In case you needed another reason not to want a c-section

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This one is scary, and unfortunately not from an episode of ER or Grey’s Anatomy.

A Florida woman is being awarded over 2 million dollars in damages after a doctor left a one foot by one foot surgical sponge in her uterus after a c-section. According to the woman, it was severe pain in the days following her c-section that brought her back to the hospital.

“I couldn’t walk,” she said. “I had to double over because the pain was horrendous.” When antibiotics did nothing to alleviate what doctors said was an infection, Dr. Joseph Becerra took an X-ray. The radiologist noticed a foreign object lodged in the 37-year-old’s abdomen, but it took days before Becerra removed the 1-foot by 1-foot surgical sponge that eventually damaged her uterus.

Here’s the even scarier part:

According to Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration, there were 88 surgeries in 2005 in hospitals statewide to remove objects left in patients from a previous operation.

And that’s just in Florida.

Hysterectomy Hysteria

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Ok, so that title is a little bit much. I have trouble avoiding some good alliteration sometimes.

I just read an interesting article in the Washington Post about one woman’s experience with hysterectomy. Another issue that is not really on the radar of midwives and doulas, let alone reproductive rights groups.

Stephanie Weiss discusses how she had to do a lot of badgering, as well as her own research to finally find a doctor who was willing to do a minimally invasive laparoscopic hysterectomy. And she didn’t get her entire system removed either, just the uterus and her melon sized fibroid (non-cancerous growth).

A surgeon removed my uterus — then the size of a 20-week pregnancy — through a quarter-inch hole near my belly button, leaving my ovaries and cervix intact.

From her perspective, the procedure she received was nothing compared to how most women still get their hysterectomies, what she calls “her mother’s hysterectomy,” through a large horizontal incision in the belly.

Old myths — including the one about minimally invasive surgery being excessively risky — die hard. Research shows that, in experienced hands, the risk of minimally invasive procedures is the same as or less than the risk of abdominal hysterectomy, Streicher said. But George says that 80 percent of the hysterectomies now done abdominally could be done laparoscopically.

Another instance in reproductive health care where women may not be getting the information they need to make the best options.

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.

Support the Breastfeeding Promotion Act

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Since I just came back from a two day conference about breastfeeding, this action alert caught my eye. It’s from an organization called MomsRising:

MomsRising has a goal of bringing millions of people, who all share a common concern about the need to build a more family-friendly America, together as a non-partisan force for 2008 and beyond. This grassroots, online effort is mobilizing mothers, and all who have mothers, across America as a cohesive force for change.

You can see more about them at their website, as well as sign up for their e-alerts, which are great.

More about the Breastfeeding Promotion Act:

Dear MomsRising Member,

As the mother of four breast-fed children (including a set of twins), I take it seriously when mothers describe difficulties they encounter trying to breastfeed their babies.

Recently we told you about Sophie Currier, a medical student who needed pumping breaks during her 9-hour board exam. We also told you about Janee McConnell, who was an exceptional employee at a grocery store but could not convince management of the need for a clean, comfortable room in which to pump for her third baby.

Stories like this make me realize that WE must tell our own members of Congress that we want them to pass the Breastfeeding Promotion Act. We need to take a stand on this or else they won’t. A bill goes nowhere without co-sponsors. So we need your help: Ask your Congressperson to co-sponsor the Breastfeeding Promotion Act by clicking below to send a letter right now. In just one click, you can send a letter asking your representatives to co-sponsor The Breastfeeding Promotion Act and also sign a statement of support for the Breastfeeding Promotion Act.

TAKE ACTION FOR THE BREASTFEEDING PROMOTION ACT BY CLICKING HERE

Police Brutality Strikes Fifth Anniversary of Sylvia Rivera Law Project

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This is just sad.

Police Brutality Strikes Fifth Anniversary of Sylvia Rivera Law Project

Contacts:
Jack Aponte (jack@slrp.org)
Naomi Clark  (naomi@slrp.org)

NEW YORK – On the night of Wednesday, September 26, officers from the 9th Precinct of the New York Police Department attacked without provocation members of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project and of its community. Two of our community members were violently arrested, and others were pepper sprayed in the face without warning or cause.

The Sylvia Rivera Law Project is an organization that works on behalf of low-income people of color who are transgender, gender non-conforming, or intersex, providing free legal services and advocacy among many other initiatives. On Wednesday night, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project was celebrating its fifth anniversary with a celebration and fundraising event at a bar in the East Village.

