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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