Well, hell has frozen over.
Just when I thought that the fight for homebirth in Victoria was stuck at the corner of 56th and Never Gonna Happen, Health Minister Daniel Andrews just announced that the State Government had allocated $400,000 for midwife-led home births through Casey Hospital in Berwick and Sunshine Hospital in Melbourne's west. A regional health service will also participate, but the Government has yet to decide which one.
For women who have relatively uncomplicated pregnancies, this is fantastic news and as long as the trial works over the next year, the project will be expanded throughout the public health system. While undeniably this is no good for women who may want to have a homebirth following previous caesareans (VBACs) or who are considered to be 'high risk' (e.g. obesity, 'older' mums), the fact that the State Government has actually listened to the enormous amount of feedback provided by homebirthing mums and midwives is astounding and shows real promise for a health system that can provide high quality care for women who don't want to birth in hospital.
Yay!
Showing posts with label homebirth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homebirth. Show all posts
Homebirths forced to go underground
If an Australian woman wanting give birth at home is Little Red Riding Hood, then the Rudd government is the Big Bad Wolf.
Under the draft Health Practitioner Regulation Law released last week, homebirths will effectively become illegal.
How does it work?
According to the new law, all health practitioners (such as midwives) must hold indemnity insurance in order to legally practise. Considering the government and insurance companies have thus far been unwilling to include homebirth in the indemnity scheme, therefore, any midwife that attends a homebirth (even if qualified) will be subject to a fine of AU$30,000.
Homebirths will now be forced to go underground as Australian women are being stripped of their choices in childbirth. Now, it seems that a hospital is the only sanctioned venue for birth to occur.
Australian College of Midwives executive officer Dr Barbara Vernon said the Government's intentions were obvious.
I think unfortunately, the tragic death of Joyous Birth founder, Janet Fraser's baby in April during a homebirth has unfairly placed the blame on the venue of birth rather than any other medical factors that could have been integral to her baby's death. It is not clear how Janet's baby died other than it suffered from cardiac arrest and could not be revived.
The small proportion of instances where homebirth goes horribly wrong pale in comparison to the staggering complication and caesarean rates that women in the developed world are continually subject to as a result of needless intervention in hospital.
Seriously, K. Rudd. Leave the business of birth to women.
On that note check this uplifting tale of homebirth...
Under the draft Health Practitioner Regulation Law released last week, homebirths will effectively become illegal.
How does it work?
According to the new law, all health practitioners (such as midwives) must hold indemnity insurance in order to legally practise. Considering the government and insurance companies have thus far been unwilling to include homebirth in the indemnity scheme, therefore, any midwife that attends a homebirth (even if qualified) will be subject to a fine of AU$30,000.
Homebirths will now be forced to go underground as Australian women are being stripped of their choices in childbirth. Now, it seems that a hospital is the only sanctioned venue for birth to occur.
Australian College of Midwives executive officer Dr Barbara Vernon said the Government's intentions were obvious.
"Even though only less than half a per cent of women have home births, they should have the same rights as a woman who chooses to have a caesarean," she said. "Home births won't stop."
Vernon touches on an important contradiction. Why is that women can still elect to have caesarean births which arguably carries much risk and the small proportion of women (about 2%) who want to give birth at home cannot do so even if the birth is attended by a qualified health professional?I think unfortunately, the tragic death of Joyous Birth founder, Janet Fraser's baby in April during a homebirth has unfairly placed the blame on the venue of birth rather than any other medical factors that could have been integral to her baby's death. It is not clear how Janet's baby died other than it suffered from cardiac arrest and could not be revived.
The small proportion of instances where homebirth goes horribly wrong pale in comparison to the staggering complication and caesarean rates that women in the developed world are continually subject to as a result of needless intervention in hospital.
Seriously, K. Rudd. Leave the business of birth to women.
On that note check this uplifting tale of homebirth...
Standing up is better for labour
"A review of 21 studies involving almost 4,000 women concludes there is no risk to pregnant women from standing up when they start the delivery process and it may actually be harmful to lie flat."
Duh! Midwives and homebirthers have been saying this forever. The only reason women have been encouraged to lie down with their legs up (the lithotomy position) historically is because doctors it helped early obstetricians to see women's bits. Laying down works against gravity whereas walking around, squatting and standing help move things along. If you have an epidural, obviously, you have to lie down but it also raises your risk of having a caesar.
