It would seem…

that my post of Castor Oil as an induction method has gotten quite a few reads lately. If you read it all, you will see that the paper was written as a microbiology assignment and as such had to meet VERY strict guidelines. At the end of the day, I believe induction methods should not be used with VBAC moms without a very thorough discussion of the increased risks of uterine rupture. Do the research – make your own assessments, by all means. I’m not trying to say I am some kind of expert. Not at all.

I understand that at the end of a pregnancy, when Mama is swollen and miserable, and can’t sleep and is BEGGING for the midwife to do something – well, I understand the position that puts the midwife in. I do. Still… my personal position is that midwives are guardians of natural, physiological birth. Having said that, at the end of the day I am still of the opinion that mom has the final say. Midwives are servants, guardians, chauffeurs.

One dictionary defines a chauffeur like this:

“A chauffeur is an individual who operates any self-propelled vehicle for a profession. He or she does not own the vehicle he is operating, and does so at the discretion of the owner.”

So by all means, don’t take my article on castor oil induction as anything more than what it is: My opinion based on the research **I** did. :)

VOICES: VBAC Women Share Their Journey

OH, it’s such a beautiful little book! Keep in mind that this is coming from the publisher directly (since it takes about 3 months to get it onto Amazon) so it ***CAN*** take 4 weeks to arrive. It shouldn’t and probably won’t, but I did have to warn you. I SO hate waiting for books!

Voices contains a full chapter of statistics and research surrounding VBAC success rates, real risks vs. fear-based risks, and the TRUTH about the risk of uterine rupture compared to other obstetrical emergencies. I’d like to say that this book was written for women wondering if their care provider is “right” that it is too “risky” to try to VBAC, but doesn’t have time or energy to sift through a mountain of studies or a pile of books that include only a small section on VBAC. It is also written for the woman who knows instinctively that she will have a VBAC and needs to win over a partner or care provider. But…

The real power of this book are the women’s birth stories. They are SO powerful. They are the true, real stories, unedited and unadulterated. They stand on their own. You will be changed by them. If you don’t understand what the “big deal” is about VBAC, then this book is for you as well.

At the end of the day, I believe in women having the right to birth as they choose, on their own power and in the climate and surroundings of their choosing. For women choosing VBAC and for their care givers, this book is a vehicle for those freedoms.

So many women today face VBAC “bans” or so many restrictions on their labors that they walk in the door with one foot in the operating room. Let’s put the TRUTH out there. I believe women are wise – and capable of making decisions based on facts, not fear.

Voices

Woohoo!!! VOICES is HERE! Or, rather… THERE…. You can click below to order your copy. Keep in mind that this is coming from the publisher directly (since it takes about 3 months to get it onto Amazon) so it ***CAN*** take 4 weeks to arrive. It shouldn’t and probably won’t, but I did have to warn you. I SO hate waiting for books!

I just can’t explain how excited I am for this project to be finally and fully complete. It is just amazing how much I believe in the power of these stories. And it’s not just a book of birth stories (though who doesn’t LOVE those?!). It also includes all the recent stats and research relating to the safety of VBACs. I’ve been told it is not only a great book for mamas who are journeying toward VBAC, but also for birth workers who want to support them as they go. :)

Please accept my humblest thank you’s for purchasing, and for getting the word out that the book is HERE at LONG last. If this first run goes well we might be able to get this into market with a mainstream publisher. Which would be TOTALLY awesome since it would reach more women that way.

Who is doing a happy dance today?

ME! Me! ME!!!

It just goes to show ya…

Sometimes birth really does happen on it’s own. I was privileged to witness the birth of a beautiful baby boy this past weekend. His mama had been induced at 37 weeks due to “placental calcification” with her first baby which led to a pretty traumatic delivery for her. Thankfully she did not have a cesarean but during this labor she asked “Is it normal for it not to hurt between contractions?” Even though she “knew” the answer she just couldn’t believe it. “Why would ANYONE sign up for an induction?!?!?” she wondered to herself. She believes the placental calcification was rubbish just to make her delivery fit into an arbitrary window framed by economic bonuses (there were no tests whatsoever done to confirm or deny this and the OB who attended her is now relieved of the privilege of delivering babies at the hospital in question). It probably was.

This baby was born 40weeks and 4 days gestation, healthy, strong, and a lovely thick cord and placenta. This mama stood her ground despite some pretty dumb comments thrown her way. She and her husband are young and a trying to make their way in the world… but they knew what they wanted. They wanted “nothing like last time”.

She was a warrior during her pregnancy, and a warrior during labor. She was strong. She was fabulous. It was a beautiful birth. She was beautiful. What made her so was the cumulation of 9 months of education, planning, quieting her soul, facing her fears and standing her ground. Her husband was strong and protective, doing just as she asked each and every time. He was fantastic.

