In a message dated 2/22/2006 9:00:53 AM Eastern Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

Why do  you think women are encouraged to make 12-15 prenatal visits for each 
 pregnancy? We do twice weekly non-stress tests on higher risk women  
(gestational diabetics, those with an elevated AFP,those with twins, a history  of 
previous stillbirth and a myriad of other reasons). Doyou think women are  
encouraged to take classes (childbirth, breastfeeding newborn care, prepared  C/S) 
so that the medical community can undermine
them? Come on. Give these  people some credit.  

Dear Friends:
    Childbirth education programs have been coopted by  the medical system 
across the country; do you think the cesarean section rate  could be nearly 1 
woman in 3 if childbirth classes were effective? 
    Look in the childbirth education and midwifery  journals; ask your local 
educators. Are women being truly educated in childbirth  class.........or are 
they being taught to be good patients in the  facility?
    There is a very interesting book, by a Dr. Thomas  Strong, "Expecting 
Trouble, the Myth of Prenatal Care in America." This book is  chock full of 
evidence.  Prenatal care, as usually practiced in the US, has  never been proved to 
work. It is assumed to be good, but the evidence does not  support it. The US 
has some of the highest premature birth rates and low  birthweight rates in 
the world. I understand rates of premature birth in the US  have increased over 
the past 5 years. 
    Dr. Michel Odent has spoken about the nocebo effect  (create doubt and 
worry, then watch for problems) , about how close scrutiny  makes for more 
problems rather than less. There was one huge (thousands of  women)  study looking 
at prenatal ultrasounds; the group with the most  number of ultrasounds had 
the highest number of fetal deaths.
    If childbirth classes truly educated families,  don't you think that our 
national breastfeeding rates would be soaring? Aren't  we advocates beating 
our brains out trying to make a difference in one of our  main forums, prenatal 
classes? And hasn't it gotten more difficult over the  years, instead of 
easier?
    Of course we keep teaching, we want all the contact  with families we can 
get. And Sharon Humenick showed that the childbirth  educator was a most 
significant person in promoting breastfeeding.
    Yet we are working just as hard as we ever have,  maybe even harder.
    warmly,
 
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE
Maternal-Child Adjunct  Faculty Union Institute and University
Film Reviews Editor, Journal of Human  Lactation
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com

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