Pain in Labor - a Midwife's View Under Fire

I hadn't heard about Midwife Dr. Denis Walsh until I was looking up current childbirth news this morning (one of the sad byproducts of working M-F; I can only 'research' on the weekends).

And what I see is astounding and saddening.

He has submitted a work to Evidence Based Midwifery that discusses the topic of pain in labor and it's purpose. You can read an article on it here, another here, and another on it here.

I applaud him. He, as far as I can see, has not written anything malicious or inaccurate. He talks about the usefulness of feeling labor, the chemicals released as a result, establishing a good labor pattern, aids in stronger infant-maternal bonding, and generally has a natural purpose in the process.

Nothing that has not been mentioned already in other articles like this and this. He even states that sometimes epidurals are useful, but of course, one of the articles above states that his comments make women who fall short of a 'normal birth' feel stigmatized.

The rest of the articles are followed up with statements such as "I dare him to say that to a woman in labor", "When he pushes a baby out of HIS body, maybe we'll give a damn what he has to say!", and more, much more. Defensive, aren't we? Do a google search for his article and you will find him slammed from all angles (or see Rixa's post for additional links to more articles on him) - it's a free for all!

Think of it: he's a man (sets him up for attacks from prideful, defensive, or angry women), he's a midwife (which sets him up for attacks from the main-stream medical community), and he's a male midwife (which even sets him up for failure in many natural childbirth communities).

It amazed me to see that this poor man has been strung up like a pinata from both the Obstetrical community as well as feminists. Even some fellow midwives didn't spare the firing squad. And you know what, all of this hubbub and no one actually has his submission piece yet!

Which is why I was relieved to see this blog post.

Denis Walsh is not the slimy pig-man who’s out to demonize women who choose pain relief, as the Daily Mail (or the BBC, for that matter) would have us believe. He’s a midwife who wants midwives to act as advocates for women: to put the needs of the labouring woman on the map, rather than letting the midwive’s own needs as professionals or the the baby’s (purported) needs push all mention of the woman’s well-being out the window. I, for one, am very thankful I’ve read his work in preparation for the birth of my second child.

I applaud his yet-to-be published piece and cannot wait to read it! From what I can see on the news now, he advocates alternative pain management options to better healthier, safer health care options for women in labor - evidence based health care. What shame is there in that? None. Shame on the nay-sayers instead!

*** Additional linkies here and here.

Head's Up - Canadian Doctors are Getting the Idea

Pretty good article here. The only problem is the number one 'condition' on their list for when a breech birth is not recommended.

It reads:

In any situation in which a C-section would normally be recommended

Well, darn, in America, that means nearly every single breech presentation and, oh yeah, 30% of vertex presentations as well. *sigh*

This is an even better short on it.

I especially like

“The evidence is clear that attempting a vaginal delivery is a legitimate option in some breech pregnancies,” said Dr. André Lalonde, Executive Vice-President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. “The onus is now on us as a profession to ensure that Canadian obstetricians have the necessary training to offer women the choice to deliver vaginally when possible.”

In light of the lack of training, health professionals, universities, and hospitals will need to work together to help ensure that Canadian health centres are prepared to accommodate women who choose to attempt a trial of breech vaginal delivery.

Yes! This is what we need! When I found out I was pregnant with twins, I interviewed and passed many an OB until I found one that was comfortable and knowledgeable in how to assist a breech birth, knowing there was a good chance that one or both of my gals may present breech.

One of the many reasons it would be a wonderful world to see OBs and Midwives work side by side... but I digress..

Oh Canada, I so wish that our doctors on this side of the border would take a hearty lesson from you.

Raw Challenge - Day Three

Breakfast:
Raw-Nola w/ Almond Milk and a Banana

Lunch:
Walking Salad wrapped in spinach
Goddess Dressing (I know, not completely raw)
Sunflower Seeds

Snack:
Dried Dates and Cherries
Walnuts

Dinner:
"Spaghetti"
Zucchini Spaghetti
Raw Marinara
Corn

:o)

Wonderful Summer

Raw Challenge - Day Two

Breakfast:
Fruit and Raw-Nola
Almond Milk

Lunch:
Young Coconut Milk
Watermelon
Almonds and veggie sticks

Snack:
Apples and Homemade Cashew Butter and Cinnamon

Dinner:
Raw Burgers wrapped in lettuce
(Calvin had his 'Southwestern' - with avocado, salsa, onion, and tomato, I had mine 'classic' with raw goat cheese, onions, and cucumber, kids added mustard and ketchup - I know, not completely raw. :))
Blueberries and oranges

The burgers were a huge hit and the kids had two helpings each! Below are a few pictures.

