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Propaganda, Mother Nature, and Your Right to Know What’s Right For You

Family | June 25th, 2008 by Danielle LaPorte

Thanks to the recently released documentary, The Business of Being Born, by Ricki Lake (the former talk show host,) and Abby Epstein the issue of home birthing, midwifery and the motives of American medicine are being launched into social conversation. (Check out coverage on ABC.) At their annual meeting this month, the American Medical Association (AMA) voted to seek to prevent home births and to increase MD control over midwives. Prevent home births?! This is staggeringly archaic. The suffragettes must be kicking in their graves.

Hospital birth or home birth? It’s a woman’s choice or her necessity. CHOICE being the operative word. The fact that this right is being questioned and threatened further signals a collective crisis in consciousness, our disconnections from our bodies, environment, divine abilities, and each other.

I am heart broken by the state of the Western world’s relationship to childbirth. (Child birth options is one of my most passionate interests and will surely evolve into a more active cause for me.) Women have opportunities for a birth experience that is life affirming and respectful for both the mother and the baby, but those options are scarcely represented by medical, educational, or social systems. Some of what we get is outright propaganda that favors insurance and pharmaceutical companies, privatized hospitals and HMOs, and every stakeholder’s net profit - mother, father, and child excluded.


We are effectively having our power scammed from us and buying into the story that the western way is the only way to do it. Ask the rest of the world, where 70 - 80% of children are delivered by midwives, the vast majority being home births.


(left: It’s a boy! February 19, 2004. Born in his bedroom.)

Don’t think for a second that I am entirely against hospital births. Having been present at five of them, I’ve witnessed deep care from nurses, emergency procedures that saved two lives, and pure bliss (despite glaring lights and extreme lack of privacy.) I’ve also witnessed the cascade of effects that leaves a woman literally and figuratively in the worst position possible to relate to her intuition, her body, and worst of all, her newborn child. The lack of respect and righteousness I’ve experienced from medical professionals has shocked my sensibilities. So…it was a clear choice that I would give birth to my child in the safety, yes, safety, of our own home. Billions of women before me have done it. The odds were favourable, to say the least.

I was blessed with a healthy pregnancy, and every cell in my being wanted a gentle experience in an environment that my husband and I could control. I had two seasoned midwives whose approach to delivery was based on the belief that, go figure, a woman instinctively knows what’s best for her and her child - whether that means laboring in the bathtub or in a hospital, walking around the block, or on a birthing stool with The Beatles playing.

Want pain meds and a sterilized bed? Go for it. In fact, demand the care that you or your loved one deserves, without haste or apology. But once a woman goes through the hospital doors, it’s unlikely that she will be strongly encouraged to draw on her natural instincts…In fact, it’s probable that she will be told exactly what to do with little explanation. This is appropriate in medical crises. But giving birth is most often not a “crisis.” It’s the natural order of things, and Mother Nature can be our greatest champion, if we let her be.

It’s worth considering that perhaps the traditional medical industry does not have the best interest of mothers at heart. Make no mistake, childbirth is a multi-billion dollar business. Epidurals are a revenue stream. Cesareans are cost effective - statistics show that the rates of Cesareans increase around the time a doctor is about to go off shift…why wait around for the baby to come out naturally?

In The Business of Business Born, Lake asks a group of nurses: “How often do you get to see a fully natural birth?” There’s an uncomfortable pause. “Almost never,” they answer.

My European friends shake their heads when they figure out how scared our culture seems to be about birth. And they’ve got cause to scoff. The USA has the second worst newborn death rate in the world. I guess birth dictatorship has it’s downside.

Resources:

Ina May’s Guide to Child Birth, by Ina May Gaskin. Popular Holistic MD, Christiane Northrup says it best: “It is my fervent prayer that every woman read this book.” Expecting, or parenting, or not, this is a brilliant primer on the divine intelligence of the human body and the sometimes supreme ignorance of traditional medical practices. You will never think of childbirth or your body (or perhaps your doctor) in the same way again.

