURAL BIRTH, etc.</b><br />
<i> I am a licensed midwife at Andaluz Waterbirth Center in Portland, OR. (www.waterbirth. net) The founder of our birth center, Jennifer Gallardo, is currently in Haiti, volunteering as a midwife in the LD&D at the hospital. She says:<br />
"Just saw a 15 year old be brutalized by 5 'midwives' and one doctor. They held her down, covered her mouth, slapped her, held her legs opened while she struggled, cut a huge episiotomy, and pulled baby out. All the while yelling at her." She has only been there a couple days and already has many stories like that one. Prior to starting the birth center in Oregon in 1999, she ran a birth center in Guatemala for 5 years, and also attended hospital births in Guatemala. She says she has never seen women treated so horribly in labor. And of course, this is a place where infant and maternal mortality is very high as well. <br />
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She has found a big house to rent that has five rooms we could use for birth rooms, two bathrooms, and space for staff housing. It has running water, and is in a relatively safe area. (I am planning on going to work at it with my infant son.) She is moving forward with opening a birth center there, and we need staff! <br />
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We need:<br />
1. Midwives to come volunteer (doctors and labor and delivery nurses also welcome)<br />
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2. Students who want to pay tuition for apprenticeship there (as is often the case with birth centers in area of need - the funds must come from somewhere, and the clients cannot pay enough to cover operating costs)<br />
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3. Folks to spread the word about this<br />
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IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN STAFFING THIS BIRTH CENTER IN HAITI, PLEASE EMAIL jesicadolin@ yahoo.com<br />
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In dedication to bettering the lives of women, babies, and all those who draw breath on this planet,Jesica<br />
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</i>Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-20671791342311569632010-02-16T18:43:00.000-08:002010-02-16T18:44:55.545-08:00What to Talk About?I have been utterly swamped. In trying to find yet more ways to support the family, alas, this blog and our birth website, <a href="http://organic-birth.com">organic-birth.com</a>, have been neglected. We have been through a rather rough patch. My husband has developed more health issues and we've been going through all sorts of tests for him. His dad, my wonderful father-in-law, passed away on February 2. Needless to say, it has been a bit stressful around here. <br />
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In the meantime, I have seen posts about cesarean rates by state, breastfeeding once again being attacked by Facebook and a possible resulting lawsuit, and a study showing that elementary school kids in Glasgow overwhelmingly believe that it is okay for husbands to strike wives "if the wife did something to deserve it," like have an affair (admittedly bad, but still), or was late getting dinner on the table. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Sheesh. What's a blogger to do? With so many different topics screaming to be written about, how can I fit it in my busy day?<br />
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I am working on more book reviews and an art project review for our website. I hope to have at least one posted by the end of this week. I also posted a copy of my article that was published in the Winter 2009 issue of <i><a href="http://wwwm.midwiferytoday.com">Midwifery Today</a></i>. You can read it <a href="http://organic-birth.com/reiki_energy_doula.html">here</a>.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-42935702741313544802010-01-15T17:38:00.000-08:002010-01-15T17:38:09.647-08:00Review: The Doula Guide to BirthThe Doula Guide to Birth<br />
Ananda Lowe & Rachel Zimmerman<br />
2009; 270 pages<br />
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Having been a doula myself, I eagerly dived into this book. Knowing how beneficial a doula can be to a laboring couple, I wanted to see that unique perspective in written form. I was not disappointed. I do feel that in explaining and praising all the benefits doulas can give, the authors almost went overboard. At times I felt like I was reading a very long commercial. <br />
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Even so, once I got into the heart of the book, I clearly saw its merits. This book is written for the mainstream pregnant woman. The woman who will be birthing at the hospital and may be overwhelmed by all the protocols and rules she finds herself faced with. I was that woman once, so I found a way to relate to the women telling their stories in this book. The quotes from real parents that illustrate the points really do help make it all real.<br />