Read more: Taking a stand
Duh! Midwives and homebirthers have been saying this forever. The only reason women have been encouraged to lie down with their legs up (the lithotomy position) historically is because doctors it helped early obstetricians to see women's bits. Laying down works against gravity whereas walking around, squatting and standing help move things along. If you have an epidural, obviously, you have to lie down but it also raises your risk of having a caesar.
Read more: Taking a stand
Homebirth and freebirth are not the same
For those of you that read this blog, you will know that homebirth in Australia is now a topic of heated discussion. With state maternity systems on the brink of collapse, overwhelmed by birthing mothers, unstaffed and underfunded, having a baby is now a political issue. Most recently, midwives have been lobbying to have a more broadly defined role (such as writing prescriptions) in order to alleviate the pressure on the country's OBs. Nevertheless, homebirth is back in the news again today particularly due to uninformed media releases announcing the women are so 'desperate' that they are having dangerous homebirths because women aren't getting treated in hospital. According to the stats cited in one Daily Telegraph report, 4 babies have died in the last 9 months because their irresponsible mothers decided to give birth at home. This statistic is intended to show that women are now using homebirth as a last resort and not as a legitimate and largely safe choice.
One of these deaths, however, was a result of a freebirth and quite sadly was the baby of Janet Fraser, founder of Joyous Birth, an online forum that initially began as a place for women to talk about traumatic experiences of birth. Over the years, the site has become increasingly 'radical' and is now known to be one of the more popular freebirthing sites. Fraser claims that the site is really just about women being in control of their births, however, if I can be honest, one of the reasons why I initially distanced myself from writing for the site was because I felt that there was an overwhelming assumption that all hospital birth is bad and that women are inevitably the victims of evil doctors. It has been reported that Fraser was giving birth at home with her partner unassisted. In fact, I recently came across an interview with Fraser from The Age which begins with her in labour with the child that did not survive.
The media has failed to differentiate between freebirth or unassisted birth (no midwife or doctor) and homebirth (a birth at home, usually with a midwife or homebirth doctor). For the most part, for low-risk births that are attended properly, homebirth has been proven to be a safe alternative to hospital birth. Freebirthing is significantly more risky (sorry, I'm a supporter but also a realist). It is essential to make this differentiation. Now that homebirth is on the precipice of being banned given that independent midwives are likely going to be denied indemnity insurance from next year, the suggestion that all women who homebirth are crazy radicals or that homebirth represents the majority of birthing women in Australia (only about 2%) is ridiculous. If anything, midwives and their ability to attend homebirths will be the saving grace of the Australian maternity system. Rather than convincing the small proportion of women who avoid a medicalised birth, why not support these women in their choices by making homebirth safe and easy?
One of these deaths, however, was a result of a freebirth and quite sadly was the baby of Janet Fraser, founder of Joyous Birth, an online forum that initially began as a place for women to talk about traumatic experiences of birth. Over the years, the site has become increasingly 'radical' and is now known to be one of the more popular freebirthing sites. Fraser claims that the site is really just about women being in control of their births, however, if I can be honest, one of the reasons why I initially distanced myself from writing for the site was because I felt that there was an overwhelming assumption that all hospital birth is bad and that women are inevitably the victims of evil doctors. It has been reported that Fraser was giving birth at home with her partner unassisted. In fact, I recently came across an interview with Fraser from The Age which begins with her in labour with the child that did not survive.
The media has failed to differentiate between freebirth or unassisted birth (no midwife or doctor) and homebirth (a birth at home, usually with a midwife or homebirth doctor). For the most part, for low-risk births that are attended properly, homebirth has been proven to be a safe alternative to hospital birth. Freebirthing is significantly more risky (sorry, I'm a supporter but also a realist). It is essential to make this differentiation. Now that homebirth is on the precipice of being banned given that independent midwives are likely going to be denied indemnity insurance from next year, the suggestion that all women who homebirth are crazy radicals or that homebirth represents the majority of birthing women in Australia (only about 2%) is ridiculous. If anything, midwives and their ability to attend homebirths will be the saving grace of the Australian maternity system. Rather than convincing the small proportion of women who avoid a medicalised birth, why not support these women in their choices by making homebirth safe and easy?
