Comments on: Out of Touch with Childbirth and Women http://realityrounds.com/2009/11/18/out-of-touch-with-childbirth-and-women/ Get a Second Opinion Thu, 13 May 2010 02:04:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Aron http://realityrounds.com/2009/11/18/out-of-touch-with-childbirth-and-women/#comment-4688 Aron Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:37:54 +0000 http://realityrounds.com/?p=3216#comment-4688 It's not about fighting with women or calling them failures for wanting an epidural. It's about getting medical professionals to stop saboutaging those who don't. Women who want to have normal unmedicated births have to put up with everything from their OB's snide remarks like "you won't get a medal for that, you know," to outright lies such as "you need to stay in bed with pitocin and let me break your water now or your baby will DIE." It's about women being supported in their own choices with the truth, knowing they have options and having the power to make use of them, regardless of whether the woman in the next bed would make the same choice. It’s not about fighting with women or calling them failures for wanting an epidural. It’s about getting medical professionals to stop saboutaging those who don’t. Women who want to have normal unmedicated births have to put up with everything from their OB’s snide remarks like “you won’t get a medal for that, you know,” to outright lies such as “you need to stay in bed with pitocin and let me break your water now or your baby will DIE.” It’s about women being supported in their own choices with the truth, knowing they have options and having the power to make use of them, regardless of whether the woman in the next bed would make the same choice.

]]> By: R. May http://realityrounds.com/2009/11/18/out-of-touch-with-childbirth-and-women/#comment-4682 R. May Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:12:51 +0000 http://realityrounds.com/?p=3216#comment-4682 I agree with you - kind of. But by saying really only some women need the drugs you are missing the point! It's as bad as people who push drugs as the way. It is a choice, and it is the woman's choice. I wanted an epidural and I got it. I was not interested in yoga, or water birth or anything else. I was not afraid of the pain, but I sure wasn't enjoying it. My birth was not a sad failure because I wanted drugs. We as women need to stop fighting each other on these issues and trying to prove who is right. There are a multitude of ways to deal with the pain of childbirth and as long as the woman having the kid is happy that is the point. I agree with you – kind of. But by saying really only some women need the drugs you are missing the point! It’s as bad as people who push drugs as the way. It is a choice, and it is the woman’s choice.

I wanted an epidural and I got it. I was not interested in yoga, or water birth or anything else. I was not afraid of the pain, but I sure wasn’t enjoying it. My birth was not a sad failure because I wanted drugs.

We as women need to stop fighting each other on these issues and trying to prove who is right. There are a multitude of ways to deal with the pain of childbirth and as long as the woman having the kid is happy that is the point.

]]> By: Aron http://realityrounds.com/2009/11/18/out-of-touch-with-childbirth-and-women/#comment-4681 Aron Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:53:03 +0000 http://realityrounds.com/?p=3216#comment-4681 I totally agree, Pinky. Wasn't it Marsden Wagner (former head of the UN WHO) who remarked something along the lines that if the magic in a doula's hands and heart could be bottled and marketted by the medical industry then epidurals would be obsolete? Something like that. Of cour$e that doe$ bring up certain an$wer$ a$ to why our medical indu$try $ee$ no benefit in promoting the u$e of doula$....$$$. I totally agree, Pinky. Wasn’t it Marsden Wagner (former head of the UN WHO) who remarked something along the lines that if the magic in a doula’s hands and heart could be bottled and marketted by the medical industry then epidurals would be obsolete? Something like that. Of cour$e that doe$ bring up certain an$wer$ a$ to why our medical indu$try $ee$ no benefit in promoting the u$e of doula$….$$$.

]]> By: midwest woman http://realityrounds.com/2009/11/18/out-of-touch-with-childbirth-and-women/#comment-4676 midwest woman Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:19:37 +0000 http://realityrounds.com/?p=3216#comment-4676 remember the cover of Esquire that caused quite the ruckus...a nude pregnant Demi Moore? I always thought it was a beautiful pix. My dirty little secret is I speed read the National Enquirer while I stand in line at the grocery store. More seriously, it does seem it's a fad to be pregnant and have babies except unlike some other fads like teacup dogs and pot bellied Vietnamese pigs, these babies will turn into destructive toddlers and rebellious teens. Whatever is going to happen to these children when the fad is over? remember the cover of Esquire that caused quite the ruckus…a nude pregnant Demi Moore? I always thought it was a beautiful pix.
My dirty little secret is I speed read the National Enquirer while I stand in line at the grocery store.
More seriously, it does seem it’s a fad to be pregnant and have babies except unlike some other fads like teacup dogs and pot bellied Vietnamese pigs, these babies will turn into destructive toddlers and rebellious teens. Whatever is going to happen to these children when the fad is over?

