I'm doing a presentation on birth and am using the following survey as a tool
to open up discussion.  If any of you would be willing or interested in
filling it out.  I'd appreciate it.  All answers will remain confidential and
no names will be used.

Choose from the following

SA = strongly agree
A   = agree
D   = disagree
SD = strongly disagree
DK = Don’t know

___ A properly administered epidural anesthesia has no negative effects on
labor or birth and is a helpful tool in labor management.
___ Women act irrationally during labor and often do not know what to do
during labor and thus need someone to coach or guide them through the
experience.
___ Among industrialized countries, the United States has a mediocre rate of
infant mortality in birth.
___ An episiotomy is generally unnecessary and often harmful technique in
birth.
___ Despite their extensive medical training, obstetricians are often less
qualified than midwives to attend births.
___ Before hospital birth, birth was a very dangerous endeavor fatal to many
women and babies.
___ Electronic fetal monitoring is the most efficient and safest way to
monitor the fetus during labor and should be used in all births.
___ Home birth is the safest and best choice.
___ I think birth is a risky event that needs close medical supervision.
___ If labor has not started by 41 weeks of pregnancy, it is important to
help get things moving.
___ Hospital birth is the safest and best choice.
___ It is advisable for women to remain calm and quiet during labor.
___ It is all right for women to eat during labor.
___ It is safe for the bag of waters to remain intact during labor and birth.
___ Labor and birth are extremely painful for women.
___ Labor should last no more than 24 hours, and it is dangerous to allow
labor to go that long.
___ Lay-midwives are less qualified to attend births than certified-nurse
midwives.
___ Most births need no intervention nor do they require supervision by a
medical attendee.
___ Once a woman has had a c-section to deliver the baby, it is advisable for
that woman to have any subsequent children by c-section.
___ Squatting during the pushing stage is the most efficient position for
laboring women to take.
___ Technological advances in birthing practices have dramatically lowered
maternal and infant mortality rates.
___ The umbilical cord around the baby’s neck is a dangerous situation.

How many births have you attended/experienced?

Briefly describe your impression of each event. (Use additional paper if
necessary)




Before giving birth or witnessing a birth, what images of birth had you
encountered? Please be specific in examples (movies, documentary films,
books, paintings, etc....)


How would you describe the media’s portrayal of birth?