The Family Journey

Cindy Crawford discusses her path toward choosing homebirth, telling (or not) her family and friends, and her labor. This is listed in 3 parts, and the next will be available Monday.

Heather Janssen, editor of get born magazine, led us through a variety of exercises and urged us to explore what being a writer means, and how writing is important to us. Our final assignment was to write a tabloid article announcing the end to one of the major problems with maternity care. Here’s what one participant wrote:

You Now Need to be Smart to Raise Children

A bill was passed last week that requires all women to have an IQ of at least 120 in order to raise a child. 149.1 million women, over 18, were tested and only 31.2 million had an IQ of 120 or higher. Out of all of those women, only 15% of them are ready to be mothers. Unfortunately, only 5% of those were able to conceive. “By the time we were ready it was just to late,” says Professor Wise.
“The school system is expected to excel in about 5 years. Each teacher will have an average of 8 students per class, and we expect to be spending less time disciplining. We really have a chance to build this community up,” says Principal Smith from Middle-class Elementary.

“We will be ahead of everyone when it comes to intelligence and natural resources,” states Hillary Clinton.

“This shit just aint cool” argues Sugar Buns. “If’n I want to have me some babies I’m goin ta, and aint no one goin to stop me!”

“This just isn’t fair. I’ll be out of a job,” says Maury.

This situation will have it’s ups and downs, but it will be better for the world in the long run.

Heather Janssen, editor of get born magazine, led us through a variety of exercises and urged us to explore what being a writer means, and how writing is important to us. Our final assignment was to write a tabloid article announcing the end to one of the major problems with maternity care. Here’s what one participant wrote:

Who: Doctors, Midwives.

What: C-sections are performed less than 5% of the time. As a result, mothers are breastfeeding longer, children are becoming more attached, mothers are recovering faster. etc.

When: For the year 2010.

Where: Hospitals, Birthing Center, Home.

How: The prevalence of interventions (i.e., drugs, induction, etc.) have become highly discouraged in recent years.

Why: Because of the negative effects on mom and baby.

Heather Janssen, editor of get born magazine, led us through a variety of exercises and urged us to explore what being a writer means, and how writing is important to us. Our final assignment was to write a tabloid article announcing the end to one of the major problems with maternity care. Here’s what one participant wrote:

Impatience of Physicians Exposed

Even midwives want to go home. When asked about options, OB stated there are none. Small pelvic ridge – she is not going to come out. What about the birth plan? you’re the last one – let’s break the water, add pitocin – “Vitamin P” and call it a day. She’s not in distress but too late to turn back. “At least she’s healthy – 5 pounds, 14 ounces. That’s too big?!?! You’ve got to be kidding.

Heather Janssen, editor of get born magazine, led us through a variety of exercises and urged us to explore what being a writer means, and how writing is important to us. Our final assignment was to write a tabloid article announcing the end to one of the major problems with maternity care. Here’s what one participant wrote:

Gestation Amended to 42 Weeks
AMA Headquarters –
A surprising announcement took place Monday evening as Dr. Ass, the president of the American Medical Association, declared that common medical practice, unfounded in research or fact, has been updated to include evidence-based information.
“We realized the error of our ways. Or errors, rather,” the 58-year old white male with a 23-year old medical degree was quoted as saying. “We have been operating from the false assumption that babies must be born by week 40 of pregnancy because of archaic folklore.”
While studey upon study has released data showing eh average first time mom to spontaneously deliver at 41 weeks, the AMA has clung to the notion that 40 weeks is the arbitrary deadline that leads to artificial induction of labor, unnecessary fear, and other unwanted interventions – the c-section to name one.
This was brought on by a rally of women, labor support staff, well-informed medical professionals, and a heightened awareness of damage that this policy has caused.
“We apologize and intend to analyze further the current policies in place,” Dr. Ass closed with at the press conference.