Labor of Love or Extreme Birth?
Now that I'm catching up on reviews, I thought I should spread the word about New York midwife-extraordinaire, Cara Muhlhahn's memoir, Labour of LoveFor those of you that saw Ricki Lake's documentary Business of Being Born, you will be familiar with Muhlhahn's as a selection of her homebirths were featured in the film. The book is a rich recounting of Cara's 30 years of experience as a midwife - she recounts her formative adolescent experiences, the homebirth of her own son and a selection of stories from the 700+ babies that she has delivered over the years.
Watching Muhlhahn in action in BOBB, for me, was one of the highlights of the film. Sensitively attending to each woman's concerns, providing unconditional and unconventional support and reassuring women at their most vulnerable was not only heartwarming but profoundly moving.
Nevertheless, in New York Magazine feature, Muhlhahn is painted as a renegade in the homebirth movement, as 'fearless' to the point in which women's lives are at risk. Her self-assuredness and confidence from years of experience is positioned as hubris and perhaps arrogant. Homebirth is positioned as 'extreme' and merely a growing 'trend' among middle-class women who have taken to birth at home like the latest Gucci handbag and those women that opt to do so as selfish and perhaps a bit clueless. This is quite a divergence from the sensitive and thoughtful portrait painted of Muhlhahn by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein in their documentary and by Muhlhahn herself in her memoir.
Has anyone else read the book? Thoughts on the movie or the article?
Homebirth going underground down under
Speaking of homebirths, it looks as thought homebirth in Australia is likely to go underground as a result of new policies for health care professionals under the Rudd government. From the middle of next year, midwives will have to hold professional indemnity insurance. This is a problem because no insurance companies in Australia are yet willing to insure independent midwives so when the new regulations come into effect, it will no longer be legal for independent midwives to attend homebirths.
Although less than 1% of all births in Australia take place at home, more than 50 % of submissions to the federal Government's recent maternity services review came from women calling for greater support for homebirthing services, which according to The Australian claims up to a 10-fold greater share of births in some overseas countries such as Britain.
This is devastating and dangerous. Women who are committed to have homebirths will do so anyway and many obstetricians agree that it is much more reasonable to support midwives in the provision of quality care to women wherever they choose to give birth, rather than knowingly risk the lives of women who make choices outside the medical model.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25124579-601,00.html
Although less than 1% of all births in Australia take place at home, more than 50 % of submissions to the federal Government's recent maternity services review came from women calling for greater support for homebirthing services, which according to The Australian claims up to a 10-fold greater share of births in some overseas countries such as Britain.
This is devastating and dangerous. Women who are committed to have homebirths will do so anyway and many obstetricians agree that it is much more reasonable to support midwives in the provision of quality care to women wherever they choose to give birth, rather than knowingly risk the lives of women who make choices outside the medical model.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25124579-601,00.html
No hombirth for Sporty Spice
Charlotte Church, 22, gave birth to her second child, a boy, at home on Sunday. The young mum has spoken out a number of times this year about her positive homebirthing experiences.There will be no homebirth for former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm. Due in February, the singer is freaking out thanks to some not so supportive words by fellow bandmate Mel B (Scary Spice). "Mel B has been talking me through all the fine details of giving birth and has told me loads of horror stories," she said. "Well, she is Scary, isn't she? So I suppose it's her job to scare me a bit."
"I want to give birth in hospital, rather than at home, just in case something goes wrong - especially as it's my first," she says.
Sources: http://www.charlottechurch.com/
http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2009/01/09/mel-c-bump-jools/
Moral panic Thursday!
I love a good moral panic. As you probably have noticed, I haven't even touched on Sarah Palin and all of this teen pregnancy tomfoolery. Rather, my attention turns to freebirthing. Yet again.
According to the Daily Mail, as a result of a midwife shortage in the UK, women are being 'forced' to have 'dangerous' homebirths. The maternity system in the UK is so overcrowded, understaffed, and apparently un-hygienic, many women have opted to have their babies at home. Dame Karlene Davis, a midwife said:
'Technology and the internet has led to people thinking they can do freebirthing. If a woman has had a positive experience then people think it’s something worth trying."