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Coming from my now non-mainstream mentality, I was happy to see so many different ways to cope with contractions. From epidurals to massage and belly dancing, Ananda and Rachel really explained all of the options open to birthing women. I loved the chapter on unplanned epidurals and cesareans. These things happen. You may not be prepared for how you will feel afterwards. Grief and healing are discussed at length to help women faced with these issues. <br />
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Birth plans and birth essays are explained in detail. I had never heard of a birth essay, but I can surely see their benefit for opening up the lines of communication with your care givers about your emotional needs. While I did not agree with everything in this book, I can certainly see its benefits. How I wish a book like this were available when I was having my first baby. Instead, I had "What to Expect When You're Expecting." This book puts that one to shame. Instead of teaching moms how to be a good patient, The Doula Guide to Birth opens up your eyes to the possibilities of what you can do in any birthing situation. <br />
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<i>Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</i>Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-11784421442293443132010-01-12T17:13:00.000-08:002010-01-12T17:15:03.142-08:00A New YearWow... I just noticed I haven't posted here since late December. I admit I've been a bit busy. I'm writing a book. I still have my day job. I'm taking care of hubby's medical issues. Oh and there are the kids, who have still been fighting this on again, off again flu. <br />
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I am keeping track of my journey to publication at <a href="http://alwaysdowrite.blogspot.com">Always Do Write</a>. I have come to terms with the fact that I will probably never be a real midwife... not enough time or transportation to support an apprenticeship. But I think I'm okay with that. I can write about my passion about birth as easily as anyone else. <br />
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One of my new resolutions (and I almost never make them) is to keep up with blogging more frequently. It is not only a way to vent but to share information, share articles an such that I write and more. I really appreciate those who took the time to follow me. It is very sweet of you. :) Thank you. I hope you enjoy reading what I have to say.<br />
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Anyway, happy new year. 2010 is already starting out with a bang. More than one of my friends are starting the year with husbands who are not long for this world. My heart goes out to them. My father in law won't be here much longer either according to his doctors. My own husband is getting more fragile with each passing year and I'm not ready for that yet. So, this will be a year of growth and change for a lot of us. <br />
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May we all be blessed with abundance, love and prosperity this year. May we all embrace each other in support and may 2010 be the year that birthing women get some respect.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-27892219803284661772009-12-29T17:09:00.000-08:002009-12-29T17:15:48.710-08:00Ringing in the NewThe year is almost over. This year has been full of new studies promoting the safety of homebirth. It has been full of ACOG and the AMA fighting against midwives. The cesarean rate continues to climb and women all over are being denied any choice in how their babies will be born. <br /><br />As they say, it is always darkest before the dawn. If women are going to be able to have any say at all in how they give birth, they must continue to speak up. Ask questions. Don't accept condescending answers. You're the one hiring the doctor, not the other way around. They work for YOU. <br /><br />I was reading on the <a href="http://myobsaidwhat.com">My OB Said What?</a> site and today they posted a response where the OB told the laboring mother "You wouldn't tell a pilot how to fly a plane, would you?" I'd like to turn that right around on them. What gives them the authority to tell a woman she must lay on her back with her legs in the air and push uphill? Women's bodies are designed to give birth. If we listen to what our bodies tell us, most of us will end up in positions that work WITH gravity, not AGAINST it. Women should be piloting their births... the doctor can't tell when a woman's body is urging her to rock her hips back and forth or when she needs to stand and lean on something. <br /><br />Let's make 2010 the year of the Birthing Mother. Let's help women get the autonomy they need for healthy births and healthy babies!Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-12613440367225353082009-12-07T17:50:00.000-08:002009-12-07T17:54:12.876-08:00Virtual Birth Art GalleryI have been privileged to have a couple pieces of my birth art added to Rachel Leavitt's Journey of Birth blog. She has put together a wonderful virtual gallery of artwork that speaks volumes about the journey of pregnancy and birth. Visit her blog here: <a href="http://journeyofbirth.blogspot.com/">Journey of Birth</a>. Thanks for the invitation, Rachel! :)Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-13596492199901087082009-11-22T09:59:00.000-08:002009-11-22T10:10:54.071-08:00PerimenopauseI am experiencing fluctuations in my cycle now. It is inevitable... I'm on the far side of 45. I am still recording my temperatures every morning, watching the inevitable change that will happen. <br /><br />It makes me profoundly sad. <br /><br />Yeah, I know it is a normal part of life... I don't have a problem with that. I am profoundly sad that I will never feel another butterfly flutter inside. I am sad that I won't ever be able to see my belly grow and ripen with the progression of a baby. I am sad that I won't get kicked in the ribs again... from the inside. I am sad that I won't ever feel those overwhelming surges that propel that baby out of my uterus and into my arms. I am sad that I won't ever ease a baby out again and cuddle them, all covered in birth goo. I'll never see those newborn eyes staring into mine for the first time. <br /><br />Pregnancy and childbirth has been a big part of how I defined myself as a person. I'm good at being pregnant. I'm good at giving birth. I'm good at nurturing babies. Who will I be now that I can't do that? <br /><br />I admit that part of me is ready to move on... my youngest is almost three. I've been breastfeeding for more than 18 years. That part of me is ready to move from mother to wise woman. But so much of me is not. Guess this is just a part of the journey. I will let my instincts lead me through it, as I have learned to trust them through mothering.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-59803764587035793422009-11-20T14:30:00.000-08:002009-11-20T14:39:28.746-08:002 Year Old Helps with Sibling's BirthIn a news story that is making the rounds on Facebook, little 2 year old Jeremiah Favazza helped his mother while she birthed his new brother at home. No one else was in attendance. His mother, Bobbye, was expecting to have her 4th cesarean section for this baby. Both mom and baby are healthy and fine.<br /><br />I don't find this amazing in and of itself. What I find amazing is that everyone thinks this is a miracle. Small children handle birth very well. At several of my births, I've had a 2yo sitting right alongside me... calm, cool and collected. Sometimes they moaned with me. Sometimes they held my hand. They were always fascinated. <br /><br />This woman experienced a healthy birth after three cesareans! Now she knows she is not relegated to surgical birth. Her uterus won't rupture. Her labor will progress. Her cervix will dilate and she will be able to push a baby out on her own. This is a wonderful thing. <br /><br />Women need to know that they are strong enough to give birth. They need to know that the chances of their uterus rupturing during a natural labor are miniscule. They need to know that birth works. <br /><br />Congratulations to Mrs. Favazza and kudos to little Jeremiah for helping his little brother come earthside. This is an experience that we all should have as children. Giving birth is a natural bodily function. Women are strong enough to birth. These are things we should all grow up knowing.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-26853269722539672642009-11-09T10:41:00.000-08:002009-11-09T10:59:06.605-08:00Lynsee's Birth on the InternetA woman in Minnesota, Lynsee, decided to broadcast her birth live on the internet. When I heard she was in labor, I tuned in to see what would happen. Since I hadn't heard much about her plans beforehand, I was surprised to see she was in the hospital. I certainly didn't expect that any hospital would give permission for their procedures to be filmed.