Raw Challenge - Day One

Well, Monday was a challenge - hence Raw Challenge - but we finished well.

Our Meals consisted of:

Breakfast:
Green Smoothie
Raw-nola and Almond Milk

Lunch:
Walking Salad (celery, carrot, green pepper, green bean sticks)
Misc Dips
Apples and Naked Almonds

Dinner:
Asian lettuce wraps with raisin and walnut "pork"
Mango/Banana salad drizzled with agave and topped with sunflower seeds

Snack:
Cucumber "chips"
Hummus

Here's to a successful (albeit crave-full) first day!

Raw..... Take 2...

Alright -

I have tried to do this in the past, but this time we are serious.

While frequenting Harvest Health in my area, I came across a wonderful woman who has an amazing story, she is a raw foodie and gave me the last umph I needed to take the plunge.

So now, with two other gals from my work joining me, along with my wonderful husband and eldest daughter, we are committed to a Raw Week!

Raw foodists, feel free to send your favorite recipes here for us to try... if you feel like sending us a truckload of fresh produce or a raw-volution snack bar - we take gifts. :)

Those readers who would like to join us for a day, or two, or the whole week, we are starting on Monday and ending on Friday - although Calvin and I may continue on afterward, depending on how well we do the first week.

To give you an idea of what we are doing, see The Sunny Raw Kitchen, Raw Delight, and Happy Foody - all fun blogs with lots of inspiration.

If you think the food we will be eating is going to be bland and boring, see here for mouth watering and tantalizing photos of raw goodness. If you want your eye-candy in video form, watch below:









and my favorite:



So, here's to a fun and challenging week!

Watching Birth

The New York Times recently had an article on the inclination that many women of childbearing years have to seek out, and watch, births.

This inclination is a natural, almost instinctual, reaction. Women were made to give birth and women were made to understand birth, helping other women prepare for and give birth.

It is hard wired into our make-up, stitched into our primitive minds, that birth is natural, normal, and good.

Years and years ago, women used to help other women give birth. Birth was in the hands of other women and it was understood that it was women's work.

Then, something happened... and women forgot how to birth instinctively... That, I believe, is why now, when it is available, women gravitate toward good birth stories full of beauty, power, and our bodies abilities - that instinct is still there, lying dormant through all of the statistics and horror stories.

Just a small reminder to gear us up for The birth of Amerlyn Grace.

I Got Yer Consent Form Right Here

There is a great post here by a woman fed up with lack of patient rights when it comes to childbirth... I can't help but agree. How can it be that we have the right to refuse treatment for illnesses but not unnecessary over-treatments (in some hospitals) for a naturally occurring event such as childbirth?

I am not speaking for all women, but, as a populous, we are enabling our medical system to put these strictures, these regulations, on our bodies and birth. I am not talking about medically necessary cesareans... but about a growing number of hospitals that are 'disallowing' VBACS or optional epidurals (you heard that right - a growing number of hospitals** requiring epidurals for 1st time moms, moms of multiples, and as a term of allowing a trial of labor for VBACs) with no good reason.

My body, my birth, MY choice.

**added for clarification: I have attended 2 births in Tennessee (same hospital both times) that the nursing staff, as well as the practitioners repeatedly stated "we pretty much require first time moms to have epidurals in place because we don't know if you are going to a) be able to stand the pain and b) be one of the 1/3 that need surgery." Nursing staff even went so far at one of those births to state "if you want to have no medication, your doctor has to let us know, otherwise you get an epidural at 4cms".

In addition to this I have spoken to scores of women whose spouses were in the Army, Navy, or Marines that gave birth on base. Frighteningly, many stated that they were forced to have epidural medication. None of these women knew each other. (And, on another hand, other women that I have spoken to who have given birth on bases have been refused medication).

Finally, we all know women, I am sure, that have 'fired' their doctors for saying that they had to have an epidural to have their twins vaginally or to have a trial of labor for VBAC.

Sorry no linky for this stat, simply word of mouth and personal experience... Bottom line, many medical facilities are toeing the line when it comes to our rights.