Nexus - 0106 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Balanced Birth is an event that takes place tens of thousands of times every day all over the world. Yet many whys, dos and don’ts regarding how and when women should give birth confront the modern mother (and father) to be. Balanced Birth Birth is an event that takes place tens of thousands of times every day all over the world. Yet many whys, dos and don’ts regarding how and when women should give birth confront the modern mother (and father) to be. Nature vs Medicine ied across the State. The percentages for —_ regular basis. The midwife comes to your caesarians are as high as 33% in one large home and becomes your friend, whose Sydney hospital (Sutherland) and forceps _ visits you look forward to. A special rela- Weare told to largely ignore nature and are used in 28% of births in another (St __ tionship develops between the midwife, put our own and our babies’ livesinthe ca- George). yourself and your family - she becomes pable hands of doctors and hospitals, Australia has the second highest rate of _ partof the family for the months you spend. making use of all the drugs available to caesarian deliveries in the world, ex- together. ease the passage of birth. Even in 1988, ceeded only by the United States. The You, not doctors or administrators, are women desiring to have their babies in the | NSW State average is 15%, but there has _in control of how you have your baby. You tranquillity of an environment of theirown been a 350% increase in Australian cae- _ can decide the way you feel most comfort- choosing are looked upon asirresponsible. _ sarian deliveries since 1970. able in delivery - you can have music and We seem to forget that from the begin- | “Throughout the State there is a recogni- _ candlelight if you wish. Supporting friends ning of time, women around the world tion that the whole process of birth has are encouraged to be with you, as are any have been having their babies at home, in become too technical,” reported Professor children in the family. The new soul is the snow, in rice fields, in caves, huts and Rodney Shearman, head of obstetrics and _eased into the world with love and care - shacks. Advances in medicine and educa- _ gynaecology at Sydney University. but most of all responsibility. After all, tion have changed many women’s out- women choosing to have their babies at looks, programming them with a fear of the home must also choose to take full respon- birth process and instilling them with a sibility from the start of pregnancy. They dependence on the hospital system; ulti- must be healthy in body and mind, edu- mately convincing them that hospitals are cated about how their bodies work and be the only place a responsible, caring person fully informed on the whole process of would dream of having their baby. pregnancy and birth if they wish to have a After all, they offer epidurals, pethad- homebirth responsibly. ine, gas and caesarians. There are tubes and needles, humidicribs and monitors - all the paraphernalia necessary to see you and your baby through this event. And if you are a Medicare patient, it’s likely you won't have met any of the staff you will be sharing this magical moment with. Nature Does Know Do we really need to interfere so much with something women are designed for? The hospital system doesn’t need to alien- ate mothers by treating them as bed-space » In 1987 there was a total of 1,162 babies and statistics rather than people facing one A Helping Hand? born at home in Australia (including 5 sets of the most amazing experiences in their of twins), with 133 registered and lay lives. But today it is heavily over-stressed midwives (and 22 doctors) in attendance. and has little time for the individual Or course, there are situations inthe birth | There were only: 2 foetal deaths prior to mother. process where lives do depend on the _ birth and 5 neonatal deaths in the first 28 We are now manipulating the whole expertise of hospital staff and their equip- days after birth - a total of less than 1%. — process of human life from conception. ment. But how many cases of unnecessary Only one of these was during labour (in = Where is this leading us? Will natural birth medical intervention occur? transfer to hospital). There were no mater- at home become a rarity rather than the The first official report on NSW birth _ nal deaths. norm, as it is in many cities? Or are more statistics, released in May this year, Furthermore, 71 of these Australian women taking control once more and showed that doctors intervened/interfered home births (6.1% of the planned total), — making a stand to accept responsibility for in almost half of all births in N.S.W. hospi- _ including one set of twins, were underwa- _ their children from conception, rather than tals. Only 54% of mothers went into ter births! The only death in these births | when the nurse gives them their baby at the labour of their own accord; doctors ‘broke | was an anencephalic baby and was unre- _car for the journey home? the waters’ in 21% ofall births. Labourwas __ lated to the method of birth. More babies are being born at home in speeded by drugs in 17% of births, and 7% Having your baby at home is natural, _ safety each year in Australia, brought into of women didn’t go into natura! labour at loving and as responsible as any other a loving world in a