I wrote:

<<what is the premise underlying any particular practice, procedure or
intervention? Here, it is the premise that we need to increase the safety of
pregnancy and childbirth. Increase over and above what baseline level? Does
this assume that they (preg and birth) are inherently unsafe?>

Jean responded:
In a message dated 3/26/00 12:26:30 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<< For many mothers, yes. Sure, there are a lot of women in the world who
could carry their babies to term without professional care and give birth
without complications for mother or baby. But there are huge numbers who
would have less fortunate outcomes.>>  <snip> I agree we should work on
challenging the attitudes of some of the prenatal (and peri- and postnatal)
caregivers, but please don't knock the idea of prenatal care!>>

I do not want to debate the medicalization of birth here. I was speaking in
general terms about what happens when a practice is adopted as the norm or
routine w/o a critical assessment of the premises underlying its use.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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