Comments on: How not to have a natural birth

By: Rebecca M.

Rebecca M. — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:48:37 +0000

Unfortunately, I think it would make most first-time moms believe that those 3 things are “fringe” activities which must be dangerous — otherwise, why would these doctors say they won’t participate in these things? Why would they imply that having them would be contrary to the welfare and health of the baby? Aren’t we supposed to trust our doctors? Aren’t they here to help us??

Our culture teaches that birth is dangerous and that doctors are gods, the only ones who can save our unborn babies from all that threatens them. Women don’t realize that most complications of birth are iatrogenic (caused by doctors), and if someone tries to share the facts, that person is called paranoid or a “hippie freak” or “martyr” (if we try to talk about natural birth). Women in our country don’t do their research, so they don’t know what’s wrong with the system, or how to fix it.

By: JessieLeigh

JessieLeigh — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:49:36 +0000

Oh, I saw this picture the other day and it horrified me… even though I will never again have a natural birth (emergency classic c-section at 24 weeks w/ my 2nd baby). This ranks right up there with the “lactation consultant” who recently told my best friend to give her newborn formula if she wasn’t “absolutely, positively sure the baby was full”… guess whose milk supply dwindled?

By: Karen Bannan

Karen Bannan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:28:47 +0000

It’s always about the money, isn’t it? A friend gave birth on Halloween. Her doctor was going on vacation this week and told her he’d like to induce so he could be around to deliver the baby. Uhh…and WHY would she want to agree to that?

Too many women don’t realize that it’s their bodies and their babies. And that they have the right to say no to any and all interventions.

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:47:02 +0000

@angelawd: If that is what they meant, that is what they should say. Doing whatever is necessary in an emergency was the policy at my hospital, but they didn’t need to ban doulas, birth plans and the Bradley method in order to do that.

By: angelawd

angelawd — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:17:05 +0000

For heaven’s sake, don’t you think you’re reading a lot into that sign? Couldn’t it be that the doctors meant what they said – that if an emergency came up, they would do whatever was necessary?

I don’t understand how people can get all worked up by a sign. If they don’t like the policy, can’t they go elsewhere for their care? Unless this is a government-funded clinic, aren’t they legally allowed to make the policies that seem best for them?

By: Jennifer A

Jennifer A — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:57:07 +0000

Wow, the practice is bringing back births a la 1950; drugged, no dad present, strapped to a table and having to convince the mom that she ACTUALLY gave birth! Yes this is how my grandmothers gave birth. My mom and aunt had natural labors. I got epidurals thanks to pitocin suck in.
Even thought my OB turned out not to be very supportive of natual births and avoiding c-sections with breech presentations (learned HARD lesson with second child), this is appaling in this day and age.

By: Birth plan? Doula? Natural birth? Not here you don’t. | Crunchy Domestic Goddess

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:06:13 +0000

[...] from PhD in Parenting was inspired by the sign to write How Not To Have a Natural Birth and believes the center might as well have said: Because Physicians at Aspen Women’s Center care [...]

By: Debi Tracy, CHBCE

Debi Tracy, CHBCE — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:17:08 +0000

As offensive as it is, as another commenter said—at least they are being upfront about it instead of what the majority of hospitals do aka lip service. You wouldn’t find me outside protesting their policy since they are free to do as they please. However, I would certainly jump on the band wagon to educate moms-to-be in the immediate area that there are providers that respect women as human beings and not as medical waste that they can dump, trash and disrespect anyway they wish.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:39:27 +0000

Oh my. That is horrible. Just horrible.

Upon second thought, maybe more hospitals SHOULD post signs like that. Then at least women would steer clear and start seriously considering other alternatives…like home births or birthing centers.

One thing is certain. The way we view birth in our culture needs to change.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:34:28 +0000

Um….I am a vegetarian because I don’t believe in factory farming.
If they do birth the way I am envisioning (and the way that their awful sign implies that they do), the image of factory farming immediately comes to mind and invokes so much horror in me that MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS could possibly treat human beings (and laboring women, those who are some of the most vulnerable and in need of protection and care) that way.