Childbirth Connection has just released the Millbank Report about Evidence-Based Maternity Care in the US. Basically, this report provides suggestions for reforming the American maternity system which is, for intents and purposes, crumbling. As a result of the escalating numbers of caesareans and inductions being performed, the report notes that maternity care is contributing to the skyrocketing health care costs. Not only is pregnancy the number one reason for hospitalisation in the US, six of the ten most common procedures billed to medical insurance or Medicare are maternity related. Caesarean sections, in particular, are the most common billed procedure for Medicare, private payers and for all payers combined! The report points out that even when women have relatively uncomplicated births in hospitals the costs begin at around $7,000 and for a caesarean can go up to $16,000. Women who deliver in birth centres, in contrast, are charged around $1600 and often the outcomes in these centres are very good and women are satisfied with their care. The report also stresses the importance of midwifery.
Read more here: http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10575
Showing posts with label maternity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maternity. Show all posts
Birth couture? Give me a break.
Well. I have seen the future (again). And it is not good.
As if it wasn't enough to have 'couture' hospital gowns(Remember when I wrote about J.Lo and her designer gowns? http://babybumpproject.blogspot.com/2008/02/jlo-too-good-for-paper-hospital-gown.html
Now, it seems, some enterprising young mum has created a birthing dress. Apparently, it's for 'fashionistas' who feel the need to look hot when they are pushing out big-headed humans from very small holes.
It's $98 and very tenuously references something about making you feel 'warm and fuzzy'
Right. And it's probably 'Dry Clean Only' as well.
Pushed (or all of the reasons why having a baby in America is scary)
Well it has been a few days since my last post and please excuse, I've been in Washington DC for the American Anthropological Association Conference to present a paper 'From Bump to Baby: Gazing at the Fetus in 4D' as part of a panel on 'Technologies of Surveillance'. Now that I'm back in Chicago, here are some thoughts:Firstly, I had the (dis)pleasure of reading 'Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care' by Jennifer Block over the last two days. This is a well-researched and thoroughly read-able piece which is definitely worth the time, but be prepared to be absolutely shocked and appalled (I definitely was!) at the state of the current American maternity system. I can tell you, as someone who does not have any children, the thought of having a baby in America today is so incredibly scary as I sat on the plane reading about 'elective' caesareans, the blackmarket for midwives, VBAC, and the absolutely ludicrous recommendations against homebirth by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), my mouth was actually agape as I read true stories of women in America who have had every ounce of 'choice' taken away from them in a hospital.
Perhaps I have been lulled into a fall sense of security or even idealism in studying the Australian maternity system (which is not perfect by any means). However, the Australian system relies heavily on midwives, women have the choice to give birth at home or in a family birth clinic and of course, there is universal health care. Although the caesarean rate is still extremely high in Australia as it is in America, in my own research the constant use of fetal monitors, giving birth in the lithotomy position (on your back) against gravity, and being at the mercy of doctors who will induce you at the drop of a hat, are oppressive medical rituals that the Australian system has mostly evolved past.
Even more shocking for me was Block's mention that American women's rights groups have not taken any significant action with regard to pregnancy rights, particularly when it comes to VBAC. Block notes the National Organization for Women (NOW), the Center for Reproductive Rights, the National Women's Health Network, and even Planned Parenthood have not been willingly to fight for women to have vaginal births after caesar, for example; the same organisations which have fought for birth control have been staunch in their refusal to address the idea that women are being coerced into major abdominal surgery mostly because of insurance issues (pp.260-1)
As Block argues, the state of pre and postnatal care in America is edging on public health crisis. A woman who has not done extensive research, is confident in her choices, and has people in her life to support her, and is not white or middle-class has very little chance of achieving the birth that she wants without significant medical intervention.
Has anyone else read this book? What are your thoughts? Did your experience of birth become medicalised without your consent?
Thanks from Hot Milk!
I was so pleased to receive this comment in response to my recent post about the 'soft porn' debate surrounding maternity lingerie company, Hot Milk:
'Hi everyone, Lisa here from HOTmilk! I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who is supporting us, which can I say is like 99% of the world! The feedback we are getting is amazing and we are so proud of what we are doing and how our lingerie is making mums feel. thank you again, Lisa'
'Hi everyone, Lisa here from HOTmilk! I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who is supporting us, which can I say is like 99% of the world! The feedback we are getting is amazing and we are so proud of what we are doing and how our lingerie is making mums feel. thank you again, Lisa'
Maternity lingerie is apparently 'soft porn'
Ironically, I was doing a brief for a pregnancy company in London about hot products from around the world and I just so happened to mention that Kiwi maternity lingerie company, Hot Milk (http://www.hotmilklingerie.co.nz/), was the only way for pregnant mums to save their chests from nine months of sheer boredom. For those in the know, Hot Milk is hot these days and the sexy but completely functional designs are by far the most desirable underthings a preggo could ever want (and in a range of sizes that do not begin and end with XS). The ‘Cherry Bomb Chic’ bra and matching microfibre French knickers are so amazing you would want to get pregnant just so you could wear them.
Anyway, back to my point. One of my secret sources sent me an article this morning explaining that the ladies of Hot Milk have been accused of pedaling 'soft porn' in their latest catalogue as beautiful pregnant bellies dazzle the glossy pages in black satin and bows, looking all feminista and fabulous. Apparently, online store Breastmates sent out the new catalogue to their database of women in New Zealand, many of whom complained of 'explicit' images tarnishing their pristine in-boxes.
I find this so fascinating. Everyone in the media (and I'm guilty of it myself) rants about how fantastic it is that pregnant women can show off their bellies proudly, that celebrities can accessorise with a baby bump instead of a Balenciaga, that because of Demi Moore and her infamous naked pregnant photo shoot, doing a 'Demi' on a magazine cover is like Starbucks in America. And yet, a few pregnant women in bras celebrating their bodies are branded as porn? Did I mention that Demi and Britney and recently, Mylene Klass, were NAKED on the covers of magazines and everyone gave them three cheers?
People are strange. If anything, I hope that Hot Milk gets a boatload of publicity and in turn, sells more bras.
Full article:
pregnant in america
Why are 98% of babies in America born in hospitals? How come 66% of hospital revenue comes from childbirth? I read about Pregnancy in America earlier in the year but just revisited the website and I have to say that I think it will be one of the most riveting films about childbirth and pregnancy in America to date. I watched the trailer and literally had goosebumps. Watch it for yourself and tell all of your friends: http://pregnantinamerica.com
This is how the director describes the film:
Pregnant in America examines the betrayal of humanity's greatest gift--birth--by the greed of U.S. corporations. Hospitals, insurance companies and other members of the healthcare industry have all pushed aside the best care of our infants and mothers to play the power game of raking in huge profits. His wife pregnant, first-time filmmaker Steve Buonaugurio sets out to create a film that will expose the underside of the U.S. childbirth industry and help end its neglectful exploitation of pregnancy and birth. Pregnant in America is the controversial story of life's greatest miracle in the hands of a nation's most powerful interests.
This is how the director describes the film:
Pregnant in America examines the betrayal of humanity's greatest gift--birth--by the greed of U.S. corporations. Hospitals, insurance companies and other members of the healthcare industry have all pushed aside the best care of our infants and mothers to play the power game of raking in huge profits. His wife pregnant, first-time filmmaker Steve Buonaugurio sets out to create a film that will expose the underside of the U.S. childbirth industry and help end its neglectful exploitation of pregnancy and birth. Pregnant in America is the controversial story of life's greatest miracle in the hands of a nation's most powerful interests.
you have got to be kidding.
Seriously, I need to stop having these 'only in America' moments. Apparently, the ABC (an American network) is premiering a new mid-season replacement television series (12 April) called 'Notes from the Underbelly'. This is a show aiming for a humourous take on the 'politics of pregnancy' as a young couple (Andrew and Lauren) have just found out they are pregnant and can't keep it a secret in the first episode. On the official series webpage, it notes that Andrew will be narrating the episode "giving his wry and often sarcastic interpretation of the events that are going on around him". Isn't that interesting how the man gets to tell the pregnancy story? I mean how many more times do we need to hear just how 'hard' it is for men to 'deal' with their pregnant wives? Gosh guys, it's really pretty labour intensive for you to haul yourself to all of those o/b appointments (because god forbid, any network would even consider showing an alternative form of prenatal care) and laughing to yourself about your wife's cravings, mood swings and weight gain. Ha. ha. Ha. I mean are you the one who has to create new life at the same time you are carrying out your own? Is this really comedy? Saying that pregnancy is harder than parenthood is such an overblown and old stereotype. Keep it coming. It's like Blah blah.. Pregnancy is so hard. Men have it so tough...blah blah.. Women 'lose' their bodies forever. Andrew even "has to deal with the fact that (*shock* horror!!) Lauren may be getting stretch marks, but Andrew has to pretend that he doesn't notice them". Yeah because Im sure she is so insecure that all of her self-esteem is enmeshed in what her husband thinks of her pregnant body and if he even mentioned that he noticed a mark their entire relationship would be ruined. Kind of reminds me about the so often overplayed 'Do I look fat in this?'-woman-in a dressing room-with bored out of his mind boyfriend- who has to pander to his girlfriend's insecurity about her own looks. Boys, we can feel insecure all on our own without your help, thank you.
Can you believe this absolute crap? I'm sure the actress playing the pregnant part will have a nice little contained 'bump' strapped on to her waiflike Hollywood hyper-feminine figure and look perfect throughout the series. Im sure some hot designer maternity wear will be prominently displayed for all of the 'average' American mothers to look at and want to cry. And you know what the worst part about this whole show is? I actually want to watch it....but damn it, living in Australia we don't get anything until a freaking year after it airs so I will have to read the reviews and gently coax my mother in America into watching it for me...
Oh and just a random fact, the actor playing the character 'Eric' (Sunkrish Bala, the first guy in the picture from the left), another expectant father who is friends with Andrew, was also on Grey's Anatomy playing the one night stand that Meredith picks up at Joe's bar, only to find that he um..can't lose his excitement for her..literally...the next morning when he shows up to the hospital. I can't get that scene out of my head when I look at him now.
This is the website for the show:
skinny jean/skinny pregnancy
This is a great view from Liz Lange maternity wear. I posted about LL back in December when I was doing some research in New York. It just so happened that as I was flicking through the channels, I came upon a show about famous American business people and Liz was one of the panelists, revealing the secrets of her multi million dollar maternity fashion house. Now Liz Lange is bringing high fashion to the masses by dressing pregnant women across America in Target stores in a sort of democratisation of maternity wear. Now people that buy LL maternity wear from her stores know that high style does not come cheaply...until now. The pieces produced for Target stores (as you can see in the video) are beautifully presented, clean cut and sold at a much lower price point than in typical LL retail stores. However, in watching the video, I got the sense that although Lange is now dressing a wide range of American women, she still has the middle-upper class mother in mind. I mean Lange says 'Every baby needs to have these cashmere blankets...Hello? I can't afford cashmere for myself. How many women out there are actually splurging on luxury items for babies outside of NYC??
Also, in her ode to the 'skinny jean' at the start of the program, I kept thinking to myself, 'How many women do you see at Target buying skinny jeans even when they are not pregnant?' Surely, it's a good look for a pregnant model and if your legs don't change size because all of your weight gain is concentrated in one area. This just contributes to my theory about the cult of the skinny pregnancy (and this is especially prominent in NY and LA) where women can still be a size 0 even when they're pregnant.* Lange actually mentioned in the TV show I was watching in NY that they had to start making smaller sizes to cater to the 'petite' woman. I've actually been told of similar trends happening here in Melbourne by a few popular designers (such that certain high fashion, high fitness preggos are requiring their size 0s even during the pregnancy and are being forced to have certain items of clothing custom made as a result). Am I crazy? Does anyone think skinny jeans are just the slighest bit ridiculous when you are trying to grow another human being? Who wants to shove their body into denim (that is already uncomfortable when you're not pregnant) albeit 'skinny' leg denim after consistently putting on weight for 9 months?
It's like imprisonment for your bump. Women's bodies are forced to be contained enough just in normal life. Why corral the pregnant body into more restrictive clothing just because the rest of our culture is so freaked out by women taking up space (and that goes for overweight women as well)?
*In saying this, I'm not trying to say that all women need to gain heaps of weight in pregnancy in order to be 'real' pregnant women or to have an 'authentic' experience. Sure, there are women out there who don't gain much weight, are naturally a size 0 and have nothing to be ashamed of. That's fine, more power to them. I'm making a statement about the majority of the women in the world who are on average a size 12-14 even before they are pregnant and who haven't worn skinny jeans since the 7th grade (and even then, it wasn't really a good look).
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