The Business of Being Born, Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein. Get it. Watch it with your friends. Write the AMA. Spread the word: women know what’s good for them.

My son was born at 9:50pm after an eighteen hour labour. I spent most of the day in a hot tub we set up in the living room. It was agony. It was ecstasy. It was my choice to make, and that knowledge was my power.

I’d love to hear more experiences and perspectives. Voices?

Love,

Danielle

Related Posts:
Winner of The Business of Being Born DVD  |  What do you know more about today than you did two weeks ago?  |  
 

Viewing 33 Comments

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    Our daughter, Imogen, was born by c-section by our choice at 38 weeks, because our first daughter, Millie, was still-born at 42 weeks.

    We still believe that Millie's death was a direct result of a refusal by our doctors in Calgary to listen to our concerns. In fact they made the decision to defer inducing her birth until after the weekend, apparently because hospitals like to minimize weekend births. On Thursday we had an ultrasound in which the technician said she had never seen a healthier baby, but that it was well past due for her to be born. She died on the Monday morning, and my wife had to go through the pain of childbirth knowing that our daughter was dead.

    Our medical system is set up to position us to do what we're told and ignore our own reason and instinct. Many of the professionals who work in this industry are fantastically talented, but the paradigm in which they're working is often broken in so many respects.
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    Before I comment on this I will declare my position. I was a midwife in practice for 30 years. In New Zealand where I live midwives have been able to practice idependently from Doctors for nearly 20 years.

    Whoever leads birth care (and I include parents ) there will at times be poor outcomes. Birth has never been safer than in developed countries in the last decades. Safe water. good nutrition and antenatal care that should be able to diagnose when risk is present. The equipment and skills present or immediately available.

    I pioneered home birth in my home city in the 1970s and was deeply priviledged to see some thousands of birth at home and in hospital. There is nothing in the world to compare with the look of beautiful joy and ectasy that appears on a women's face when she has given birth in her own home.

    I have alot of respect for medical science. I have much more for intelligent design. The birth process takes women to a deep part of their feminine power and they learn truths about themselves that cannot be learnt any other way. It was designed to start happening when women are in their early 20s. CSection rates rise hand in hand with an aging birth population.

    Thank you Danielle for your lovely story. Sheila Kitzinger is a good writer to read too.
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    Choice. That's the thing. And it's so hard to trust yourself to make right choices--personally right choices--when you are bombarded on all sides with opinions about what you "should" do. Bombarded most heavily by the medical view that safe birth happens in a hospital, directed by a doctor, often with drugs, sometimes with surgery. But there can be pressure on the other side, too, if you travel among the "health conscious" folks, as I do. Then you're looked at askance if you choose a path that includes a doctor or a drug. No matter the source of the pressure, it serves to undermine a woman's faith in her own spirit and wisdom. And that is something that she has to have in abundance to raise the child that's born to her. And it doesn't end at birth.

    My sister had intended on home birth, but ended up having an emergency c-section with her first child. Fortunately, she has a brilliant midwife. (A woman who was herself Harvard educated, but the daughter of a traditional midwife from India. So she embodied ALL the information about birth--Western, Eastern and otherwise.) She stood up for my sister when the neonatalogist accused my sister of "trying to play God" when she chose not to allow him to induce labor. (The irony.) She stood by her when her daughter was born prematurely and spent a month in a neonatal unit--and helped her learn to nurse, to kangaroo her baby to help her keep her body temp up, to stand up for the tiny girl in the face of all that life saving technology.

    That, I imagine, could have been the very best of both worlds: brilliant technology that clearly helps save babies in crisis, married with the brilliance of simple, ancient wisdom that says holding a tiny child next to her mother's naked skin will help her stay warm, will help her learn the rhythms of breathing, will help her know the nourishing smell of her mother's milk, will help to save her life.

    The thing is that the two sides don't trust each other. The NICU nurses want you to keep the baby in the isolette. They want to give them enriched formula. But the goal is for the baby to be warm and nourished. And why can't that happen at the mother's breast?
    Unless we are strong, we can be forced into an either/or.

