Hi everyone, Just wanted to pass on this article in one of our local papers... Made page three and had a lovely photo of me and my beautiful boys. Some of the "facts" are a bit exaggerated but overall I felt she did a good job. The journo was only 21 and has no kids so imagine how this might influence her... I always think of that : ).
By the way, if anyone else wants a CD, they are now being sold via Credit Card through Capers Bookstore online. www.capersbookstore.com.au. Cheers, Cas. ***************************************************************** Title: "Birth Trauma Spurs CD" A distressing first birth resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder has been the driving force behind a mother's decision to launch a CD in support of birth care reform. Forest Lake's Caroline McCullough, who performs under the stage name "Cas", will donate 50 cents from every album sold to support the Birth Talk group and help change birth care. When pregnant with her first child, Ms McCullough was induced at 38 weeks and felt severe pain during an emergency caesarean operation. "When I told the anaesthetist, he ignored me and said: 'Are you sure? It's just tugging and pushing,'" Ms McCullough said. She finally screamed out in pain and was given a general anaesthetic. "They didn't do it straight away--they didn't believe me at first. I guess it was unusual that someone felt pain," Ms McCullough said. "It was pretty traumatic and no one wants to go through that-it was horrible." Since conducting her own research and talking to other mothers, Ms McCullough has discovered traumatic births are not uncommon, especially for women induced earlier than 40 weeks into the pregnancy. "The majority of people I talk to who were induced at 38 or 39 weeks- I can finish the story for them. It's the same (as my experience", she said. Ms McCullough had severe panic attacks following the pregnancy, and was diagnosed with Post Natal Depression, which she now believes was post-traumatic stress disorder. She said one of the biggest problems with birth care was women did not know their options and the medical system failed to give them useful advice and information, especially about the risks of caesareans. "Women are not empowered with choices," she said. "They're told what to do. They end up in the hands of strangers and are easily manipulated by people who make decisions for them." This point was emphasised to Ms McCullough by the contrast of care between her first and second birth, where she hired a midwife. "She would do anything for Daniel and I. She put us first and it ws the most amazing thing in the world to have someone you trust." Through national birth care reform group Maternity Coalition, Ms McCullough has been lobbying governments to adopt the National Maternity Action Plan, which will allow women to have continuity of care throughout pregnancy. To order a copy of Ms McCullough's CD Stranger's City log onto her website at www.casmccullough.com [Caption: Caroline McCullough sings out about her birth care experiences, with the support of her children three-year-old Liam and five-month-old Daniel.] By Carmen Greive. Satellite, p.3, October 29. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
