Wonderful Story

This is such a wonderful story about a first-time mom who read Henci Goer's "The Thinking Women's Guide to a Better Birth," and used a Doula. Wahoo!!!
http://mothering.com/her-back
I love how she writes and how her learning and thinking evolve. This was one of my favorite parts:
At one of her appointments she was talking to her Dr. about her cesarean rate. The Dr. didnt' know for sure, but confessed that it was around at least 40% percent. When she saw her patient's shock, she said, "Don't worry, everything is perfectly fine. We just want to make sure that baby of yours isn't getting too big."
Too big, at 18 weeks' gestation? Even so, what could she possibly suggest we do about it?Bewildered by the sonogram discussion, I suddenly remembered to ask if our doula could attend the birth with us. She (the doctor) shrugged. "Sure, if that will make you more comfortable. Just make sure your doula remembers who's in charge, okay?"I nodded obediently. On my way out, I passed the appointment desk without scheduling the 18-week sonogram.
That evening, I called our doula to report what the doctor had said. She stated plainly, "Of course I remember who's in charge. You are."

Awesome!

Epidural Epidemic

By Jeanne Ohm, D.C., F.I.C.P.A.
Originally Printed in I.C.P.A. Newsletter March/April 1999

Epidurals during birthing have become so routine, as mothers are being convinced that pain during labor is unnatural. Convinced that they should not endure pain during the birth process, mothers are set up to believe in a drug instead of their bodies' own natural capabilities. Sixty four percent of certified nurse midwives reported concern over the increased number of their clients who desire epidural anesthesia, and a majority of certified nurse-midwives surveyed (53%) reported a negative attitude toward the increased use of epidurals. 1
We started including questions about births years ago on our children's case history and 9 times out of 10, mothers will check off that they had a "natural childbirth" and in the next question, they check off that they had an epidural. In other words, if they delivered vaginally, and their eyes were open, they are being led to believe that they delivered naturally.
What is not being provided to the parents is the increased complications which are a result of epidural usage. The PDR2 cautions that "local anesthesia rapidly crosses the placenta...and when used for epidural blocks, anesthesia can cause varying degrees of maternal, fetal and neonatal toxicity." It continues, "this toxicity can result in the following side effects: hypotension, urinary retention, fecal and urinary incontinence, paralysis of lower extremities, loss of feeling in the limbs headache, backache, septic meningitis, slowing of labor, increased need for forceps and vacuum deliveries, cranial nerve palsies, allergic reactions, respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting and seizures." Many of these side effects result in multiple complications. For example, maternal hypotension causes bradycardia (decreased heart rate) in the fetus. This altered heart rate can lead to fetal distress and operative deliveries.3 This has led doctors to warn "a high concentration anesthetics and epinephrine should be avoided, as they may influence labor."
Things To Know About Epidurals:
1. Causes longer labors with slower progress.5 6 2. Can cause fevers in mothers during childbirth. 7 3. Increase use of pitocin by as much as 3 ½ times, which causes slow and irregular contractions. 5 8 4. Increases use of antibiotics in your baby by as much as 4 times. 4 5. Increases use of forceps by as much 4½ - 20 times.5 6. Causes neonatal jaundice due to altered red blood cells. 9 7. Increases the incidence of birth trauma due to the use of mechanically assisted deliveries. 10 11 8. Causes adverse behavioral effects of the neonate. 12
In order to bring about a reversal in epidural usage, mothers must become educated not only on its potential side effects, but on their bodies' own ability to give birth naturally. The overwhelming fear associated with birth has become a learned behavior in our culture. Fear causes additional muscular tension in the body, resulting in decreased blood supply to organs and therefore impaired uterine function. It is our privilege and obligation as Chiropractors to care for these women throughout their pregnancies, offering them encouragement and educating about choices for their upcoming experience. I have been told by many chiropractors (and have heard it in our own practice) how women look forward to their visit with us because we treat the process of pregnancy with respect, and we enhance the mothers confidence in her own innate abilities.

A Joke

. . with some truth to it! :)

An anesthesiologist, an OB, and a midwife walked into a bar. The anesthesiologist ordered a pitcher of stout and a double burger; the OB ordered a Reuben and a bottle of red wine; the midwife ordered their biggest plate of steak and fries with a margarita. They all sat in a booth and shared war stories.

A long time passed, and the three realized something had gone wrong with their order. They decided to find out what the problem was. They found the busboy just behind the swinging double doors to the kitchen. He was struggling to get their overloaded cart from the tiled kitchen to the carpeted dining area. The wheels kept catching on the bump.

The anesthesiologist knelt down and examined the tires. "You just need to inject something here in the back," he announced. "Then everything will go better."

The OB leaned down to look at the carpet. "This part of the carpet is blocking the cart," he announced. "Give me a knife and I'll just give it a little cut to help it along."

The midwife leaned over to the busboy and whispered loudly in his ear, "You can do this! Just PUSH!"