<br /><br />She labored well for the most part. She used the shower, the tub and the birth ball. She leaned on her husband. All of these are fabulous techniques for handling labor. Lynsee seemed to be handling the contractions well. My sound quality was bad, so I could not hear most of what was said, but it seemed that she was doing really well in her quest for a natural birth. <br /><br />Suddenly, she was getting an epidural. I didn't understand why... she was doing so well. I have read the comments of others that when she was in transition and mentioning that she "just couldn't do this anymore" they offered the epidural. This is such a common phrase for women to utter in transition! Why didn't anyone tell her how close she was? Why didn't anyone support her through what would be the briefest part of labor? <br /><br />Once the epidural was placed, the whole energy in the room changed. The caption running beneath the picture announced she was at 10 cm and would soon be pushing for a long time before they actually had her doing anything. No one seemed to be in a rush to get started. <br /><br />For what it is worth, Lynsee seemed to push very well. The baby was born quickly. I tuned out after a few photos were taken because I felt this was a special time between baby and parents. From what I have heard from posted comments is that it took quite awhile for baby to be put to the breast and she was getting a bit frustrated. Poor little one!<br /><br />The positive things: Lynsee was able to labor actively until she got the epidural. She handled the contractions very well. She pushed effectively and she got a vaginal birth. <br /><br />The negative things: Lynsee obviously didn't get the support she needed to get through transition. She and baby seemed disconnected from each other after the birth. <br /><br />Lynsee, thank you for streaming your birth. I hope viewers learned a lot. Congratulations on the birth of your little girl. I hope you and your husband enjoy your new parenthood and that your daughter flourishes. <br /><br />The best advice I can give you is to follow your instincts. Don't follow schedules for feeding your baby. Spend as much time with her in your arms as possible. Babies thrive on touch. <br /><br />If you have another child in the future, I hope you can find the support you need to continue through labor. You were so close! You handled those contractions so very well! You should be proud of what you accomplished. If I could be your doula or midwife, I would let you know that those feelings you had were normal. That they are a sign of progress and that labor wouldn't last too much longer. I would try to give you more strength to help you have the birth that you wanted for yourself and your baby. <br /><br />I hope your breastfeeding relationship with your daughter is long and successful. You are a brave soul to put your experience out there for all of us to judge. Thank you.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-66322349990976223832009-10-31T08:51:00.000-07:002009-10-31T09:03:03.812-07:00The Art of Childbirth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumIqpx54XPJJFWIUsIIvd-UpVK63Kf_kXEGocOltu0Zqmp8pPlTPdyYsRu8eBcRbo_MsR5jz_h1wvEqDZWx_XEoGIgduwzulEPCBKAbkPxDUIVAg3IBWcWRDm1hgGjxzd1T_6ueQtp8E/s1600-h/belly2.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumIqpx54XPJJFWIUsIIvd-UpVK63Kf_kXEGocOltu0Zqmp8pPlTPdyYsRu8eBcRbo_MsR5jz_h1wvEqDZWx_XEoGIgduwzulEPCBKAbkPxDUIVAg3IBWcWRDm1hgGjxzd1T_6ueQtp8E/s400/belly2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398795203853514690" /></a><br />The Art of Childbirth is a two day art exhibit at the Cabell County Public Library, located 455 9th St. Huntington, WV. The exhibit will run November 19th and 20th in Meeting Room #2, on the 3rd floor of the library. The exhibition will be open from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm both days. Admission is free.<br /><br />The art will bring out the beauty and emotions of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. If you're in the neighborhood, drop by and take a look. <br /><br />Oh, and some of my artwork will be on display. :) <br /><br />I'm very proud of myself for being so cool and calm here, aren't you? In reality I'm jumping up and down because this is my very first exhibition! Woohoo! Yes, it's true... some of my own birth art will be flying through the postal service this week to hang in good company with other works depicting the beauty of birth. If you can't make it to the exhibition, my art is on display online at <a href="http://tonicreatesart.blogspot.com">tonicreatesart.blogspot.com</a>. :) By the way, I do take commissions as time allows. :)Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-74902663042885903292009-10-22T10:09:00.000-07:002009-10-22T11:08:07.139-07:00Infant Circumcision... What Happens to those Foreskins?I just read this article on <a href="http://drmomma.blogspot.com">Dr Momma's blog</a>... in it she traces some of the uses that circumcised foreskins are put to. Some are used to grow skin cultures that will be used for skin grafts. Some are used to make cosmetics. Did she really say cosmetics? Yes, she did. In fact, she goes in depth about how one very expensive skin cream advertised by Oprah Winfrey uses them. Oprah is silent on the issue. <br /><br />I had heard rumors of infant foreskins being sold for use in cosmetics, but I never took the time to do the research myself. With the growing controversy about circumcision, it is no wonder that suddenly the CDC is promoting the practice again. Heaven forbid that parents actually want to keep their sons intact and that these cosmetic companies can't make their products!