]]> By: pinky http://realityrounds.com/2009/11/18/out-of-touch-with-childbirth-and-women/#comment-4675 pinky Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:18:23 +0000 http://realityrounds.com/?p=3216#comment-4675 ahhhhh. I look at Katie and I see a strong woman. She never appeared to be a robot. Perhaps she has just outgrown Mr. Cruise. ANyhow, I am writing a paper on pain. And guess what, the literature tells me that anxiety will increase pain. Go figure? The literature also says prenatal yoga decreased pain. So maybe we are looking in the wrong direction with anesthetic? Some do need it. But normal, straight forward births really don't, Think of this: I call anesthesia to put in epidural. He comes and puts one it. I give 1000 cc of fluid in the woman's veins so her bp won't plummet. This does stress her cardiac system. OK for the 18 year old a little concerning for 40 year old. Epidural is placed and the veins and arteries in her legs just open wide. So her blood pressure plummets. I give her more fluid. I squeeze the bag with my hands to get it in. Why? Cause I am not thrilled with ephedrine. Mostly these interventions are manageable but it would be easier if you just took yoga! For every action there is a reaction. The epidural is not the silver bullet. I was told, when I was in labor 24 years ago to just go with the pain. It will take you and don't fight it. And it worked for me. I delivered her in 3 hours after I hit the hospital. And I felt really good about it. Too bad these folks who have plenty of money have not hired doulas to help them. The doula studies I have looked at are off the charts. Why don't we hire doulas in the hosital? They are cheaper than an epidural.....Ok. Now I am done. I will step off my soap box. Very sorry to get rowdy. ahhhhh. I look at Katie and I see a strong woman. She never appeared to be a robot. Perhaps she has just outgrown Mr. Cruise. ANyhow, I am writing a paper on pain. And guess what, the literature tells me that anxiety will increase pain. Go figure? The literature also says prenatal yoga decreased pain. So maybe we are looking in the wrong direction with anesthetic? Some do need it. But normal, straight forward births really don’t, Think of this: I call anesthesia to put in epidural. He comes and puts one it. I give 1000 cc of fluid in the woman’s veins so her bp won’t plummet. This does stress her cardiac system. OK for the 18 year old a little concerning for 40 year old. Epidural is placed and the veins and arteries in her legs just open wide. So her blood pressure plummets. I give her more fluid. I squeeze the bag with my hands to get it in. Why? Cause I am not thrilled with ephedrine. Mostly these interventions are manageable but it would be easier if you just took yoga! For every action there is a reaction. The epidural is not the silver bullet.

I was told, when I was in labor 24 years ago to just go with the pain. It will take you and don’t fight it. And it worked for me. I delivered her in 3 hours after I hit the hospital. And I felt really good about it. Too bad these folks who have plenty of money have not hired doulas to help them. The doula studies I have looked at are off the charts. Why don’t we hire doulas in the hosital? They are cheaper than an epidural…..Ok. Now I am done. I will step off my soap box. Very sorry to get rowdy.

]]> By: Jill http://realityrounds.com/2009/11/18/out-of-touch-with-childbirth-and-women/#comment-4674 Jill Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:17:36 +0000 http://realityrounds.com/?p=3216#comment-4674 THis is why I don't read pop culture magazines anymore, it's all just glossed-up garbage. Not worth my money. I got a chuckle out of "Whole (Paycheck) Foods" though. ;) THis is why I don’t read pop culture magazines anymore, it’s all just glossed-up garbage. Not worth my money.

I got a chuckle out of “Whole (Paycheck) Foods” though. ;)

]]> By: Kim http://realityrounds.com/2009/11/18/out-of-touch-with-childbirth-and-women/#comment-4673 Kim Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:32:24 +0000 http://realityrounds.com/?p=3216#comment-4673 Hey! I saw that one too...I thought it was ironic to call the moms-to-be "excited" yet only highlighting the unpleasant side of things... Hey! I saw that one too…I thought it was ironic to call the moms-to-be “excited” yet only highlighting the unpleasant side of things…

]]> By: Jill http://realityrounds.com/2009/11/18/out-of-touch-with-childbirth-and-women/#comment-4672 Jill Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:49:48 +0000 http://realityrounds.com/?p=3216#comment-4672 Repulsive. Repulsive.

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