She got the birth she wanted, even though it wasn’t exactly as she had planned. And I am proud to know her.

VOICES has a release date!

I can’t believe it. Probably won’t until I am holding the thing in my hands. I’m sure I will run to meet the UPS truck the day the box gets here. :)

Stay tuned… and check out the FaceBook page for it – become a fan please, and suggest it to everyone on your friends list. You just never know who might be touched by the stories – moved by them – changed by them – empowered and encouraged by them. Odds are all of us know several women who have had a cesarean birth. Many will know someone who would prefer to have a VBAC but are confused by the political propaganda out there regarding risks, hospital bans, etc. Spread the word! A percentage of the profits goes to support ICAN International.

Best ultrasound I’ve ever seen!!!

I’m so excited! With all the controversy surrounding ultrasounds and the safety of their routine use on babies and mothers, I was so pleased to find this wonderful alternative! Check it out!

 

Seriously guys… let’s take a LONG hard look at the routine use of ultrasound and doppler on unborn babies. There are many resources on the net surrounding this issue and I encourage mother’s to investigate the topic for themselves before rushing to the radiology department or free-standing 3D/4D ultrasound “suite”.

Local hospital policy on H1N1 threatens breastfeeding

This post on Empowering Birth blog on the H1N1 policy at a local was quite upsetting.

First, they (the hospital) do admit that “Your home is the safest place for you and your newborn to avoid potential exposure to H1N1 or any illness.” SO TRUE! But the policy continues by saying,

“If you are admitted with suspected H1N1 – after delivery, you may be separated from your infant to protect the infant from exposure.” Ummmmm… here again is a sterling illustration of the idiocy of some (ok, MOST) hospital policies. Good grief.

Neither the CDC nor the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend separation of the infant from her mother for H1N1 or any other seasonal flu. This is REALLY disturbing. Please, if you know of a mother giving birth in the hospital during the flu season, remind her of all the wonderful benefits of keeping her baby skin to skin during those first few hours/days.

Sonogram: The New Crystal Ball?

I am So frustrated at the amount of misinformation put out there as FACT soley for the convenience of the provider! Grrrr!!!!! Some OB’s do it, some GP’s do it, some midwives do it, heck as far my experience shows some DENTISTS do it.

There was recently a comment made on my Castor Oil post from a woman who was told she was too small and couldn’t go to 38 weeks or her “uterus would rip open”. Baby was just TOO TOO big. Even if the poster got some of the semantics wrong (probably is her pelvis they are talking about not her uterus) the arguments for induction just amaze me. Of course I did not offer he any advice as to induction.

My local hospital routinely does inductions at 37 weeks. 37 WEEKS! Yeah. Ludicrous.

The main reason given to women for inductions and even cesareans is the “big baby” argument. And we have these wonderful things called sonograms to “prove” they are too big to “fit” through your pelvis. Please. Do they think we are stupid? Ignorant perhaps, but we are not STUPID.

Here is a lovely blog post by the fantastic “Unnecessarian” on sonograms and estimated size and due dates. Sonograms can be off as much as a pound either way and 2 weeks +/- for due date predictions! So if the sonogram says you are ok for an induction at 37 weeks (by the sonogram) and you induce and it’s off by 2 weeks guess whatcha get? A baby at 35 weeks with respiratory issues, breastfeeding challenges, and a myriad of other psychological implications the likes of which we have NO CLUE about yet.

And the weight predictions are just fantastical. The stuff of Harry Potter and traveling circus acts. There is some science there – just enough to be dangerous. Sure. Gaze into the sonogram screen and see your future: induction + pitocin + epidural = surgical birth.

And let me tell ya from experience: a 2nd degree tear is alot easier to heal from than a 10″ wound on your belly complete with scar tissue and a spinal headache for dessert.

I get kindof sick

… when I think about becoming pregnant again. I’d really like to, don’t misunderstand. One more baby, the end of an era, all that. But. The thoughts of thwarting all of the well-meaning yet condescending voices that will surround my scarred uterus makes me nauseous. Truly. There are so many reasons why NOT to have a repeat cesarean, yet the voices we hear are why “TO” have one. The media, the mother-in-law, the mom, sisters, friends, colleagues…

Blogs like this remind me of the fight, the comments, the ugliness that follows pregnant women in our society who don’t play by “the rules”.

But I have fought this fight before. I can certainly fight it again. This next time around though I think I’ll choose my outings more carefully.  I was so happy to be expecting last time after so long that I didn’t arm/guard myself against the inevitable comments regarding my VBAC attempt. Next time I will be more careful. Because The Voices are so powerful, even if we see the sheer lunacy behind them.

Birth Beautifully

Such a wonderful post… go read this blog post.

Beautiful. The way birth CAN be.

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