Just read the new ACOG statement and it floors me, although it should not. I have been a Registered Nurse for 15 years and I am a CNM; albeit not a practicing one as I cannot afford to be a home birth Midwife. Working in the US medical model has broken my heart one too many times. Now I work at a large HMO in Southern California, taking care of NST's and AFI's for high risk pregnant patients. The one thing that always amazes me is how they are quick to perform c/secs on patients that do not need them, but turn around and labor a patient for 20 hours who is making no progress and threatening to progress into pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. Then they use a Vacuum....URGHHHHHH. And our numbers are going up, I keep joking pretty soon having red hair and pink toe nails will be an indication for high risk pregnancy designation. 
 
 
> Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:28:20 -0500> From: [log in to unmask]> Subject: LACTNET Digest - 11 Feb 2008 to 12 Feb 2008 - Special issue (#2008-216)> To: [log in to unmask]> > There are 8 messages totalling 374 lines in this issue.> > Topics in this special issue:> > 1. ACOG statement (2)> 2. True oversuppliers> 3. frenulum clipped twice, mom still in pain> 4. Many, Many Thanks> 5. Infant death prevented by breastfeeding? (2)> 6. ACOG thread> > Lactnet Archives are at:> LACTNET Archives http://community.lsoft.com/archives/lactnet.html> To Manage your Subscription, ie go nomail, index, etc, go to:> http://community.lsoft.com/archives/lactnet.html> > Thanks- Kathleen Bruce, Kathy Koch, Rachel Myr,> Karleen Gribble, Linda Pohl, LACTNET Facilitators> > Questions to [log in to unmask]> > ***********************************************> > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]> COMMANDS:> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------> > Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:20:07 -0600> From: Mary Grace Lanese <[log in to unmask]>> Subject: ACOG statement> > Lest anyone think that hospitals within the USA only give "lip service" to> women who request VBAC, I would like to set the story straight. I work in a> regional tertiary care hospital with a level 111 ICN. We have> Perinatologists who care for the most high risk and extremely sick women. We> could hardly be more "high tech" and yet we have a number of practicing> midwives who offer women the other end of the spectrum. Some of our OB's> continue to perform VBACs. I was not able to open the ACOG statement but> from the comments on Lactnet I can tell I would disagree. Surely I don't> work at the only US hospital where VBACs are still performed. Oh, to tie> this to breastfeeding, we have a 75%-85% breastfeeding rate. We have not> achieved BFHI designation but continue to work on it and are very close. no> surprise, step #6 is the major hurdle. > > Mary Grace Lanese, RN, BSN, IBCLC> > > > > ***********************************************> > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]> COMMANDS:> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome> > ------------------------------> > Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:36:05 -0500> From: Christie Kilduff <[log in to unmask]>> Subject: Re: True oversuppliers> > Wanted to add a personal experience... I have been skimming all of the> oversupply posts.> > I exclusively breastfed my first two and am now bf'ing my third. This ti=> me> I have too much milk... my breasts never feel empty. The cause?? Two we=> eks> of nicu! He was born at 34 weeks after a bad amnio that ended up with an=> > emergency csection. I pumped my heart out to ensure that I made enough> milk. I ended up with waaay too much and donated most of it to an adopti=> ve mom.> > But since then, I have never had to go through a growth spurt with him, n=> o> all day nursing sessions, like my first two! It is also taking me a lot> longer to lose that stored fat! grr!> > I am convinced that all of that pumping made my body think that I had> triplets or something and it is still making way too much milk!> > I also have a heavy let down but I deal with it with a very deep latch. => My> son also has a cleft so he requires a deep 'plug' anyway.> > Just wanted to share about my confused boobs! lol I will be sure not to=> > pump as much, if there ever is a next time! > > ***********************************************> > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]> COMMANDS:> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome> > ------------------------------> > Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:11:20 -0800> From: "Henry, Felicia" <[log in to unmask]>> Subject: Re: frenulum clipped twice, mom still in pain> > Renee,> > Well I hope it wasn't the labial (:-) ) since that is the one for the => upper lip - it should be the lingual (sp)! If it was the lingual then => maybe some CST work (to help everything move again). Also there could => be some soreness still (esp. from 2 clippings) and it may need more time => to heal and feel better or a palate issue. Suck training may also be => needed.> > Felicia Henry, BCCE, IBCLC> > ***********************************************> > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]> COMMANDS:> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome> > ------------------------------> > Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:58:07 +0000> From: Morgan Gallagher <[log in to unmask]>> Subject: Re: Many, Many Thanks> > Whilst I won't underplay my own part (I seem to have the knack of being > heard/getting through), I'm just the conveyor of the message. It's the > letters, with huge big shiny qualifications on them, that do the work.> > *round of applause for all who responded*> > I'm actually still stunned this one worked... thank heavens there are > competent and compassionate Social Workers in the world. They went from > totally banning contact 8pm-8am, to allowing the child back into a > bedroom with the mother overnight. It had to be at the grand parent's > house, and they asked that she use a cot. No problemo! In other words, > they went from a standard response, to adjusting their demands > appropriately to the infant involved. Kudos to them!> > The outpouring of chapters and research articles on the importance of > night time feeding for toddlers, was unbelievable. We're trying to set > up an online database whereby all quotes and references can be indexed, > so that we can pull off what we need as we respond to other cases.> > Jack Newman reported that breastfeeding toddlers being investigated by > social workers for 'low weight gain' was on the rise in Canada. I > suspect there is going to be need of the database, as breastfeeding > slowly emerges from the closet.> > Thankfully, many social services departments don't view breastfeeding > toddler as strange. In fact, it's more that once a child has been > raised on their radar, they just don't know what to do with it: no idea > of normal feeding patterns, or normal growth. So being able to hand > them a pack of info about both how normal it is, and the effects of > enforcing the removal of it from the infant, worked.