Heather Janssen, editor of get born magazine, led us through a variety of exercises and urged us to explore what being a writer means, and how writing is important to us. Our final assignment was to write a tabloid article announcing the end to one of the major problems with maternity care. Here’s what one participant wrote:

OBs Acknowledge: Mothers Have Brains!
The last holdout sheepishly admits “Yes, Mothers are able to make intelligent choices for themselves and their babies.”

In a surprise announcement, the president of ACOG makes a public declaration affirming the ability of pregnant women to think reasonably. “Despite our position in the past, we are forced to admit that being female and/or pregnant does not reduce your intelligence to the level of my cocker spaniel. We are encouraging all our OB members to abandon misdirection and fear tactics in favor of sound advice. As obstetricians, we recognize that it is our responsibility to keep updated on the latest research about evidence-based care. We embrace our position as disinterested advisors; we will no longer try to play God.”

Longtime birth activist Ina May Gaskin applauded the ACOG statement. “I never thought I would agree with anything released by ACOG, but it’s about damn time!” Young mothers are nervous about the fact that they will have to take responsibility for making their own choices, but also excited about the new freedom.

Heather Janssen, editor of get born magazine, led us through a variety of exercises and urged us to explore what being a writer means, and how writing is important to us. Our final assignment was to write a tabloid article announcing the end to one of the major problems with maternity care. Here’s what one participant wrote:

C-Sections at All Time Low!

Trailing on the heels of the revitalized homebirth/natural birth movement over the last 40 years, more OBs are refusing elective and non-essential cesarean sections than ever before. Down from a high of 30% in 2009, fewer than 5% of babies are now born via c-section. 30% of women now give birth at home, 70% of women choose a midwife as their primary birth attendant. Both direct-entry midwives and certified nurse midwives (CNMs) are now licensed in all 50 states. Kim Lenderts, a homebirth midwife in Fort Collins, CO, attributes this, at least in part, to the sweeping changes in the insurance industry over the past 10 years. “Midwives are now reimbursed for the work they do, on part with obstetricians. And malpractice rules have changed, reducing the OB’s fear of litigation, and decreased the “need” for c-sections. We’ve been working toward this for a long time.”

Heather Janssen, editor of get born magazine, led us through a variety of exercises and urged us to explore what being a writer means, and how writing is important to us. Our final assignment was to write a tabloid article announcing the end to one of the major problems with maternity care. Here’s what one participant wrote:

THE END OF HOSPITAL BIRTHS

Today, July 23, 2009, the last maternity ward was closed in Greeley, CO. Dr. F____ of Northern Colorado Medicine was excited at the prospect of mothers receiving their choice of care. “A doctor, OBGYN, midwife, or doula are now at a woman’s convenience. I am now able as a family practitioner to assist birth easily and readily in the comfort of a family’s home.”
The decision to end maternity wards as a standard of care in the birthing process was led by a grassroots movement, “Education in Procreation.” Member Andi B-W explains that this movement was stemmed by “women everywhere demanding that their voices be valued in the process of birth.” Of course treatment for high risk pregnancies and truly necessary c-sections will still be performed in the surgical units at hospitals. No longer will a low-risk pregnancy or an uncomplicated birth be considered a disease worthy of hospitalization.

Heather Janssen, editor of get born magazine, led us through a variety of exercises and urged us to explore what being a writer means, and how writing is important to us. Our final assignment was to write a tabloid article announcing the end to one of the major problems with maternity care. Here’s what one participant wrote:

ACOG and the AMA Unanimously Agree to Respect the Powers of the Vagina!

In an unprecedented move and an apparent about-face by two of the nation’s leading medical organizations, the members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association have universally agreed to stop interfering with the natural birthing abilities of the female reproductive system.
Says Dr. Christine Getemout, “We have recently realized that our practice of rought internal examinations, episiotomies, by-the-clock labor-watching, and obsessive monitoring may be reducing the number of positive birth outcomes and are definitely leading to a rise in postpartum dissatisfaction. As recent research has made this so clear, we have agreed to end these practices immediately, except when absolutely necessary!”

Preliminary research shows that use of condoms and antiretroviral therapy has more impact on HIV infection rates.