Damn that technology. Putting ideas in women's heads. Lead them not into temptation! Even though the British government is unwilling to acknowledge the midwife shortage and birth rates continue to rise in the midst of a crumbling system, I highly doubt that the majority of women in the UK are freebirthing or even homebirthing, for that fact. In most of the West, homebirthing is still rare and unfortunately, women are more willing to suffer the ills of public medical systems rather than have babies at home because they are not given the proper information nor the support to make that choice if they so desire. All of this malarky and panic over freebirthing is evidence of a resounding fear that if women give birth on their own or at home with a midwife, obstetric 'expertise' will be undermined. In Australia, the government is considering giving midwives the power to prescribe medications and to deal with Medicare as a way to cope with understaffing. And why not considering births in Oz are at the highest level since 1971? Of course doctors have attacked this proposal with more 'risk' talk saying that more babies will die if midwives have a greater role in hospitals. No wonder women in Australia and beyond are sceptical of homebirth and freebirth: doctors keep telling them they will die or their babies will die. Sure there are always risks but scare tactics will not fix underfunded and understaffed maternity systems.
Sources: http://tinyurl.com/5kf22l
http://www.theage.com.au/national/doctors-attack-midwives-proposal-20080910-4dvi.html
According to the Daily Mail, as a result of a midwife shortage in the UK, women are being 'forced' to have 'dangerous' homebirths. The maternity system in the UK is so overcrowded, understaffed, and apparently un-hygienic, many women have opted to have their babies at home. Dame Karlene Davis, a midwife said:
'Technology and the internet has led to people thinking they can do freebirthing. If a woman has had a positive experience then people think it’s something worth trying."
Damn that technology. Putting ideas in women's heads. Lead them not into temptation! Even though the British government is unwilling to acknowledge the midwife shortage and birth rates continue to rise in the midst of a crumbling system, I highly doubt that the majority of women in the UK are freebirthing or even homebirthing, for that fact. In most of the West, homebirthing is still rare and unfortunately, women are more willing to suffer the ills of public medical systems rather than have babies at home because they are not given the proper information nor the support to make that choice if they so desire. All of this malarky and panic over freebirthing is evidence of a resounding fear that if women give birth on their own or at home with a midwife, obstetric 'expertise' will be undermined. In Australia, the government is considering giving midwives the power to prescribe medications and to deal with Medicare as a way to cope with understaffing. And why not considering births in Oz are at the highest level since 1971? Of course doctors have attacked this proposal with more 'risk' talk saying that more babies will die if midwives have a greater role in hospitals. No wonder women in Australia and beyond are sceptical of homebirth and freebirth: doctors keep telling them they will die or their babies will die. Sure there are always risks but scare tactics will not fix underfunded and understaffed maternity systems.
Sources: http://tinyurl.com/5kf22l
http://www.theage.com.au/national/doctors-attack-midwives-proposal-20080910-4dvi.html
Laila Ali in fighting form
Laila Ali is featured in the September issue of Pregnancy magazine. As the daughter of Muhammad Ali, Laila, also a professional boxer and host of American Gladiators, is planning to have a homebirth:"Society tells you, 'You get pregnant, you go to the hospital,' and that was just naturally what I was going to do, but once I saw that there was another option, it just fit me," she explains. "I want to be fully present. I don't want any medications. I just want to be in control of the situation -- as much as I can be anyway."
Of course she's working out four days a week and trying to eat well:
"I always thought I was going to gain a lot of weight because I'm a big girl naturally. I walk around at 175 lbs, I'm 5'11", and I love to eat," Laila reveals. "I thought, 'Oh God, I'm going to be like 250 lbs and huge.' I know a lot of women have that fear. But because I'm already a big girl, I was just imagining myself to be a giant."
"I haven't had any problems, no cravings or nausea," she says. "I have gained 25 pounds, but I'm going to go back to that gym and work it all off so I'm not really worried about it."
Source: http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/07/63040/index.html
Homebirth is 'old school'
Time magazine has a story about home birth in the US in the current edition. While seemingly praiseworthy of the move towards birth at home, I was annoyed to read this sentence:
"Old-school birthing is back in style, with well-read women forsaking obstetricians for midwives and epidurals for warm baths."