> > But I totally blew being calm and neutral and professional, for when the > Team Leader phoned me back to tell me what had been arranged, I burst > into tears!> > Oops!> > Morgan Gallagher> > ps New case in my inbox, mother being hassled for breastfeeding three > year old...> > www.nursingmatters.org.uk Nina Berry wrote:> > What amazing work you do, Morgan. You really are an advocate. I still have> > dreams (nightmares really) about having a new baby in NICU and not being> > able to be with my baby AND find the papers/people to support my feeding> > choices all while fighting with specialists/ social workers/ court orders.> > This is really really important. > > Kudos to you.> > > > ***********************************************> > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]> COMMANDS:> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome> > ------------------------------> > Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:06:52 -0600> From: Mark Anderson <[log in to unmask]>> Subject: Infant death prevented by breastfeeding?> > Wise ones,> > I have heard the statistic that for every 1000 babies born in the US, four > babies die a year because they were not breastfed.> > Is this accurate data? IF so...do we know WHY these babies died? Can anyone > point me in the right direction for obtaining evidence to support this?> > Thank you in advance,> > Mary Anderson > > ***********************************************> > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]> COMMANDS:> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome> > ------------------------------> > Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:22:07 -0600> From: "Dr. Leeper" <[log in to unmask]>> Subject: ACOG thread> > OK--> > I agree the medicalization of birth is out of control in the US.> > I agree there are greedy/lazy/ (fill-in-the-blank) OBs out there just as> there are people in every profession who do not share the same values that> we do.> > However, I feel compelled to point out that here in the US I have watched> OBs get more "interventionist" as a group over the past 20 years in response> to fear of being sued. How many of you have been sued? I have, and it is a> life-altering experience. Those of us MDs who have not been sued at least> know someone who has, and it is not pretty. SHouldwe have to practice> "defensive" medicine? No--of course not. But it is reality in the US.> > As for the "battle" about home births, I am sure it will continue, but I am> not sure it should continue on this list. Once you have seen one baby with> severe neurologic defecits from birth asphyxia, you can become irrationally> adverse to the perceived risks of home deliveries.> > Please--no flames. Of course I believe a woman should be able to make a> fully informed choice. Am just pointing out that some of us come with> different experiences, thus differrent points of view.> > Kathy Leeper, MD, IBCLC> Medical Director, MilkWorks> > ***********************************************> > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]> COMMANDS:> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome> > ------------------------------> > Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:29:43 -0500> From: Sam Doak <[log in to unmask]>> Subject: Re: ACOG statement> > That's because the ONLY place ACOG will "permit" VBACS to take place are in> tertiary care hospitals with a level III nursery.> > In my opinion the act of naming a woman "high risk" due to previous surgery> creates a risk in the mother's head. She is more likely to experience> complications because she believes she is in danger by her birth choice> alone. She is more likely to bleed profusely because she does not believe> her body has the power to stop it. She is more likely to have postpartal> issues because she is now a victim, instead of the strong woman she was> prior to birth.> > Evidence shows that the act of induction (especially with cytotec) is what> increases the risk of uterine rupture. Further, the induction rate (95% in> our area) is linked to prematurity levels and the rise in cesarean section> for primips. Since you can no longer have a VBAC at your "local hospital,"> this accounts for part of the ever increasing cesarean rates.> > Unfortunately, what ACOG is not seeing is the brutality the women feel after> cesarean birth. I have met very few women who have accepted their cesarean> births with open arms and a welcoming thought. I have, instead, met many> women who feel vicitimized, out of control and so sad.> > The fear in ACOGs statement (as well as the unreferenced ignorance) shows> the wisdom of birth is rising. Women are sick of what is happening to them,> and are starting to realize there is something they can do about it. We need> to watch this process carefully, because there is tremendous wisdom we can> gain in fighting the formula dragons.> > Best wishes,> Sam Doak> > <<> Lest anyone think that hospitals within the USA only give "lip service" to> women who request VBAC, I would like to set the story straight. I work in a> regional tertiary care hospital with a level 111 ICN. We have> Perinatologists who care for the most high risk and extremely sick women. We> could hardly be more "high tech" and yet we have a number of practicing> midwives who offer women the other end of the spectrum. Some of our OB's> continue to perform VBACs. I was not able to open the ACOG statement but> from the comments on Lactnet I can tell I would disagree. Surely I don't> work at the only US hospital where VBACs are still performed. Oh, to tie> this to breastfeeding, we have a 75%-85% breastfeeding rate. We have not> achieved BFHI designation but continue to work on it and are very close. no> surprise, step #6 is the major hurdle. > > Mary Grace Lanese, RN, BSN, IBCLC> > ***********************************************> > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]> COMMANDS:> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome> > ------------------------------> > Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:28:12 +0000> From: Morgan Gallagher <[log in to unmask]>> Subject: Re: Infant death prevented by breastfeeding?> > The statistic I know are that 2 babies per thousand die who are > breastfed, but that 4 babies per thousand die if they are formula fed. > It's based on an analysis> by Dr Linda Palmer:> > http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/articles/312-formula-report-2.htm> > Morgan Gallagher> > Mark Anderson wrote:> > Wise ones,> >> > I have heard the statistic that for every 1000 babies born in the US, > > four babies die a year because they were not breastfed.> >> > Is this accurate data? IF so...do we know WHY these babies died? Can > > anyone point me in the right direction for obtaining evidence to > > support this?> > ***********************************************> > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]> COMMANDS:> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome> > ------------------------------> > End of LACTNET Digest - 11 Feb 2008 to 12 Feb 2008 - Special issue (#2008-216)> ******************************************************************************> 
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