<br /><br />When I was pregnant with my first child, I hoped and prayed for a girl so I wouldn't have to decide about this whole circumcision thing. I didn't really understand it all... they gave us literature in our childbirth class about it. I read it and reread it... it made sense to leave the baby alone, but it was such a prevalent practice that the whole issue was like taking a leap of faith. Luckily, my first child was a girl. Whew! I could table that issue until another time...<br /><br />My second child was a boy. My inlaws offered to pay for the circumcision if we wanted, since funds were limited. Our pediatrician was willing to do the procedure in his office once my son was two weeks old. By that time, I had made up my mind. Our daughter had a wonderful, pain free start to life. Why shouldn't my son? Why should he have to experience pain every time he urinated? Why should he be strapped down and have this most sensitive of tissues cut off? At the time my son was born, many of these procedures were still being done without anesthesia... babies can't feel pain, right? Riiiiiggghhhhtt. I turned down my inlaws' offer and kept my son as he was meant to be. Maybe I got to this decision via a different route than some, but I've never looked back. When my others sons were born, circumcision was not even an option in my mind. <br /><br />What about those parents who don't have the luxury I had? Most circumcisions are still done in the hospital before the baby is discharged. I wanted to cry when I changed my newborn nephew's diaper and saw the raw red flesh and the wound from the procedure on his little penis. How could anyone do this to a helpless little boy and feel good about it? I think that most parents don't think about the consequences. The baby is taken for circumcision so quickly after being born that most haven't even had time to really get to know their sons and their personalities. I had two wonderful weeks of getting to know my son... I could not let him be hurt. There was no argument strong enough for me to take him in and let them do unnecessary surgery on him. <br /><br />So, even if a person is pro circumcision (something that I can't even fathom), how can they pay for a procedure to be done to their infant, and then let that body part be sold off to another company that uses it to harvest cells that are put into expensive cosmetics for rich women to smear on their faces? How can those women pay so much for cream containing the ingredients made from infant parts and knowingly use it? I don't know these answers. They baffle me. <br /><br />They say that a single foreskin can be worth up to $100,000... you can bet that little boy never sees a penny of it for his contribution that he never even consented to. His parents don't see any of it either. How can this continue to happen? Protect your boys... they don't deserve to get the most sensitive area of their body lopped off so he'll "look like Dad." Say no to circumcision.<br /><br />NOTE: For those who don't know what is involved in a circumcision, check out this description at <a href="http://nymag.com/health/features/60140/">http://nymag.com/health/features/60140/</a>.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-31148642772072563952009-10-19T18:42:00.000-07:002009-10-19T19:00:15.639-07:00Docs Banning Doulas & Birth Plans... What's Next?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR6gQUE3QJ98nV2rImgMFVWNlheOwryEFa9qzGrCLKEB26nbtqaPNx3TYu8w5NOeYDIYASk94LaymNtaFaz1Nsp3z20bv7lKAhJ9YmhYF6QtDpwgAotLty8Q23zR82xB-9XYTmuyuFjc/s1600-h/OBsign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR6gQUE3QJ98nV2rImgMFVWNlheOwryEFa9qzGrCLKEB26nbtqaPNx3TYu8w5NOeYDIYASk94LaymNtaFaz1Nsp3z20bv7lKAhJ9YmhYF6QtDpwgAotLty8Q23zR82xB-9XYTmuyuFjc/s400/OBsign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394495934942661122" /></a> <br /><br /><br />When I saw this I just hated to see that this is happening. This arrived on my Facebook page the same day as a notice about a woman who received a letter from her OB giving her HIS birth plan for HER birth. It was very similar in tone. When I first became a doula fifteen years ago, it was sometimes awkward to try and do your job around the OBs and hospital staff. Doulas were a new concept then for most hospitals, and none of us really knew where we stood. <br /><br />As the years have gone by, doulas made their own niche, serving women who needed extra support. I never did understand the whole advocacy thing... if we spoke up, we ran the risk of being kicked out and then our client would be without the support they paid for. <br /><br />I am no longer a doula. As much as I loved helping families welcome their new babies, it wasn't feasible to be gone at any hour on short notice with my own growing family. Once I had my homebirths, the hospital environment was very difficult for me to endure. I know that women in the hospitals need the help of doulas more than ever... and I admire those women who can see women being forced into the situations the sign above insinuates and still do their best for their clients. It takes a lot of grit and determination.