Just a little note of angst from me too. As there are many different kinds of women there are many different types of birthing bodies. I am certainly not sanctifying the obsession with extreme thinness that the advertising industry has imposed on people over the decades but I cringe when I read people making huge judgements about the state of osteoporosis in a model's body. Implied in that is her inability to birth naturally. As a person who once inhabited a very skinny body (I no longer do, the miracle of age) I know first hand the comments that fly your way, one is repeatedly told about your boyishness, how unlikely it is for a child to pass through your hips, how could you possibly have the endurance to mother etc.. How you must be malnourished. In short you are declared unwomanly at a young age and for as long as you remain thin. (I am always amazed that large people think they are the only ones who were made fun of, it's all of us a group inferiority comples??). Of course the media hype is also telling you your body is desirable. What a mind tweek. I am not denying that extreme dieting, extreme exercise and obsession with body image is not harmful, I am just saying that we shouldn't assume that thin, toned women (often called skinny) can't birth, they can and do everyday in many ways. I do think it is our mission as midwives to unveil their trust in their bodies so that they birth their babies in hope and trust. We must delete the subtext that seems to be saying big women birth beautifully and skinny women can't. Let's not make such invalid assumptions.
marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ruth Cantrill" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 2:36 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Reasons to avoid a "natural" birth > yes i agree Lesia we should just as we should and most often try to do in > all other spheres of care and day to day living - respect people's choice > whether right or wrong safe or unsafe in our own eyes. and lets face it > each one can only do the best they can do in the circumstances and > understanding they have at a moment in time. Our understanding and > circumstances can change. > > Ruth > > > ------------------------------------- > Ruth Cantrill > Griffith University > Faculty of Nursing and Health > Kessels Road > NATHAN QLD 4111 > > Ph: 0438987261 > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 06:37:56 EST > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Reasons to avoid a "natural" birth > > > > Hi, > > > > Deep breath in, ok I'm about to loose a lot of favour here but hey ho.... > > > > What about supporting all women in there choices even if they are not the > > choices we would make? Shouldn't we empower women and then support them in > > their decisions? > > > > Lesia (setting the cat among the pigeons) > > -- > > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
