IMHO:
After having experienced each birth experience--Vaginal in
the hospital, epidural; Ceasaran with twins;Homebirth VBAC--I
don't understand why ANYONE would ELECT to have major SURGERY
(along with the long, painful recovery) when birth is such
a NORMAL LIFE PROCESS. I can honestly say that I didn't realize
just how normal a process birth is until I witnessed the homebirth
of my best friend's son. This was about two years after my
Ceasarian Birth with my twins. I was amazed at the level of
care and attention given to her by her midwives. I was also
amazed at how they let her eat whatever she wanted and do
whatever she wanted during her labor. . . no one making her
stay in bed with montitors on her belly, no one starving her
and only offering ice chips, no interruptions from noisey
hospital equipment beeping and people talking all around,
and best of all--no trauma to the baby who landed safely in
Mom's arms without anyone sticking stuff in his eyes or with
any needles. That was the moment I decided if I had another
baby, it would be at home. And that's exactly what I did.
Except for me it was a bit of a challenge as I had had a prior
Ceasarian and ACOG had just issued a warning about VBAC based
on a study done in July of 1999. (In which they majorly overstated
the risks associated with VBAC births and uterine rupture
rates.) So, when I became pregnant with my now 10 month-old
baby boy, I had to "wade" my way through the system
and through my own research to fight for my homebirth. Luckily
my midwife Adrianna Algieri was very supportive and we found
a Doctor (OBGYN) here in South Florida who thought like we
did. He knew there was no greater risk of my having my VBAC
birth at home or in the hospital. We were truly blessed to
meet this man and have him "back us up". My homebirth
was the most amazing, empowering, blessed experience of my
life. I WISH someone would have told me about homebirth/natural
birth when I was pregnant with my first--something beyond
the traditinal Lamaze class we took in the hospital. It is
my opinion that now is the time for us women to stick up for
ourselves and our bodies. If you are pregnant or thinking
about having a baby, I urge you to consider all your birth
options carefully. Don't leave anything to chance. If you
don't make the decision for yourself, someone else will make
it for you. And in the case of birth, the people most likely
to make those decisions for you are doctors and nursing/hospital
staff who often times opt for ease and convenience (also protocal
and what they are used to doing) over your and your baby's
well being.
The
following was released via the PR Newswire on November 19,
2003 to reach editors of all media, specifically, the writers
and producers of Entertainment/Talk Shows and Cable Shows
and well as the Healthcare editors/reporters and writers of
news sources. It was also sent to two microlist, Women's
Interest Media and Obstetrics and Gynecology media.Â
Please feel free to distribute this news release by clicking
on the title to get the pdf formatted version.
Women's
Health Care Professionals Issue Warning about Cesarean Section
on Demand
WASHINGTON
(November 19, 2003) The American College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists (ACOG) recently released opinion that deems
physicians ethically justified to perform elective cesareans
without a medical reason has caused alarm for major women's
health organizations. The opinion may deny women access to
fully informed consent regarding one of the most controversial
obstetrical procedures. With a U.S. cesarean rate exceeding
26 percent, and no definitive study on the benefits of cesarean
delivery, it is startling to give physicians the go-ahead
to perform non-medically justified surgery on women with normal
pregnancies. A
group of women's health care organizations, including Lamaze
International, American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM),
Doulas of North America (DONA), Coalition for Improving Maternity
Services (CIMS) and the Association of Nurse Advocates for
Childbirth Solutions (ANACS), believes this opinion downplays
the risks to mother and baby when non-medically necessary
cesareans are performed."No evidence supports the idea
that cesareans are as safe as vaginal births for mother or
baby, and pregnant women should be given all of the facts
they need to make an educated decision," said Barbara
Hotelling, president of Lamaze International.
"The
World Health Organization recommends no more than a 15 percent
cesarean rate. With a million women having cesarean sections
every year, this means that 400,000 to 500,000 may be unnecessary",
warned CIMS Executive Director Rae Davis.
Research
shows that the risk of maternal death following cesarean section
is five to seven times higher than vaginal irth. Complications
during and after the surgery may include injury to the bladder,
uterus and blood vessels, hemorrhage, anesthesia accidents,
blood clots in the legs, pulmonary embolism, paralyzed bowel
and infection.
Citing
additional concerns about the risk of placenta previa, placenta
accreta and uterine rupture during subsequent pregnancies,
prominent obstetrician-gynecologists Ingrid Nygaard and Dwight
Cruikshank stated, "Given the absence of rigorous scientific
evidence, we believe that it is currently ill-advised to routinely
give all prenatal patients the choice of their desired mode
of delivery."
The
American College of Nurse-Midwives stated, "Regrettably,
the opinion issued by the ACOG Committee on Ethics may lead
to an increasing level of distrust between health care professionals
and the women who seek our services. The purported benefits
of cesarean section on demand are unproven and the known risks
place the woman's life and reproductive future on the line.
This is the message women must receive."The
baby also is at risk. With planned cesareans, some babies
are inadvertently delivered prematurely. Studies show that
babies born even slightly before they are ready may experience
problems breathing and are five times more likely to be admitted
to intermediate or intensive care. Premature babies also have
more difficulty breastfeeding.
Contrary
to the ACOG statement, fear of pain in labor need not force
women to have cesareans. All women benefit from emotional,
physical and most importantly, educational support in labor
and when making decisions about the birth of their child.
Studies have shown the value of doula services in lowering
the cesarean section rate,†added DONA President
Ann Grauer.
Lamaze,
ACNM, DONA, CIMS and ANACS believe that all caregivers should
respect the birth process and not intervene without compelling
medical indication. Carolyn Rafferty, executive director of
ANACS reported, "A growing number of obstetric nurses
are deeply concerned at the prospect of placing increasing
numbers of women at unnecessary surgical risk. We Lamaze,
ACNM, DONA, CIMS and ANACS believe that all caregivers should
respect the birth process and not intervene without compelling
medical indication." Carolyn Rafferty, executive director
of ANACS reported, "A growing number of obstetric nurses
are deeply concerned at the prospect of placing increasing
numbers of women at unnecessary surgical risk. We implore
obstetrical nurses around the country to speak up for women
and fulfill the nursing obligation of patient advocacy."
Collectively,
Lamaze, ACNM, DONA, CIMS and ANACS speak on behalf of nearly
15,000 childbirth professionals and reach approximately three
million expectant parents each year. For more information,
visit www.lamaze.org,
www.acnm.org,
www.dona.org,
www.motherfriendly.org
or www.anacs.org.
