birthing
Posted By: sharline zim 
Date Posted: April 20th, 2010 Category: Health Care Reform
I would like to see a more normal way to give birth. There seems to be way to much intervention…monitors, IV’s etc. . Use midwives for normal birth process and doctors for complications would seem to be a better way to give birth in America. Where I came from births were handled by midwives and doctors were only involved if needed.
Comment By: fred rosenberger
Date & Time: May 5, 2010 at 12:32 pm
So much medicine done in the U.S. is 'defensive'. If something were to go wrong, and a doctor wasn't in the room (and even if they were), there are dozens of lawyers waiting to hop on the medmal train in hopes of getting some windfall settlement.
Until we have tort reform, I belieive this is unlikely to change.
Comment By: Rebecca Morrow
Date & Time: May 7, 2010 at 12:18 pm
I have done a lot of research for two health centers that center the birthing experience around the mother and the nurses. I live in a state where doulas and midwives are illegal to have in the birthing process and C-sections are on the rise. I even have some friends that have gone OUT of state just to have their baby in a more natural environment (water births). To do a C-section is so much easier for the doctor, takes less time, and they are able to get back to their family/golf time/etc faster. The birthing experience has become more of a business in a factory setting than actually letting the mother and the family enjoy the miracle of birth.
I know that ProgressWest has a great birthing center that is centered around the miracle of childbirth, they have birthing plans that you can download so that the nurses and doctors around you know what you expect, and they have great information, take classes, and you can tour the facilities.
Also, doing your research before having a baby will help you make the right decisions with your primary care doctor, too. Epistiotomies can cause a lot of damage and there are ways to avoid them. Find out what your doctor's thoughts are on childbirth… do they push for C-sections or natural childbirth? Do they suggest finding a doula or midwife? Do they talk about birthing chairs or natural water births?
Finding out what you want, how you want to have your baby, all the risks involved in traditional hospital births to more natural births, and what makes you feel comfortable is paramount. Research the hospitals around, you, too. Visit their birthing centers if they have one. If not, I would highly recommend you find a hospital that has one. And, above all, know your rights as a pregnant mother and what your options are at all times.