Drugs, Knives, and Midwives: An article from Utne

[Gumby]

I'm sure some of you have read this already...I just stumbled upon it:

http://www.utne.com/issues/2007_140/...s/12462-1.html

I'm also sure a lot of you are aware the content addressed already. It elicits a kind of "well, duh" response. Frankly, I'm glad to see the information circulating.

Waiting to hear what you all have in response

[starhalo]

Just read the article...great piece. I wasn't even aware of that drug mentioned in the article. I have a friend who just had her 2nd baby and she proudly celebrates being induced and having an epidural. She thinks that having a baby is like a science project. Great article...

[Jenlaana]

I spent the majority of my last pregnancy researching birth and birth trends and hospital policies. I love Marsden Wagner's articles, and even so, I found myself sitting here going "OH MY GOD!!" to some of the things in that article. I'm going to have to buy his book.

Of the 25 percent of women who were given episiotomies (a cut in the muscle between the vagina and the anus to widen the birth canal), a startling 73 percent were not consulted before having the procedure.

Wagner also thinks that C-sections offer doctors a way to bring the most time-consuming part of their practice under their control. "It means they can split their time between seeing patients in the office, doing gynecological surgical procedures in the hospital, and attending births, on a timetable of their choosing, and reduces the chance that they will be required to attend births at inconvenient times," he writes. "For some, it is perhaps their only chance to have a decent personal life."

Wagner also believes that our skyrocketing C-section rates are driven by the internal politics of the birth industry. By promoting cesareans, doctors are choosing a procedure that midwives cannot perform.

I'm sure I preach to the choir here but... OMG.... I just dont understand why our medical system has gone the route that it has. I wonder exactly how many women have been trampled under the feet of a system that simply does not fit the needs of the patient, yet is being forced on them because the physicians have the money and the power in making legislative decisions (like not allowing midwives in SC to handle VBACs, like midwives being illegal in other parts of the country, like... there's just so many sad things that should be changed )

[hikingmommy]

I just logged on here to post about the articles after finishing them yesterday. Thanks for beating me to it!

[crunchy_mama]

I am shocked that the episiotomy rate was not higher. I am sure for exclusive first time moms it has to be a heck of a lot higher than that.

It would be so nice if people would "get" it. Sometimes I feel like I am living in an alternate universe where the truth is a lie and lies are the truth. Why is it that we(collective) do not take responsibility for educating ourselves. Why is it we are so certain that there always has to be someone to blame, someone to sue. Of course the medical profession for the most part has brought this on themselves, they claim with all this intervention and technology that things will be perfect and wonderful. Nothing in life is, we cannot control everything. Trying to control something which is so innate and natural only leads to an entire breakdown of the system, for the vast, vast majority of mothers and babies.

As women "in the know" we have such a responsibility to go out and educate the general public. How do we do that though when we have information that no one wants to hear or believe.

[2mama]

wow

[MommyDOK]

Although I agree w/ the analysis, a national health care system will NOT fix the problem.

The problem begins w/ licensure and the state. It's kind of funny that people want the state to fix a problem that it created. :
The American Medical Association (AMA) and the govt have colluded to keep competition down and wages up for physicians and state coffers. There is no other way you could study the history of the AMA and ACOG and come up w/ anything different.

Licensure is a sham and we would not be in this situation if the state were not involved. I'm all for accreditation, but that doesn't involve the state.

The state decides, w/ the AMA how many doctors there are (controlling access) and then they keep prices up all under the complete farce that they are keeping us safe. Gimme a break!!!!
China has national healthcare and their c/s rate is 30.2%!!! It hasn't helped there.

[quarteralien]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama

As women "in the know" we have such a responsibility to go out and educate the general public. How do we do that though when we have information that no one wants to hear or believe.

This is what I struggle with, as I try to maintain friendships with women who will not allow for the possibility that they have been deceived. I'm also related to an OB, so I can't even talk to my family about this. I end up biting my tongue more often than not, just to avoid an argument and keep a friendship, when what I really want to do is tell people they are wrong. Where is the balance between educating and alienating? I haven't found it yet.

[KKmama]

I just finished Born in the USA, the book discussed in the article. It's an amazing (and disturbing) book. I highly recommend it. The chapter on inductions was so scary I had to put it down several times. One thing the author said which I'm pretty fired up about is that birth needs to be the next big feminist action in this country--I totally agree.

[theelfqueen]

I'm reading Born in the USA right now and .... it's powerful. I've read a LOT of birth books before but I don't think I've ever pored over one like this.

[mom2talus]

I had such a hard time convincing my family that a homebirth was going to be safe - but people have no problem going off the deep end with interventions.