Ani

And I was shocked to see the mistakes of each generation will just fade like a radio station, if you just drive out of range... ~Ani DiFranco

Monday, February 25, 2008

As a woman I simply cannot grasp this...

I was reading an article a client of mine posted in her bulletins and it got me to thinking. Basically, the article is about Ina May Gaskin and her vast contributions to birth. Now I have many mixed feelings and thoughts on Ina May, but that's neither here nor there. The line that got to me was a quote by the modern day midwifery native, "It's the only way I can think to market it to (this) generation."

Why on earth are we having to market birth to women today???!!! Why is the safest, most gentle way of birthing treated as the red-headed stepchild of labor and delivery?

I have a few theories.

1. The Dr's said so. I mean, it's ACOG. A bunch of men with alphabet soup behind their names. They said you'd better go to the hospital. And lordy lordy make sure they don't forget the machine that goes BING! And no one questions this? No one questions the ONE group of people who stand to PROFIT from 99+ percent of the female population giving birth in a hospital?

2. We are a nation of frivilous lawsuits. Obstetricians can barely afford their malpractice insurance, at least that is how it is in my state. I personally know one doctor who was sued by one patient for not doing a cesarean and which left her with (completely unrelated) butt pain, and by another who sued him for LEGAL malpractice because the lawyers told her she did not have a suit. Yep, he got sued because he couldn't be sued.

3. We've completely forgotten the friggin rights we worked so damn hard to get. Where are all of the feminists in this time that we so desperately need a revolution in birth?!

4. Influential people like Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Posh Spice, Britney Spears, and Gwen Stefani are now sporting a little something extra along their bikini line thanks to cesarean surgeries, some of which were completely elective.

5. Complete and total lack of education.

Really it is a combination of all of these things I am quite sure, plus a plethora of other just as ludicrous reasons.

What women in America have failed to realize is that obstetricians are specialists. They specialize in high risk pregnancy and birth. And in the most normal of circumstances they are likely to find something that seems high risk. Another common oversight is one that goes hand in hand with the first. OB's treat - not prevent. So when I hear women say...oh but I HAD to have an emergency c-section or I am SO lucky I had my doctor there he saved my/my baby's life...I kinda throw up in my mouth a little. Emergency surgeries do not take 30-45 minutes to get underway. I can promise you that if your doc said...uh oh looks like we need to do an emergency c-sec and they took their sweet time getting you prepped...it was not an emergency. An emergency means you are put to sleep and your surgery is underway in less than ten minutes. Those are rare, even with the rates of cesarean these days. And as far as the doc saving 'my/my baby's' life...well...here's the thing...it most likely wouldn't have needed saving without medical intervention being introduced to begin with.

We are mammals. We birth by instinct, and any interruption in that process causes problems. That means the machine that goes BING!, the hep-lock or IV, bright lights, and hospital gowns. And ladies, those are just the mild interventions.

Why in an age where we refuse to become the poster housewife of the 50's, demanded our rights to vote, break down stereotypes left and right, and are taking sledgehammers to glass ceilings daily are we allowing our bodies to be hijacked like this? Why aren't more women standing up and saying ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! I am perfectly capable of giving birth! I don't need you to make sure I do it right!

I realize everyone won't choose homebirth...it makes me sad...but I still accept it. Fine then, go birth at the hospital. But for the sake of all things good and holy, make sure they know who is freaking in charge! Why aren't we telling the doctors...NO! Why aren't we saying, "You are here as the guardrail...not the highway!"

I hope the current birth movement will help women to question. I hope my daughters' generations will say these things. I hope they will learn and understand about prenatal nutrition and all of the things it can (and will) prevent.

I hope I am still here the day natural, safe birth does not have to marketed in order to be chosen.

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