This about sums it up... - Page 2

[Arwyn]

Originally Posted by velveeta

Do you ever watch those shows and add your own coaching?

"Turn over, Turn OVER!" "Stand up and get that baby out!"

Yup!

Actually, this happened also when I saw the birth photos of a very dear friend of mine who is now planning an HBAC due to a crappy first birth where she "couldn't" push the baby out. But she was flat on her back (like a dead bug, thanks for that image )! I just wanted to reach into the photo and help her up.

I think not wanting to say "vaginal" is a sadly good point. And for the majority of women, real normal, natural birth isn't even on their radar, and, well, vaginal birth is more natural than cesarean birth.

Michel Odent has an interesting point about how because cesareans are so much safer than they used to be (still riskier than normal, natural birth, no doubt), we should quit using all these extraordinary measures to get babies out vaginally in ways that are SO not natural. But in the US birthing culture, implementing that idea would result in a 90%+ c/sec rate, rather than (as he would wish) a 90%+ natural, normal birth rate. Le sigh...

[applejuice]

In 1972, I recall seeing a news item that showed a mother having a caesarean delivery with the help of acupuncture needles as her sole anesthesia.

The news man was calling this "natural childbirth" because no drugs were used.

We should use words with meaning, not assign meaning to them.

[ericswifey27]

Originally Posted by mwherbs

yes, not only do I do coaching I usually scream at the TV- but I do have fantasies that there is the midwife squad show and in the middle of the craziness- there is a stop action scene and a midwife alternative offered- like ok now what are the alternatives here. Someone make my version of these shows please.

Like "Choose Your Own (birthing) Adventure" ?

That would rock!

[katie9143]

I just watched 2 episodes of this - the first one was the one that really got me. I expect about half the women (or more) to have c/s but this one poor girl had only been in the hospital for about 4 hrs, it was her first baby, she had had the epi and had progressed to 7cms. The (male) dr. checked her a few times and then after checking her at 7cms and the baby reletively high, he told her that he would check her in a little while and if she had not progressed or the baby had not come down any more he would have to do a c/s. So after an hour (yes, just one) of being stuck at 7 and the baby still high, (he) decided to perform a c/s. Only an hr!! He even said "nothing is wrong with mom or baby" - and i could not believe it!! the poor girl was just laying there all numb with her epi....couldnt they turn it down a little so she could get upright or something??? there was no talk of any alternatives or anything - no discussion - he just said it and it was so... That poor woman didnt have a chance - have drs. never heard of this thing called GRAVITY?!?! wow

[tinyshoes]

Originally Posted by ericswifey27

Like "Choose Your Own (birthing) Adventure" ?

That would rock!

OH my gosh.....

that is ALSO brilliant.

excerpt from the imaginary title from the series, First-Time Mom:

At your 39 week prenatal appointment, your doctor says your cervix is 90% effaced and you're dialated to 2 cm, and he thinks that with a little Pitocin, he can help nudge you into labor.

Do you:

Agree to your doctor's idea? turn to page 34

or

Decide to let nature contiue taking its course? turn to page 194

Seriously, it could even be a good childbirth education tool, to help folks understand that they have options when presented with various scenarios, and that each choice has a consequence.

[ericswifey27]

Can't wait to hear more... How about one where the nurses forbid food... if you decide to sneak food in against the hospital staff's wishes, turn to page 92...

: