birth

From NYTimes: Artificially breaking water does not speed up labor

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The practice of artificially rupturing a woman’s membrane, or bag of waters, during labor has become quite common. I have seen it myself a few times, and have heard about it A LOT. Well, now there is research proving that it has no affect on shortening the length of labor or improving the health of the baby.

From the report:

Evidence does not support the routine breaking the waters for women in spontaneous labour
The aim of breaking the waters (also known as artificial rupture of the membranes, ARM, or amniotomy), is to speed up and strengthen contractions, and thus shorten the length of labour. The membranes are punctured with a crochet-like long-handled hook during a vaginal examination, and the amniotic fluid floods out. Rupturing the membranes is thought to release chemicals and hormones that stimulate contractions. Amniotomy has been standard practice in recent years in many countries around the world. In some centres it is advocated and performed routinely in all women, and in many centres it is used for women whose labours have become prolonged. However, there is little evidence that a shorter labour has benefits for the mother or the baby. There are a number of potential important but rare risks associated with amniotomy, including problems with the umbilical cord or the baby’s heart rate.

The question is whether or not the research recommendations will get implemented in practice. The trickle-down effect is slow–research comes out, and has to slowly trickle down the medical system to providers. Medical students are probably the most likely to hear these things first, as they are studying the practices, although medical textbooks don’t always have the most up-to-date research. This just reinforces the idea that doctors are routinely performing procedures that have no benefit to the laboring woman.

Thanks to Doulicia for the link.

My piece about abortion doulas

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Just wanted to share the link to a piece I just wrote for RH Reality Check about abortion doulas, particularly the Birth Sisters at Boston Medical Center and their attempts to expand their doula services to women having abortions. It’s called Mi Compañera.

A new book about Choice

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True Stories of Birth, Contraception, Infertility, Adoption, Single Parenthood, and Abortion

Choice: True Stories of Birth, Contraception, Infertility, Adoption, Single Parenthood, and Abortion (Paperback) by Karen E. Bender (Editor), Nina De Gramont (Editor)

I went to Bluestockings last week to hear from the two editors and one contributor to this new book called Choice. It originally intrigued me because I thought it might be a broader take on what the term choice means for people in the United States. While I haven’t read the whole book yet, from the three contributions read last week and the editors remarks, it expands the concept of choice, but not as far as I would have liked. As a young queer woman, I didn’t feel particularly reflected or included in their stories, and from scanning the titles of the other essays, and looking at the biographies of the other contributors, didn’t feel compelled to keep reading.

While I think the book itself provides some interesting, thoughtful and well-written perspectives on what choice can mean for women, it misses an opportunity to really provide something new. I feel disappointed by these kind of publications frequently, and maybe that’s because of who is able to access publishers and agents, and who is in their circle of writers. It’s difficult for new writers (or even people who wouldn’t consider themselves writers, but have amazing things to say) to get publishedor included in these types of manuscripts.

I obviously need to read the rest of the selections to really be able to give my opinion, but in the meantime, you can check out this (kind of scathing) review of the book at SFGate.

For more from one of the editor, check out Karen Bender’s article at Huffington Post.

What do doulas and the Red Sox have in common?

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One man’s hilarious (although mildly misogynist) tale of his wife’s due date and Game 5 of the series falling on the same day. Entitled Oh baby, what’s a Sox fan to do, the author recounts both his wife’s developing pregnancy and the Red Sox’s path toward winning a spot in the World Series. I have to admit, it was an entertaining perspective (I don’t read a lot about birth from the male point of view) although there was a lot of Red Sox and baseball jargon that flew over my head, as well as a few jokes that were a bit much.

But they did have a doula, and now a bunch of readers on Fox Sports might hear about them too. I’m all for reaching out to new audiences.

Not an uncommon story: Woman gives birth alone with help of 911

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This story is one that gets a lot of media attention, such that it seems to happen all the time. There are variations on the theme: woman gives birth in taxi cab, woman gives birth on side of freeway, woman gives birth at home with husband, in the doorway of the hospital ER, etc.

Moral of all these stories? Birth is unpredictable, can happen at anytime and no matter how hard we try, WE CAN’T CONTROL IT.

Second moral of these stories? Sometimes you don’t need a doctor. Or a midwife. Or a doula. All of these stories show women giving birth alone, or only with a 911 operator or a partner coaching her along. And in most cases, she and the baby turn out fine. I want to see them teaching this in OB/GYN programs.

My favorite quote from this story:

Rosales’ husband, Allen, was attending a meeting at Kendall College when his wife went into labor about 7 p.m., three weeks before she was due.She sent her 2-year-old son, A.J., downstairs to get her cell phone so that she could call her nurse-midwife. A.J. first came back with money, so Rosales sent him back to get the phone. A.J. went back downstairs, played with his T-Rex for a bit and then returned with the cell phone after Rosales called for him.

Happy Friday everyone!

Post-partum plastic surgeries

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This is timely, considering that I just posted about a site that is all about admiring post-pregnancy bodies, instead of surgically altering them.

The NYTimes has an article about “Mom Jobs” or post-pregnancy plastic surgery makeovers, with the goal of giving women their bodies “back.” What is our obsession with trying to avoid and evade change?

Aimed at mothers, it usually involves a trifecta: a breast lift with or without breast implants, a tummy tuck and some liposuction. The procedures are intended to hoist slackened skin as well as reduce stretch marks and pregnancy fat.

“The severe physical trauma of pregnancy, childbirth and breast-feeding can have profound negative effects that cause women to lose their hourglass figures,” he said. His practice, Marina Plastic Surgery Associates, maintains a Web site, amommymakeover.com, which describes the surgeries required to overhaul a postpregnancy body.

I don’t know about you all, but I’ve never had what could be described as an “hourglass” figure, and don’t particularly strive for one.

The article goes on to bring up the reasons why this trend could be problematic, including costs, stigmatizing mother’s bodies, and the risks associated with unnecessary surgeries.

Feministe brings up a good point though, that this is really only going to be an issue for the richest populations, since most women can’t afford a surgery that costs between $10,000 and $30,000 dollars. But I do think the statistics about the rise in plastic surgery are frightening, as well as the link to cesarean sections. Other countries with high plastic surgery cultures, like Brasil, also have extremely high c-section rates (almost 90% in some areas) and I don’t think that is a coincidence.

Thanks to Adam and Feministing for the link.

Admiring post-pregnancy bodies

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I discovered this interesting site, The Shape of a Mother, which displays women’s pictures of themselves post-baby. Very cool–let’s help women not be ashamed of their pretty much unavoidable stretch marks, being a mother is a beautiful thing and so are their bodies, loose skin and all.

Thanks to Red Pomegranate for the link.

UK group promotes water birth

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The UK group, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, released guidelines calling for access to water during labor for low-risk women giving birth at between 37 and 42 weeks.

“There is a perception that water is just nice,” said Dr Julia Sanders, a consultant midwife and member of the group which drew up the guidance. “But it is the most effective form of pain relief barring an epidural in labour. I would like to see more women using water and fewer women using the types of pain relief that are less effective.”

If you have seen any of the many videos about water birth, or experienced first hand the soothing and relaxing capabilities of water during labor you’ll be happy to hear that this group in the UK is promoting it’s use.

We use water to cure all sorts of ailments, warm baths to relax and calm, to sooth cramps or sore muscles. Continuous external fetal monitoring is one of the biggest obstacles to incorporating water into birth practices in hospitals, as well as doctor’s unwillingness to accomodate the mother in a tub or pool.

Anyone have any great stories about using water during labor that they want to share?

Via The Guardian.

More on the C-section crisis

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Jennifer Block, the author of Pushed, a look at the crisis in maternity care for a mainstream audience has a piece at the LA Times about the cesarean crisis.

Via Feministe.

A Call for Radical Doulas

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Taking a quick break from live blogging the Breastfeeding and Feminism conference for this important announcement/call for help:

Last week I received an email from a woman living in a small town outside of Minneapolis, MN who has had a terrible time trying to find a doula. She is now 17 weeks pregnant, and she told me how she has been turned down, not once, not twice, but THREE times by three different doulas. Why?

–The first doula turned her down because she is not sure if she wants to give birth without an epidural.

–The second doula turned her down because she was pregnant with twins, and decided to do a selective reduction and terminate one of the pregnancies at 11 weeks.

–The third doula turned her down because she is serving as a surrogate for a gay couple.

This is what is saddest to me–when doulas, who are supposed to support women in all their decisions around childbirth–would turn a woman away. I don’t know about you all, but in my doula training, this is NOT what we were taught. This situation highlights exactly why we need more radical doulas, progressive people willing to support women without judgment, so that no one who seeks out doula care will be denied.

In her own words:

I am at my wits end and cannot believe that I can’t find anyone in a profession designed to help and support women who is willing to help me. I’m just looking for someone compassionate and progressive and willing to help me out. I really hope that you can provide me with some information because at this point I’m really just kind of lost.

So I am turning to you all. Please, if you are or know of a doula in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area (she lives about an hour and a half outside the city) who is willing to consider providing doula support for her, please, email me at radicaldoula@gmail.com. (Note, she is willing to pay for the services).

Also, if you are a doula or midwife blogger, and would like to cross post this call on your site, please do. My hope is that we can utilize this virtual network of radical doulas and midwives (and allies) to find a great support person for this woman.

Again, email me if you are a doula in the area or have any question (radicaldoula@gmail.com) and I will forward along the information to her.

In solidarity.