    My own daughter was also born early. Like my sister's, my water broke too soon. Like my sister (because of my sister's experience), I refused to let them induce labor. I waited, leaking. But I reluctantly took steroids because they promised it would strengthen her lungs. I was monitored. And when the baby stopped moving and the heartbeat became more and more faint, they rushed in (at a change of shift) and whisked me to OR for a c-section. (I remember the phone cord trailing behind me as I tried to call my mother, but they rushed me away.)

    My daughter was born at 9:16 in the morning. Three pounds, seven ounces. Lots and lots of black hair, and an expression as if to say she resented the intrusion and why in the world were we all so frantic, anyway? Then it was her turn to be whisked away. (I didn't see her again until the next day. Agonizing. Excruciating. But I was too drugged to argue and I didn't have a determined Indian midwife to advocate for me. A nurse was merciful: It must have been 5 in the morning when she woke me and helped me dress so i could go and see my girl. (They've got to do something about that--keeping a mother from her child that long.)

    Because of my sister, I knew to insist that my daughter only get breast milk. I knew to kangaroo--hold her skin-to-skin--though the nurses seemed reluctant to take her out. I knew she needed to be touched, sung to, talked to. And I watched with sadness other babies in their plastic boxes, their parents too...what? frightened? overwhelmed? intimidated?...to advocate for them or even to touch them.

    As I write this, from the perspective that comes over time, I wish I had said something to those other young parents. But I was frightened, overwhelmed and intimidated, too. Every thought I had was was for my baby to grow and be healthy so I could take her home.

    My sister's daughter is 11 now. Her son, born at home, "caught" by that brilliant midwife, is 9. My own girl just turned 4. They are all beautiful, healthy, strong and smart. One thing I know is this: It's not just women who have wise bodies. These babies know how to get here and stay here, too.
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    The birth of my first child, Olivia, was done sans drugs under the supervision of an incredible midwifery practice here in Philadelphia. It was not a home birth, but for 21 incredible hours, my husband and I labored our beautiful girl into the world in a birthing suite, surrounded by our family, two midwives. our doula and the sounds of Cassandra Wilson. It was transformative experience where I was encouraged to listen to my body and follow my instincts. We were in total control of the situation. How did we get to this moment--- only because I had been counseled for years by my best friend, Kim, mother of five and a certified lactation specialist. By sharing her own birthing experiences I learned what was possible beyond the heavily mediated, traditional hospital birth. From the moment we learned we were pregnant we felt empowered to be advocates for our unborn child, navigating our prenatal journey through her birth.
    The birth of our second child, Yannick, pretty much followed the same game plan.

    I understand that opting for a midwife vs. an ob/gyn, or a home birth or birthing suite isn't for everyone, but women should at least be provided with the option to make an informed choice. My birthing experiences, with my husband, were so incredible and empowering to us as a family. After those 21 hours of labor with Olivia, we know there's no challenge we cannot face as a couple, because of the work we did together to physically bring these beautiful children into the world.

