Interesting childbirth article

RoxBride

Who Controls Childbirth...Mom or Doc?

efooey

I have a hard time understanding women with stories like she has.  Did she have no idea this guy was such a butcher in the previous 9 months that she saw him?  Did she talk to him about what might happen during an induction?  If she had problems with certain drugs why didn't she research what would work for her before she went in?  The doc should not have done it, but she has to advocate herself.  I believe that people need to be their own advocates and you have to surround yourself with professionals you trust. I also think there is a lot of "mommy guilt" for choosing an ob and an epi or whatever else.  Just because I didn't go natural or squat in the woods - as she said - doesn't mean my birth was any less beautiful and meaningful.  My births were wonderful, epi both times and induced with pitocen once but they were perfect.  I was relaxed, thinking clearly and I enjoyed every moment.  I ended up happy and healthy and so did my kids thanks to my preparation and a wonderful doc and wonderful hospital.This makes me think of a blog post from years back, let me see if I can find itE 

GypsyEsq

You're right. Interesting article. As someone who had a birth plan that went to hell in a handbasket, the part that jumped out at me was the line where she quantifies all the people who told her her birth experience was her fault. That really made me think of how I talk about birth and birth choices and how many times I've inadvertently made someone feel like they are to blame. Her doc shouldnt have ever treated her that way but I can't imagine it occurred to her to ask him if he planned to physically assault her during her labor.

efooey

found it!  post was on 7/31/09

https://www.alittlepregnant.com/alittlepregnant/2009/07/index.html 

jenber77

efooey:

I have a hard time understanding women with stories like she has.  Did she have no idea this guy was such a butcher in the previous 9 months that she saw him?  Did she talk to him about what might happen during an induction?  If she had problems with certain drugs why didn't she research what would work for her before she went in?  The doc should not have done it, but she has to advocate herself.  I believe that people need to be their own advocates and you have to surround yourself with professionals you trust.

Some people just trust medical professionals implicitly. There are so many variables to any situation that you can't possibly research all of them -- and her wishes were blatantly disregarded anyway when she said she wanted to go home and told him to stop. It seems to me like she didn't have much of a chance to advocate for herself. 

RoxBride

I really do think it is so key to find a doctor (or professional) that you can trust.  But I also know some women that don't even get a choice because of the way that their insurance company works, they just end up with whatever doctor is on duty.

I did find it interesting that the whole "take back your birth" idea can make some women feel even worse, that something was entirely their fault.

I had a c-section, wasn't even a question, she was breech and pre-e meant no moving around for me, but it was lovely and beautiful and very nice.  And for me, perfect.  So in a sense, I ended up with the perfect birth experience, even if it was anything but natural. 

SeaSoul

Thanks for sharing the article - I really enjoyed it.  Very thought-provoking.

schmoodle

I can't get past this:

" 'There are those among us who believe that if the baby can't survive a home labor, it is OK for it to pass peacefully," she writes. "I do not subscribe to this, but I know that some feel that ? if a baby cannot make it through birth, it is not favored evolutionarily.' "

Really? If you don't subscribe to it, don't say it. That's a slippery damn slope - what about other medical interventions when the body doesn't do what it's "supposed" to, i.e. ART/IVF, etc.? Are our children not favored evolutionarily?

F*ck Blossom (for those who haven't read the article, the quote is from Blossom).

RoxBride

schmoodle:

I can't get past this:

" 'There are those among us who believe that if the baby can't survive a home labor, it is OK for it to pass peacefully," she writes. "I do not subscribe to this, but I know that some feel that ? if a baby cannot make it through birth, it is not favored evolutionarily.' "

Really? If you don't subscribe to it, don't say it. That's a slippery damn slope - what about other medical interventions when the body doesn't do what it's "supposed" to, i.e. ART/IVF, etc.? Are our children not favored evolutionarily?

F*ck Blossom (for those who haven't read the article, the quote is from Blossom).

Yeah, I thought the author had a good response about the appendex.

Seriously, Blossom is insane.