A group of our community members, consisting largely of queer and transgender people of color, witnessed two officers attempting to detain a young Black man outside of the bar. Several of our community members asked the officers why they were making the arrest and using excessive force. Despite the fact that our community was on the sidewalk, gathered peacefully and not obstructing foot traffic, the NYPD chose to forcefully grab two people and arrested them. Without warning, an officer then sprayed pepper spray across the group in a wide arc, temporarily blinding many and causing vomiting and intense pain.

“This is the sort of all-too-common police violence and overreaction towards people of color that happens all the time,” said Dean Spade, founder of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. “It’s ironic that we were celebrating the work of an organization that specifically opposes state violence against marginalized communities, and we experienced a police attack at our celebration.”

“We are outraged, and demand that our community members be released and the police be held accountable for unnecessary use of excessive force and falsely arresting people,” Spade continued.

Damaris Reyes is executive director of GOLES, an organization working to preserve the Lower East Side. She commented, “I’m extremely concerned and disappointed by the 9th Precinct’s response to the situation and how it escalated into violence. This kind of aggressive behavior doesn’t do them any good in community-police relations.”

Supporters will be gathering at 100 Centre Street tomorrow, where the two community members will be arraigned. The community calls for charges to be dropped and to demand the immediate release of those arrested.

– END –

For more information visit, www.srlp.org

Media & Breastfeeding: Jane Brown

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This will be the final post from the Breastfeeding and Feminism conference. It has been an interesting two days, I’ve learned more about breastfeeding than I ever might have wanted to, but have also learned what it looks like when a new group grapples with the idea of reproductive justice. It’s a difficult concept to grasp, but particularly to use. I appreciate the efforts to make these connections and even as an exercise I do believe it broadens all of our movements.

Now, on to the final keynote speech of the conference:

Jane Brown, PhD UNC-CH

Media and Breastfeeding: Friend or Foe?

The media is now controlled by huge conglomerates–10 media companies now control 80% of our media.Advertising does have an effect on habits: One study found that breastfeeding declines as hand-feeding ad in parenting magazines increase.

Breastfeeding is a tough sell. There are few products to market, you may evoke negative feelings about breastfeeding, on top of the infant formula lobby.

New research says that when people see images of women breastfeeding, it reminds us of our creatureliness and may evoke death anxiety. They think this is related to a new state of “terror management” provoked by this post-9/11 culture.

<Clip from Chicago Hope shown about a 6 week old who dies from dehydration and malnutrition due to breastfeeding> The episode was promoted by the pharmaceutical companies who make formula. Based on a case where a woman was convicted of manslaughter for the death of her child due to malnutrition. This is an example of “entertainment education.”

Use new media! (woo-hoo, plug for bloggers)

Bumper sticker idea: Jesus was breastfed, Latch on to breastfeeding, Breastfeeding is green

Jane’s vision: Every time you see a baby on television, they are being breastfed. It’s not the conflict, or the controversy, its just the norm.

Breastfeeding Symposium: Experiences of Immigrant Women

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Norma Escobar, La Leche League Leader, Wilmington, NC
Experiences of Latin American Immigrant Women*

Language barriers: many of the immigrant women are not fluent in English, and are scared and alone without interpretation

Barriers to breastfeeding for immigrant women:

  • Breasts are seen as functional in Latin America and public breastfeeding is not stigmatized. (In the US, breasts are seen as sexual)
  • Mandatory breastfeeding time (one hour) from employers in Latin America. (Nothing like this mandated in the US)
  • In Mexico, there are no free supplies or direct advertising to consumers. (Here both these things are rampant)
  • First feedings are at the breast in Latin America. (In the US, it is with bottles, the formula bottles come with the nursery cart)
  • Breastfeeding duration is more extended in Latin America. (In the US, it is much shorter)
  • Birth considered a normal life cycle event in Latin America. (In the US, it is considered dangerous)
  • Breastfeeding considered safest in L.A. (Here, considered risky)
  • Breastfeeding as a woman and child’s right. (Here, a choice)
  • Fear as a deterrent in the United States–a real fear, exacerbated by recent immigration raids

*Note: I’m really happy to hear about the experiences of immigrant women, which has so far been absent from the discussions.

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.