Date:    Wed, 27 May 1998 19:45:51 -0400
From:    Margery Forrest <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Midwives vs MD's
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Dear Dia (and others),

        Something else that can account for the infant mortality rate
difference between babies delivered by midwives vs. MD's may be that in
order to have a midwife deliver you, you must be low risk.  MD's don't
have that luxury.  MD's also deliver the women who go into premature
labor, which may account for the birth weight average differences.

        Your synopsis of the article didn't happen to mention whether the
study took these factors into account.


Margie Forrest, RN, BSN, IBCLC (who isn't really known for defending
doctors...)
_________________________

Dear Margie and others,

All matched cohort studies have found homebirth with a skilled attendant to
be as safe as hospital birth. Certified Nurse Midwives continue to have
better outcomes than doctors with high risk clients in the hospital.

And I'd like to add that Midwives use fewer interventions and have fewer
babies born on drugs to drugged mothers. Midwives tend to put the baby to
breast immediately upon birth (this also helps stimulate the uterus to
contract, expell the placenta and stop bleeding) and thus have fewer
breastfeeding problems.


Lisa Boisvert-Mackenzie, Midwife
East Caroline Islands, Pacific Ocean

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