Referring to home birth as 'old-school' suggest that it's antiquated or primitive or that women are foresaking a 'modern' life. Silly women! The article devotes about one paragraph to the positive aspects of homebirth but the rest of the article basically reads like a cautionary tale to women who would 'dare' to deviate.
Source: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1830388,00.html
"Old-school birthing is back in style, with well-read women forsaking obstetricians for midwives and epidurals for warm baths."
Referring to home birth as 'old-school' suggest that it's antiquated or primitive or that women are foresaking a 'modern' life. Silly women! The article devotes about one paragraph to the positive aspects of homebirth but the rest of the article basically reads like a cautionary tale to women who would 'dare' to deviate.
Source: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1830388,00.html
Charlotte Church: babies are better when they are born at home
Huzzah! Charlotte Church is having baby number 2 at home. Apparently Charlotte has become a spokesperson for breastfeeding and homebirth since having her first baby at home last year. According to the Welsh government, homebirths in Wales have risen to 25% even though the government's target was only 10%. That's 1/4 of all births taking place at home!
Even her rugby playing partner, Gavin, was pretty jazzed with the homebirth:
“The midwife called me when the baby was just coming out and to see that was amazing. You don’t know what people are talking about unless you’ve been a part of it.
Even her rugby playing partner, Gavin, was pretty jazzed with the homebirth:
“The midwife called me when the baby was just coming out and to see that was amazing. You don’t know what people are talking about unless you’ve been a part of it.
“I had so much more respect and so much more love for Charlotte after what she’d just been through. I cut the cord.
“I was just so relieved that the baby looked really healthy. I checked everything and she looked beautiful.”
Source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/2008/07/15/charlotte-church-opts-to-have-second-baby-at-home-91466-21339878/
The end of homebirth in America?
Well, it seems despite all of the momentum for homebirth generated by Ricki Lake is on the out in the US. The American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a resolution last weekend at their annual meeting to OUTLAW homebirth. In effect, the resolution would force American women to give birth in hospitals, again suggesting that midwives just aren't good enough compared to doctors. It's not yet clear how women would be penalised (or how anyone would find out?) if they have homebirths, however, this aggressive move is a sign of clear and present danger for the maternity system in America. As one of the largest profit generating sectors of American hospitals, ob/gyns are not willing to give up any of their cash. Similarly, the AMA is pushing for midwives to only be able to practice in hospitals under direct supervision of a doctor.
So much for constitutional rights.
Source: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/06/16/bad-medicine-ama-seeks-to-outlaw-home-births
So much for constitutional rights.
Source: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/06/16/bad-medicine-ama-seeks-to-outlaw-home-births
Homebirths on the rise in the UK
Although homebirth happens in relatively small proportions in most 'Western' parts of the world (only 2.5% in all of the UK), it seems that giving birth comfortably at home is becoming increasingly more appealing. According to new research, in certain parts of the UK where midwife teams are strong, homebirths have shot up to 14.2% in places like West Somerset.
Alongside new legislation promising that by the end of 2009 all women in the UK will be able to choose how they give birth, including at home, there has been a greater willingness for women to explore their birth options with knowledgeable midwives. However, as fantastic as these new plans seem, there is still an increasing shortage of trained midwives (as in Australia) so the feasability of the scheme is significantly in jeopardy.
Nevertheless, in Wales alone, the government has set a target of 10% of all births to take place at home and this has increased the total homebirth rate overall in Wales over the last six years (even though actual figures are not close to 10%).
If you had one-to-one support from a qualified midwife, would you be more likely to consider giving birth at home?
Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/huge-rise-in-number-of-home-births-796618.html
Alongside new legislation promising that by the end of 2009 all women in the UK will be able to choose how they give birth, including at home, there has been a greater willingness for women to explore their birth options with knowledgeable midwives. However, as fantastic as these new plans seem, there is still an increasing shortage of trained midwives (as in Australia) so the feasability of the scheme is significantly in jeopardy.
Nevertheless, in Wales alone, the government has set a target of 10% of all births to take place at home and this has increased the total homebirth rate overall in Wales over the last six years (even though actual figures are not close to 10%).
