Maternal Death Rates on the Rise

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD02HEAL012808.htm

This is just yet another example of the maternity crisis in America. As women we really do have to take responsibility for our choices in childbirth. Our society is techno happy....even in childbirth. Convenience, money, control...all parts of the problem. If the doc wants to induce you......why is it that it is medically necessary? I see babies born at home all the time with out complication...that weigh anywhere from 6-11lbs! I can't think of how many of these girls would have been induced or sectioned because of a "big baby"! Make sure that what ever it is the doc/nurses want to do is truely in the best interest of you and your baby, and truly medically necessary. We need to stop messing with nature!

A very positive experience...in the hospital!

My friend Tamara(doula) had called me early Sat morning..she was sick and her client had gone into early labor. She was devastated because this was going to be the first time in 7 years that she had to call in back up. She gave me the run down emailed me the birth plan etc and I was ready for the call to go. Well, mom's contractions were not all that consistent...so it wasn't until about 1pm that her husband called to say that she was ready. So off I go and when I got there about 1:30 she was in the bath tub. Doing great...but about to get out as she was getting cold. We chatted for a bit to sort of get to know each other...and I encouraged her to lay down to rest while she could...her contractions had spaced out a bit, which is normal when someone 'new' comes into the environment. About half an hour later or so, they started to get more intense, but mom did awesome....great low tones and listening to every suggestion I made. About 3:40 we decided to go to OSU, her young daughter was going to be coming home from a birthday party and she didn't want her to see her in heavy labor. As she was getting into the car, her water broke. The car trip wasn't fun for her....in the parking garage of OSU, she was feeling the need to push. I said ok, just blow. We got her a wheelchair and got her up to the 6th floor as fast as we could. In the triage room she was 8cm. laboring on her hands and knees and not wanting to be in any other position. Shortly after that we were in a room, heplock was placed, and not long after that, at 4:43 she gave birth to her gorgeous baby boy. It was perfect. Kudos to the staff at OSU on Saturday for supporting clients wishes, to Dr. Artman, for doing the same, and even today while in the postpartum floor, she has been given much respect, not even having to have the baby leave her side. YEAH!!!!!