Doulas Rule

In honor of completing the next step in my DONA Doula training, I'll post the praises of doulas, per the Cochrane Collaboration, which provides "systematic reviews of the effects of healthcare interventions."

http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab003766.html

"Continuous support in labour increased the chance of a spontaneous vaginal birth, had no identified adverse effects and women were more satisfied.

Historically women have been attended and supported by other women during labour and birth. However in many countries these days, as more women are giving birth in hospital rather than at home, continuous support during labour has become the exception rather than the norm. This has raised concerns about the consequent dehumanization of women's childbirth experiences. Modern obstetric care frequently subjects women to institutional routines, which may have adverse effects on the progress of labour. Supportive care during labour may involve emotional support, comfort measures, information and advocacy. These may enhance normal labour processes as well as women's feelings of control and competence, and thus reduce the need for obstetric intervention. The review of studies included 16 trials, from 11 countries, involving over 13,000 women in a wide range of settings and circumstances. Women who received continuous labour support were more likely to give birth 'spontaneously', i.e. give birth with neither caesarean nor vacuum nor forceps. In addition, women were less likely to use pain medications, were more likely to be satisfied, and had slightly shorter labours. In general, labour support appeared to be more effective when it was provided by women who were not part of the hospital staff. It also appeared to be more effective when commenced early in labour. No adverse effects were identified."

Orgasmic

This makes me cry.
My favorite is the look on mom's face in the very last scene.
You don't get that kind of joy from drugs.

Health Care

Midwifery is the answer to the question, “how can we afford national health care?” If every motherbaby were attended by a non-interventive but knowledgeable midwife, a national health care program would save billions of dollars on the four million births that occur in the US each year.

Please support the Mothers and Midwives in Action (MAMA) Campaigns effort to make Certified Professional Midwives a part of the health care system.


Increased access to Certified Professional Midwives can address the goals of health care reform:

• Ensure quality care for every American – CPMs provide evidence-based, prevention-oriented and health-promoting care, with more babies that are healthy, full weight and full term, and much lower rates of cesarean section and medical interventions.


• Reduce costs – The reduction in interventions, unnecessary cesarean sections, and the associated increased health status of mothers and babies under the care of CPMs would lead to a cost savings to the US health care system.

• Guarantee choice – If CPMs are included in Medicaid reimbursement or a federal insurance program, CPMs and out-of- hospital birth would be available to all women, not just those who can afford to pay out-of-pocket.

Big Baby Bull

Whilst trolling other doula blogs... I came across this from "EnjoyBirth" (a name I love of course):


http://enjoybirth.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/big-baby-bull/


More great info on "BIG" babies...


http://www.pregnancybirthandbabies.com/Big_baby.htm


Good to know that the truth IS out there.

Deepak

Mmm....Deepak AND Pregnancy...the mind reels!

I think this is my first Deepak Chopra book. Or maybe not. He feels so familiar, I'm SURE I've read him before. Following is a snippet from his book (Copyright 2005), Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives.

"Whether you see the world as personal or impersonal, from a spiritual or a scientific perspective, you have to marvel at the animating vital force that orchestrates the creation of all living beings."

My note in the margin...
"So be sure to keep OUT of the WAY."

(slightly less eloquant than big *D*).

Measles

Death rate due to Measles in 1900...133 per million people in the United States

Death rate due to Measles in 1960...0.3 per million people in the United States.

This is a 97.7% decline in Measles-related deaths...and this was BEFORE the vaccine was made available (1963). Interesting. No?

What can this decline be attributed to?

How about:

better nutrition (with rapid delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables to cities; and refrigeration)
cleaner water
improved sanitation (removing trash from the streets...and improved sewage systems).

Just sayin...