[ozmidwifery] Midwifery today

[Mary Murphy]

Quote of the Week "Normal birth should become standard, saving technology for urgent, emergency situations."— Jill Cohen The Art of Midwifery First stage begins when the cervix is dilated to 4 cm. From that point on, the sun should not set twice on the woman. This is the maxim that was used by obstetricians in the days before the hospital accountants started telling them they had to "turn the beds." When hospitals became industrial factories and fiscal efficiencies took precedence over patient watchfulness, the guidelines for progress changed accordingly. But women's bodies are still the same. The best way for a woman to have a great birth nowadays is not to let anyone know when her sensations begin. She should spend the early part of her birth away from people, in the dark, private, and eating/drinking healthy foods (no MSG, no nitrates). One of the reasons we have so much interference in North American birth right now is that young women are overly dramatic. Add to that the desire of caregivers to stay out of trouble and the desire of hospital administrators to pinch pennies and voila!—you have a 28% c-section rate. — Gloria Lemay, Vancouver, BC Midwifery Today Forums