In einer eMail vom 14-6-01 7:24:48 West-Europa (zomertijd) schreibt
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> .  I am weary of people from N. America asking me
> about the interesting 'alternative' system of birth where I live and
> practice.  There is nothing 'alternative' about it.  Everyone in the Nordic
> countries is attended by a midwife in labor unless they hide in a cave or
> give birth en route to a maternity ward.  We are the mainstream.  It is the
> N.American 'system' of birth which constitutes a radically 'alternative'
> departure from the notion that birth is a normal phenomenon in the life of a
> woman, and places birth in the domain of physicians.  Such medicalization
> seems also to affect breastfeeding negatively, go figure.
>

Good to notice this Rachel. In The Netherlands expectant mothers go to the
midwife first (in some rural areas to the family physician) and then, if the
midwife diagnoses a low risk pregnancy/delivery they can choose to give birth
at home or in the the hospital, but if there is no medical indication the
insurance will not pay for the use of the deliveryroom.
Helas, this is not a success garantee for BF as long as the people caring for
momand baby during and after birthing are not skilled/knowledgeable enough...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gonneke van Veldhuizen, IBCLC
MOM, LLLL, primary schoolteacher
Hiilensberg, Germany

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