<br /><br />Birth plans have always been ignored... if you had an OB who not only read your birth plan but tried to abide by it... you are one lucky woman! While we all diligently wrote out our birth plans, fully believing they would be honored, one by one we have all become cynical as our plans were derailed, one by one. <br /><br />We have fought long and hard to bring the ability for women to choose their birth experience and to bring their babies gently into the world if they so choose. Now the docs are fighting back by banning things like opting not to have an episiotomy or to have another support person in the room. Some hospitals are taking the chance with the CDC's recommendation of as few people as possible in the maternity ward during this H1N1 flu panic to ban doulas as well. <br /><br />We need to step up and keep fighting. They are eroding our choices. No VBACs, no doulas, no birth plans. I say we keep fighting to have the births we want without interference. Why should we care about their time schedule? Babies come when they are ready and take as long as they need during labor. We owe it to ourselves, our babies and our daughters who will be birthing some day to make birth all it can be... as Harriette Hartigan so elegantly put it, "Birth is as Safe as Life Gets."Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-67413030461669898152009-10-18T09:01:00.000-07:002009-10-18T09:14:00.159-07:00ICAN Needs Cases of Insurance DiscriminationLast Thursday, Peggy Robertson of Colorado testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee about being discriminated against by her insurance company. Her story can be found at the ICAN website: <a href"http://ican-online.org/users/ican-blog/blog/ican-mother-testifies-capitol-hill">http://ican-online.org/users/ican-blog/blog/ican-mother-testifies-capitol-hill</a>.<br /><br />According to the ICAN press release, Mrs. Robertson was not only rejected for coverage because she had previously had a cesarean section, she was told in a letter that the only way they would give her coverage was if she consented to sterilization. <br /><br />With the percentage of pregnant women who give birth via cesarean section rising to almost 33%, using a cesarean as a "pre-existing" condition is setting up a third of American women to be uninsured in the future. More and more hospitals are not offering VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) as a choice to women. Page Hospital in AZ was the most recent one in the news that threatened a VBAC mother with a court ordered cesarean if she did not consent, even though she had had a successful VBAC for her last birth. This mother has decided to travel hundreds of miles in order to get her VBAC. This shouldn't happen, either. <br /><br />If you have stories of insurance discrimination based on previous cesarean, send them to <a href="http://ican-online.org">ICAN</a>. The Senate committee wants to investigate this issue.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-72504170315512958932009-10-10T23:14:00.000-07:002009-10-10T23:30:34.901-07:00Change of SeasonsAs we are preparing for winter (autumn just began, yet we are having freezing weather already)I am reminded of preparing for birth. We are blocking drafts and gathering in the last from the garden. When one prepares for birth one blocks fears and gathers their feelings in preparation. One must be prepared to meet the new baby... a new soul who is making their journey onto this plane with heart and mind open. <br /><br />As pregnancy reaches its end, the ripeness of the body leads to the mind turning inward. Like summer ending, the plants must begin their journey inward to sleep through winter. A mother must turn inward so she can tune into the coming labor and the baby's arrival. <br /><br />Once baby has arrived, she should be able to spend her time getting to know her baby. A cocoon should envelop them into a protected space while they get to know each other's rhythms and personalities. This is like closing yourself in for winter, secure against the storms that rage outside the door. <br /><br />Protect yourself and your little one from the outside world for a while... spend those first few precious weeks together, locked away from the hustle and bustle of visitors, shopping and the world at large. Emerge together into the "spring" when you are ready.