If you had one-to-one support from a qualified midwife, would you be more likely to consider giving birth at home?
Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/huge-rise-in-number-of-home-births-796618.html
Freebirthing blog
My fantastic friend has just written up her freebirthing story in a new blog filled with great links, photos and information. For anyone contemplating freebirth, lotus birth, hiring a doula, or is in need of good books about birth to read, this is the blog for you.
Interested to hear your thoughts about freebirthing or homebirth in response.
http://harrietsfreebirth.blogspot.com/
Interested to hear your thoughts about freebirthing or homebirth in response.
http://harrietsfreebirth.blogspot.com/
Home delivery is apparently just for pizza
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has just released a statement on their anti-homebirth position as a means of quietly confronting the 'popularity' of Ricki Lake's On The Business of Being Born. As can be expected from a group of highly paid doctors working in hospitals, ACOG states the most ideal model for birth is inevitably in a hospital with an obstetrician where risk can be managed. They say:
"Childbirth decisions should not be dictated or influenced by what's fashionable, trendy, or the latest cause célèbre. Despite the rosy picture painted by home birth advocates, a seemingly normal labor and delivery can quickly become life-threatening for both the mother and baby."
Not only does the ACOG discount all of the legitimate medical literature arguing for the benefits of homebirth, the idea that millions of American women are jumping on the homebirth bandwagon from seeing a movie is insane. If only this was the case! Despite the seeming popular appeal of homebirth, the fact is that most American women (about 99%) still give birth in hospitals and only about 1% of all births are 'alternative' with midwives, in birth centres or at home. Moreover, increasingly homebirth and midwifery are becoming harder to access in a number of states. A bill has passed through the Utah legislature that seeks to ban homebirths altogether and is just another way in which women's rights are being curtailed, providing fodder for the black market of midwives that is thriving in states across America.
According to ACOG, birth is just an emergency waiting to happen. It is a frightening proposition that this medical body says that they support a woman's right to 'choose' how she will give birth but implicit in that statement is the suggestion that if you decide to avoid intervention you are irresponsible. This raises very serious questions about what is considered to be 'high-risk'; increasingly having a big baby, a premature baby or a previous caesar are grounds for intervention whereas earlier they would not.
What's worse is that the high caesarean rate in America is attributed to pregnant women being too overweight and too old; ACOG places no responsibility for the 45% rate of caesars on obstetricians themselves. As Jennifer Block so convincingly argues in Pushed, the reality of hospital birth today is contingent on doctor's wanting short shifts, fast births and women to just shut up about it. ACOG speaks of midwives as if they are the devil's advocates and categorically state that as a result of their lack of comparable skills and inability to address 'high-risk' pregnancies, midwives are not to be trusted. What about all of the literature suggesting that birth with a midwife actually lowers caesarean rates?
In a nutshell, ACOG says in no uncertain terms: "Choosing to deliver a baby at home... is to place the processof giving birth over the goal of having a healthy baby." There is no 'right' way to give birth and to suggest that women are irresponsible for moving away from the medical model is an appalling abuse of biomedical power.
Source: http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr02-06-08-2.cfm
http://www.kcpw.org/article/5301
"Childbirth decisions should not be dictated or influenced by what's fashionable, trendy, or the latest cause célèbre. Despite the rosy picture painted by home birth advocates, a seemingly normal labor and delivery can quickly become life-threatening for both the mother and baby."
Not only does the ACOG discount all of the legitimate medical literature arguing for the benefits of homebirth, the idea that millions of American women are jumping on the homebirth bandwagon from seeing a movie is insane. If only this was the case! Despite the seeming popular appeal of homebirth, the fact is that most American women (about 99%) still give birth in hospitals and only about 1% of all births are 'alternative' with midwives, in birth centres or at home. Moreover, increasingly homebirth and midwifery are becoming harder to access in a number of states. A bill has passed through the Utah legislature that seeks to ban homebirths altogether and is just another way in which women's rights are being curtailed, providing fodder for the black market of midwives that is thriving in states across America.
According to ACOG, birth is just an emergency waiting to happen. It is a frightening proposition that this medical body says that they support a woman's right to 'choose' how she will give birth but implicit in that statement is the suggestion that if you decide to avoid intervention you are irresponsible. This raises very serious questions about what is considered to be 'high-risk'; increasingly having a big baby, a premature baby or a previous caesar are grounds for intervention whereas earlier they would not.
What's worse is that the high caesarean rate in America is attributed to pregnant women being too overweight and too old; ACOG places no responsibility for the 45% rate of caesars on obstetricians themselves. As Jennifer Block so convincingly argues in Pushed, the reality of hospital birth today is contingent on doctor's wanting short shifts, fast births and women to just shut up about it. ACOG speaks of midwives as if they are the devil's advocates and categorically state that as a result of their lack of comparable skills and inability to address 'high-risk' pregnancies, midwives are not to be trusted. What about all of the literature suggesting that birth with a midwife actually lowers caesarean rates?
In a nutshell, ACOG says in no uncertain terms: "Choosing to deliver a baby at home... is to place the processof giving birth over the goal of having a healthy baby." There is no 'right' way to give birth and to suggest that women are irresponsible for moving away from the medical model is an appalling abuse of biomedical power.
Source: http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr02-06-08-2.cfm
http://www.kcpw.org/article/5301
Black market for midwives
I was stunned to read today in the Chicago Tribune that midwifery is outlawed in 10 states in America. Missouri is the only state where midwifery is considered a felony, but the other nine states have actually banned the practice (including Illinois from where I hail). However, there is still a thriving network (or black market) of practicing midwives in Missouri who operate through word of mouth. At least 1,000 women in Missouri give birth at home each year which is a clear sign that women are resisting and taking control of their own births. Similarly, in Illinois at least 800 babies are born each year at home (that's 2-3 babies every day!)
As most of you may already know, childbirth is still considred a medical emergency in most American states. Ricki Lake's doco, The Business of Being Born, and the forthcoming full-length feature film, Pregnant in America, could not have come at a more opportune time. Whilst 40 states do permit midwives to practice (mostly under the supervision of a doctor in a hospital), it is homebirth that has sparked the most intense debate. Missouri is now on the brink of deciding whether to overturn its ban on midwifery after a state lawmaker's wife was aided by a midwife in her pregnancy and has pushed (no pun intended!) to make midwifery legal.
I won't go into the pros and cons of homebirth here. However, this is an interesting irony:
A good samaritan who helps a woman deliver a baby in a taxi cab or in a lift is not subject to prosecution. A trained midwife, on the other hand, who helps a woman give birth at home is.
Even more surprising, there is a fantastic homebirth story in a very unlikely place: Vogue
Titled 'Mother Knows Best' (pp.304-17, 406) the author recounts her experience of homebirth in New York in the November issue with the same midwife featured in Ricki Lake's documentary, Cara Muhlhahn. Great to see a positive representation of homebirth in a mainstream fashion magazine (of all places!)
Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/sunday/chi-midwives_bdnov25,0,1653801.story
Check out the Midwives Alliance of North America for more info on safe homebirth and to find a certified midwife in your area: www.mana.org
As most of you may already know, childbirth is still considred a medical emergency in most American states. Ricki Lake's doco, The Business of Being Born, and the forthcoming full-length feature film, Pregnant in America, could not have come at a more opportune time. Whilst 40 states do permit midwives to practice (mostly under the supervision of a doctor in a hospital), it is homebirth that has sparked the most intense debate. Missouri is now on the brink of deciding whether to overturn its ban on midwifery after a state lawmaker's wife was aided by a midwife in her pregnancy and has pushed (no pun intended!) to make midwifery legal.
I won't go into the pros and cons of homebirth here. However, this is an interesting irony:
A good samaritan who helps a woman deliver a baby in a taxi cab or in a lift is not subject to prosecution. A trained midwife, on the other hand, who helps a woman give birth at home is.
Even more surprising, there is a fantastic homebirth story in a very unlikely place: Vogue
Titled 'Mother Knows Best' (pp.304-17, 406) the author recounts her experience of homebirth in New York in the November issue with the same midwife featured in Ricki Lake's documentary, Cara Muhlhahn. Great to see a positive representation of homebirth in a mainstream fashion magazine (of all places!)
Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/sunday/chi-midwives_bdnov25,0,1653801.story
Check out the Midwives Alliance of North America for more info on safe homebirth and to find a certified midwife in your area: www.mana.org
Sneak preview: Ricki Lake's 'The Business of Being Born'
I am so disappointed I will miss the opportuntiy to see this film because I'm off to the US next week. If you are in Melbourne and are interested in home birth, book your place now!
Presented by Maternity Coalition Victoria
in association with the La Trobe University School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Mother and Child Health Research Centre.
A documentary film by Ricki Lake, directed by Abby Epstein
Followed by panel/audience discussion on
The Relevance of the film to ‘future directions’ for Victorian maternity care
in association with the La Trobe University School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Mother and Child Health Research Centre.
A documentary film by Ricki Lake, directed by Abby Epstein
Followed by panel/audience discussion on
The Relevance of the film to ‘future directions’ for Victorian maternity care
Thursday 6th December 2007
7pm for a 7:30 sharp start
Screening is approx 1 ½ hours, followed by the discussion panel
La Trobe University, Bundoora
Western Lecture Theatre (WLT) 1.
Parking available in Car park 2,
number 86 tram from the City
Cost: $10 single, $15 family. Payable at the door
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL:
RSVP BOBB.melbourne@maternitycoalition.org.au
Light refreshments provided on entry.
Babes in arms welcome.
Sources: http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/
http://www.maternitycoalition.org.au/
7pm for a 7:30 sharp start
Screening is approx 1 ½ hours, followed by the discussion panel
La Trobe University, Bundoora
Western Lecture Theatre (WLT) 1.
Parking available in Car park 2,
number 86 tram from the City
Cost: $10 single, $15 family. Payable at the door
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL:
RSVP BOBB.melbourne@maternitycoalition.org.au
Light refreshments provided on entry.
Babes in arms welcome.
Sources: http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/
http://www.maternitycoalition.org.au/
ricki lake homebirth doco
Remember Ricki Lake? Gosh, how many afternoons of my primary school years were spent in front of the boob tube watching The Ricki Lake Show? Well, according to the Huffington Post, Ricki is premiering her documentary, On The Business of Being Born, at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film is inspired by her own very different birth experiences and even shows Lake birthing her son Owen in the tub. Here is a snippet of the interview:
Why did you want to produce this film?
I wanted to make this movie after my two very different birth experiences with my children. I felt like I had an opportunity to explore and question birthing practices in this country and perhaps be an advocate for mothers' rights and better maternity care
How did your personal birth experiences influence you?
After the birth of my sons, particularly my home birth with my second son, I thought I wanted to become a midwife. Then I looked at all the years of schooling and training that I would have to do and felt that the time could be better spent doing a documentary on the subject of birth.
How intimate does the film get?
I am naked at 195 pounds giving birth in my own bathtub. It can't get any more intimate than that!
Read the rest of the interview here:
Go Ricki! Go Ricki!
australian homebirth
There was an interesting debate sparked about Australian homebirth on Sunrise (Channel 7) last week and, as a result, Marie Claire (the women's mag) has developed a forum for readers to leave comments about homebirth and their experiences thereof. I imagine all of these comments will develop into some sort of article for a forthcoming issue.
This is the description from Marie Claire's website:
"The UK government has recently announced plans to encourage more women to have home births, saying that expectant mothers should have greater choices over where they give birth. The proposal has been welcomed by midwives, but met with concern by some groups who say there are safety issues involved. In Australia, about one per cent of all babies are delivered in home births. The issue was debated by Channel Seven's Sunrise panel, which included marie claire editor Jackie Frank".
Post your thoughts on the Marie Claire website:
http://au.blogs.yahoo.com/marie-claire/964/home-birth-debate/
This is the description from Marie Claire's website:
"The UK government has recently announced plans to encourage more women to have home births, saying that expectant mothers should have greater choices over where they give birth. The proposal has been welcomed by midwives, but met with concern by some groups who say there are safety issues involved. In Australia, about one per cent of all babies are delivered in home births. The issue was debated by Channel Seven's Sunrise panel, which included marie claire editor Jackie Frank".
Post your thoughts on the Marie Claire website:
http://au.blogs.yahoo.com/marie-claire/964/home-birth-debate/
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