    Sharing our birthing stories is vital in shifting the tide in the explosive rise in scheduled C-sections. Thanks for initiating the conversation!
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    I had my second son with a midwife present. My labor was 6 hours of amazing drug free pain, but it was pain that i chose to endure and my midwife trusted my judgment. When it was all said and done, my son emerged into the world healthy and beautiful. The moment i pushed him out i felt tired yet simultaneously energized. I remember sighing, laughing, holding him, joking with the nurses and asking for a snack! I nursed him immediately after he was cleaned and measured. I was able to walk around quite well the next day and i felt pretty good- basically no pain. I was even discharged early. It was everything i hoped and expected the birth of my child to be. With my first son i used an Ob-gyn practice. I remember at one of my doctor's visits, one of the Ob's asked me what i was planning on doing for pain. i told him i wanted a drug free delivery. He laughed at me and said he didn't think i could handle it. When i told him that i was sure i could since so many women including my mother have endured birth pains since the beginning of time, he told me that my mother and women before her were "built differently then they are now." (i am sure my at the time 48 yo mom would have taken offense to this!) My water broke at around 11pm and contractions began about 10 minutes later. I got to the hospital a half hour later and my doctor arrived about an hour after that. After about 3 hours of labor she decided i wasn't progressing enough and put me on pitocin. I put up a little bit of a protest because it seemed early to be making this decision (i had friends who went 12 hours before doctors suggested the use of pitocin) but i didn't really understand what was going on so i went along with it. Then she asked me what i wanted to do for pain. When i said nothing she rolled her eyes and began to argue with me. I agreed to use local anesthesia just so she would leave me alone. She had an attitude for the rest of my delivery. She put me on continuous fetal monitoring even though i protested and then yelled at me repeatedly for moving too much (imagine that- a laboring woman moving!) and disturbing the monitoring. She convinced me to do internal monitoring since i was moving. I spent most of the rest of my labor in and out of consciousness thanks to the drugs- i fell asleep between each contraction. I delivered my healthy son, thankfully without complication about 12 hours after my water broke. I was too drugged to hold him and i fell asleep for about an hour after he was born,missing his measuring and cleaning- all events i wanted to witness. I was sore and in pain for the next two days- having trouble walking around. I decided that day that no other children of mine would be born using western doctors. My ob ignored my concerns, my wishes, ignored my birth plan and was angry with me for not doing things exactly her way. My advice to soon to be first time mothers- no matter what stand up for what you want and have someone with you who understands what you want who can advocate for you. Make sure that the doctor explains in detail why they are doing what they are doing and if it doesn't sound right to you, say so. If your doctor is mean to you ask for a different doctor! It's your body and your baby- childbirth is a natural process that your body is made for, it is not a surgical procedure so unless you decide so, do not let anyone treat it as such.
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    Hi Danielle,

    I love your passion for this subject....... having delivered three beautiful daughters (you've met two) that are now in their twenties I can tell you that I fought hard to not be hospitalized, even though they were born in hospitals. I broke all the rules of the day. I walked my newborn down the hall minutes after delivering and I left the building 12 hours after delivering, to be home and sleep in my own bed, I wanted nothing more than to be home with my new family and to be removed from a hospital setting. Unbelievably my youngest daughter was born in 1989 and I was the first ever person to be released less than 24 hours after delivery. Fortunately my young physician was convinced that since I had done so twice before he would advocate for me (sounds so archaic!) and I had to agree that he visit me at home the next day. The hospital soon changed their policy.

    Even so, I guess I am thankful for the wonderful doctors I lined up for each event. Emily was born 25 years ago on July 1st and Dr Ting was the comic relief I needed during a very long labour. A tiny fellow- I could not see him from my vantage point and sometimes I wondered if he was really there ... until he pulled out the forceps that is. I have scar tissue from that and wonder sometimes if that could have been prevented. Once home my husband made sure we were taken care of. Inbetween nursing and adoring this beautiful baby I went shopping for a new dress, I rested, I walked, I celebrated my god health and my strength.

    You might be interested in reading The Birth House by Ami MacKay. http://www.thebirthhouse.com/
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    Yes yes, thanks for the reminder. Sheila Kitzinger is wonderful. And you make this point so beautifully: "The birth process takes women to a deep part of their feminine power and they learn truths about themselves..." I think that there are other doorways to the same depths of learning. But it would be revolutionary if more modern women believed that the journey was worthwhile taking. Thank you.
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    After one of my best friends gave birth via CSection, I went to stand vigil by her baby while he was left to be monitored under a heat lamp in a plastic box, wired to an IV. Turned out he was fine, they were just "being careful." I reached to stroke him and a nurse snapped that he should be left alone so that they could see if his temperature would regulate. "Wouldn't some human touch help that along?" I wondered. And they too were very pushy about formula feeding the baby right away, and my friend was hardly clear-headed enough to negotiate, let alone take a stand for what she felt was best.

