The Ever Increasing Hostility of the World of Birth
I am struck, today, by how hostile the environment of giving birth is becoming in my home state. Not only struck, but saddened, confused, and downright pissed off.
This summer I have had one client already leave the state to give birth because she felt like her chances of having a natural birth in the hospital here were slim to none. I have another client whose due date is evermore impending still undecided on her birth plans because she is a VBAC mom and her choices are, well zero.
Having a VBAC in Mississippi is becoming next to impossible. One hospital in the Jackson metro area has banned VBAC's and I feel sure more will follow suit. Not only this, but the ONE doctor I trusted to refer my clients to for hospital births has become owned by the insurance companies. He doggedly pushes the AFP test and is cracking down on VBAC moms. The newest policy I've heard in place is that he requires an epidural catheter to be in place as soon as mom is in the hospital laboring. Doesn't have to be active, but the needle must be inserted and ready to go.
I am appalled that women are being forced to choose to travel out of state in order to have the birth choices that are rightfully theirs. Even worse, there are women who are limiting their family size because they are afraid of having to fight simply to give birth!
For a while, the birth climate in Mississippi was looking up. Today I am wondering what it will take for us to have the rights and choices we deserve. As a woman who fought to get what the birth I wanted and fought to give that to other women, I am forced to consider how much worse can it get before it gets better?
What if every woman with a scar across her belly stood up and said "NO MORE!" What if every woman with a virgin womb stood up and said "You will NOT tell me how to birth the children yet to enter this body!" What if every woman with milky breasts, crayon colored walls, stained shirts, and tangled hair said "I am in charge of my births!"
Would "they" listen? Would the men who decided we needed them to interfere in the birth process to begin with hush us back and "tsk" at our silly cries for attention? Or would they sit, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, and stare at the brazen revolutionists they've made us become?
I hear all of the abortion debates, "Get your laws off of my body!" and "It's a baby, not a choice!" Why don't I hear the birth cries, "Get your laws out of my uterus!" or "It's MY baby, MY birth, MY body!!"
I'm screaming it. I'm screaming it to anybody that will listen.
Are you?
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