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-18954965910263053682009-09-30T15:43:00.000-07:002009-09-30T15:45:41.920-07:00Organic Birth Summer 2009 Issue<div style='width: 152px; height: 230px; display: inline-block; position: relative;'><br /><a href="http://magcloud.com/browse/Issue/25895" target="_top"><br /><img style="vertical-align: top; border: 2px solid #DEDEDE;" src="http://api.magcloud.com:80/Issue/25895/Preview" width='150' height='195' /><br /><img style="vertical-align: top; margin-left: 2px; margin-top: 5px; border-width: 0;" width='148' height='21' src="http://magcloud.com/images/promote/preview_button.gif" /><br /></a><br /><img style="vertical-align: top; position: absolute; top: 7px; left: -6px;" src="http://magcloud.com/images/promote/magcloud_tag.png" /><br /><br /></div>Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-27269254310575026742009-09-24T22:30:00.001-07:002009-09-24T22:45:49.578-07:00Reiki and Birth TraumaMany of us birth under less than ideal circumstances. Some of us suffer terribly at the hands of "care givers" who don't see us as intelligent adults who can make our own decisions. We are mere vessels to manipulate until a child is extracted. Women who end up with these experiences often carry the emotional scars of these experiences forward with them and they color everything in their lives. When these women are expecting another child, these feelings may come to the forefront again and cause fear around the impending birth. <br /><br />Reiki can help. With a compassionate ear and reiki flowing, the practitioner offers no judgments as a mother tells her story. Reiki is a smart, healing energy. It goes where it is needed. It brings release and healing. Within a few sessions, a mother to be can be better prepared to accept her next labor challenge, having let go of the traumatic emotions associated with her last birth. All that is left are memories and an acceptance of the past. <br /><br />Does it sound too good to be true? It's not. Some women can resolve their issue with only a few sessions. Others need several sessions that may run from 30 to 60 minutes or more. In between sessions, she processes the thoughts and feelings that each session brings up. <br /><br />I can do these sessions in person or over the phone for those not close enough to come in person. I offer a sliding scale so everyone can get assistance with these painful issues, no matter what their circumstances. If you want to know more about this service, post a comment and I will be in touch.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-5453635323699358432009-08-27T17:38:00.000-07:002009-08-27T17:39:29.297-07:00Reducing Infant Mortality<object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6182741&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"></param><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6182741&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" width="400" height="300"></embed></object> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6182741">Reducing Infant Mortality</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2185891">Debby Takikawa</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-13489492164735808282009-07-19T10:45:00.000-07:002009-07-19T11:00:24.049-07:00Pit to DistressOh my. I have been reading on Facebook recently about a hospital procedure known as "Pit to Distress." What this means is that pitocin is administered to a laboring woman in a maximum dose in order to distress the baby so they can move to cesarean. While we all had our nightmare scenarios, this one appears to be real. Several nurses have blogged about it, as well as Jill at <a href="http://unnecesarean.blogspot.com/">Unnecesarean</a>. <br /><br />I have spent a lot of time ruminating about this over the past week or two, and I am still flabbergasted that obstetricians get away with this kind of behavior... even occasionally. If a midwife did something so reckless, they would be hauled into court and they would never practice again. Why should obstetricians be free to cause distress to an unborn baby in order to perform surgery? What harm are they potentially causing to the baby? What about the mother, who's uterus may become hyperstimulated or even rupture? What if, due to this practice, she loses her uterus and her potential to have more children? Who holds these obstetricians responsible?<br /><br />Now, I obviously realize that there are some excellent OBs out there who would never consider doing such a thing. But the fact that even one can get away with doing this repeatedly puts mothers and babies at risk. How do they not lose their license? How can they still attract patients? How can they still have privileges at the hospital? Who do we lobby to change this? ACOG posts their guidelines, but obviously the docs do what they want (look at VBAC...). <br /><br />Our maternity system needs a major overhaul... thank goodness there are some nurses out there who do what they can to keep as many women from experiencing Pit to Distress as much as possible. When a woman checks into the hospital... she trusts that she is in good hands. Obviously, this is not always the case.Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-79977554131995575892009-07-04T23:26:00.000-07:002009-07-05T11:18:30.834-07:00Homebirth at Risk in AustraliaThis video is just a few of the homebirthing families in Australia who don't want homebirth midwives outlawed. Show your support for homebirth. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=905a2b63ecb02717acd50d">~We Love Homebirth~</a>Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-54217444329163452212009-06-15T14:08:00.000-07:002009-06-15T14:16:11.117-07:00Circumcision: Echoes in the BodyBy Jeane Rhodes, Ph.D.<br />Recently, I completed a doctoral research project in which I investigated the possible link between the way children do selected yoga postures for the first time and their individual birth experiences. The body language of 22 children, five to nine years old, was carefully videotaped and analyzed. To learn about the children’s birth experiences I interviewed the parents. After analysis of the data, I was able to identify specific elements in the performance of the yoga postures that could be perceived as clues to the child’s prenatal and birth experience.�<br />In the course of this research, I made an unexpected observation related to male circumcision. It can only be considered preliminary at this point, as the study was not designed to focus on this issue, and, had it not been so evident in this small sample, I probably would not have noticed it. Asking about circumcision had not been on my original list of questions for the interview with parents. Fortunately, the first father interviewed mentioned it, so I included a question about circumcision for all of the boys in the study.<br />What I observed was that the seven boys in the study who had been circumcised did not place their hips on the floor when doing an abdominal-lying-arch posture (the “cobra” pose for those of you familiar with yoga postures). In contrast, the two boys in the study who had not been circumcised did it easily.<br />When I mentioned this observation to a colleague who is a body-worker, she said she had noticed that her clients who had been circumcised were much more rigid in the pelvic area than those who had not been cir-cumcised. If this very preliminary observation is confirmed, it would be coherent with a recent finding on the long-term effect of circumcision on pain tolerance. A team at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario (1995) studied the pain responses of children having routine vaccinations four to six months after birth. They discovered that boys circumcised as infants had higher behavioral pain scores and cried longer.<br /><br />Cobra Pose<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4zeI5fK_kiGczh_90xh1JUDp6WTA6gK9YN2os6SRT7NaB1D2rnBixHKt-sJrIXwUDG4sCG3-kDVPBjKjKGHpQXNAhaZOER7lihru1Pm_jqGA9qExwhAIw4K2vcBp4j0GqAdMNabJzYo/s1600-h/cobrapose.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4zeI5fK_kiGczh_90xh1JUDp6WTA6gK9YN2os6SRT7NaB1D2rnBixHKt-sJrIXwUDG4sCG3-kDVPBjKjKGHpQXNAhaZOER7lihru1Pm_jqGA9qExwhAIw4K2vcBp4j0GqAdMNabJzYo/s400/cobrapose.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347665447949066034" /></a>Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2121355547173786954.post-42277736192692891772009-06-11T21:02:00.000-07:002009-06-11T21:04:08.782-07:00Homebirthing Days<span style="font-style:italic;">My husband wrote this yesterday. It is an adaptation of the St. Crispin's Day speech from Shakespeare's Henry V. It is dedicated to homebirthers everywhere:</span><br /><br /><br />These days shall be called the feast of Homebirthing Days. They that live these days, and have safe homebirths will stand tall when these days are named, and be roused at the name of Homebirthing Days.<br /><br />They that shall be there on those days, and see old age will yearly on the vigil feast with their neighbors, and say, "Tomorrow is my child's homebirthing day!" Then will grab their children into their loving arms and say, "these children I helped deliver on homebirthing days."<br /><br />Old men and women may forget, yet all shall be forgot, but we'll remember with advantages what feats we did perform that day! Then shall their names, familiar in our mouths as household words and gods... Midwives, doulas, Mothers and they the Fathers themselves will be in their flowing cups freshly remembered. These stories the good people shall teach their sons and daughters, and Homebirthing Days shall never go by, from this day to the ending of the world.<br /><br />But we in it shall be remembered... We few, we happy few, we band of brothers and sisters. And gentle people in their bed shall think themselves accursed that they were not there, and will hold their lives cheap to those of us who stood vigil upon Homebirthing days!Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914793731374784005noreply@blogger.com0