    In addition to having the 2nd highest infant mortality rate in the world, the US also has the lowest rate of midwives attending births. Every mama and baby needs a champion.

    Thanks, Tamara.
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    Considering you have had two extremely different experiences, this is profound advice...that every woman should heed. Thank you so much.
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    Shannon! I had no idea you were such a pioneer!
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    yes, the sharing is vital part of making changes happen. It reminds me a quote from Audrey Lorde: If one woman were to tell her truth, teh world would crack open."
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    Dan...Thank you.
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    Two African midwives delivered me into the world.

    My mother was a product of 1950s Canada, and while living in Tanzania, she was surprised to discover that there would be no doctor present at the delivery. She said that they were baffled when she asked when the doctor was arriving. "What do you need a doctor for?" they said. That being said, she was healthy, I was healthy, it was an uncomplicated birth.
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    All four of my babies were born at home ( 1990, 93, 96 and 03)with a lay midwife who helps the Amish in our area. It was very underground and lonely and I found that I could not join in those "let's bitch about our horrible births " conversations with most mothers.

    I saw a doctor each time once or twice, initially - because I wanted someone to have a chart on me should the need to transport arise. I once had a chart thrown at me by the doctor in the parking lot ( so professional!). Another doc told me my baby would be retarded and he sent a certified letter banning me from his office ( btw, that baby was homeschooled and just graduated - he's off to college on a full scholarship). I learned to lie a lot and burned many bridges. We never told our parents our plans until after the baby had safely arrived.

    I was highly influenced by Ina May Gaskin, Sheila Kitzinger, and Suzanna Arms--"Immaculate Deception" is a must read - and The Bradley Method. There was a wave of these pioneering mothers in the 1970s - about every 20yrs it seems to come around again.
    Through La Leche League I found a network of other homebirthing moms and developed great friendships.

    We found that homebirth really goes along with a whole philosophy of family life, which for us also included attachment parenting, extended breastfeeding, homeschooling, non-vaxing or circ-ing.

    With age, I have become less militant I think. I"ve realized I can't change the world - gotta take care of my own.

    --"Natural Lustre"
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    I'm here with tears reading this post and the replies. The tears are a response to the depth of feeling about this topic, feeling steeped in love for our children, for ourselves, for who we are as women, for who we are as people. And there's also a desire to be heard, seen, loved, cared for and respected, ourselves and our children. And there's hope that these children be born into that wonderful kind of world . By insisting on safe, compassionate, respectful births, we are birthing a beautiful new world.
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    Yes! For so long I have felt nearly alone in my convictions on this topic. Thank you so much for this blog topic, and for your amazing post. I am so happy that people are talking about this issue, and that so many women (and men) are speaking out about their experiences.

    Misogynist power structures would be completely deflated forever if more women ( and men) knew firsthand the divinity inherent in all of us as it is expressed in the birthing process.

    Thank you, Danielle. This is so important, what you've done here.

    Love, Maureen
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    Thank you so much for what you do!
    My great aunt gave birth to her eighth child in 1977 at home. My aunt was 42 years old, has Rh factor and severe asthma. She said she wished she had done home birth with her older seven. With them she experienced asthma attacks and other complications during labor.
    She said she felt comfortable in her home with her husband (he was not allowed to be present in the hospital) and midwife. Not having any drugs she felt present and ready to meet her child.

    My mother was 37 when she delivered my sister at home. She said it was an amazing experience. She had been totally knocked out for my brothers and myself. She said the pain was excruciating but she preferred "being there" for it.
    Several of my cousins, all nurses, have opted for birthing their children at home.
    Your words embody the expressions on my relatives faces as they told me about birthing their children. Unfortunately they came from era when people would respond with "Don't you have enough money to have your child in a hospital?" Your words give weight and appreciation to the word "Choice". I am going to share them with my family.
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    Thank you so much Danielle for spotlighting this subject!
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