joyful way. Were you all before doctors intervened. The percent- choice. From the time a woman knows born at home? age of forcep and caesarian deliveries var- she’s pregnant she sees her midwife on a - Nissa A NEXUS New Times Six - Spring 1988 regular basis. The midwife comes to your home and becomes your friend, whose visits you look forward to. A special rela- tionship develops between the midwife, yourself and your family - she becomes part of the family for the months you spend. together. You, not doctors or administrators, are in control of how you have your baby. You can decide the way you feel most comfort- able in delivery - you can have music and candlelight if you wish. Supporting friends are encouraged to be with you, as are any children in the family. The new soul is eased into the world with love and care - but most of all responsibility. After all, women choosing to have their babies at home must also choose to take full respon- sibility from the start of pregnancy. They must be healthy in body and mind, edu- cated about how their bodies work and be fully informed on the whole process of pregnancy and birth if they wish to have a homebirth responsibly. ied across the State. The percentages for caesarians are as high as 33% in one large Sydney hospital (Sutherland) and forceps are used in 28% of births in another (St George), Australia has the second highest rate of caesarian deliveries in the world, ex- ceeded only by the United States. The NSW State average is 15%, but there has been a 350% increase in Australian cae- sarian deliveries since 1970. “Throughout the State there is a recogni- tion that the whole process of birth has become too technical,” reported Professor Rodney Shearman, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at Sydney University. Weare told to largely ignore nature and put our own and our babies’ lives in the ca- pable hands of doctors and hospitals, making use of all the drugs available to ease the passage of birth. Even in 1988, women desiring to have their babies in the tranquillity of an environment of their own choosing are looked upon as irresponsible. We seem to forget that from the begin- ning of time, women around the world have been having their babies at home, in the snow, in rice fields, in caves, huts and shacks. Advances in medicine and educa- tion have changed many women’s out- looks, programming them with a fear of the birth process and instilling them with a dependence on the hospital system; ulti- mately convincing them that hospitals are the only place a responsible, caring person would dream of having their baby. After all, they offer epidurals, pethad- ine, gas and caesarians. There are tubes and needles, humidicribs and monitors - all the paraphernalia necessary to see you and your baby through this event. And if you are a Medicare patient, it’s likely you won't have met any of the staff you will be sharing this magical moment with. Do we really need to interfere so much with something women are designed for? The hospital system doesn’t need to alien- ate mothers by treating them as bed-space and statistics rather than people facing one of the most amazing experiences in their lives. But today it is heavily over-stressed and has little time for the individual mother. We are now manipulating the whole process of human life from conception. Where is this leading us? Will natural birth at home become a rarity rather than the norm, as itis in many cities? Or are more women taking control once more and making a stand to accept responsibility for their children from conception, rather than when the nurse gives them their baby at the car for the journey home? More babies are being born at home in safety each year in Australia, brought into a loving world in a joyful way. Were you born at home? In 1987 there was a total of 1,162 babies born at home in Australia (including 5 sets of twins), with 133 registered and lay midwives (and 22 doctors) in attendance. There were only: 2 foetal deaths prior to birth and 5 neonatal deaths in the first 28 days after birth - a total of less than 1%. Only one of these was during labour (in transfer to hospital). There were no mater- nal deaths. Furthermore, 71 of these Australian home births (6.1% of the planned total), including one set of twins, were underwa- ter births! The only death in these births was an anencephalic baby and was unre- lated to the method of birth. Having your baby at home is natural, loving and as responsible as any other choice. From the time a woman knows she’s pregnant she sees her midwife on a A Helping Hand? Or course, there are situations in the birth process where lives do depend on the expertise of hospital staff and their equip- ment. But how many cases of unnecessary medical intervention occur? The first official report on NSW birth statistics, released in May this year, showed that doctors intervened/interfered in almost half of all births in N.S.W. hospi- tals. Only 54% of mothers went into labour of their own accord; doctors ‘broke the waters’ in 21% of all births. Labour was speeded by drugs in 17% of births, and 7% of women didn’t go into natura! labour at all before doctors intervened. The percent- age of forcep and caesarian deliveries var- age of forcep and caesarian deliveries var- she’s pregnant she sees her midwife on a -N issa NEXUS New Times Six - Spring 1988 a Nature vs Medicine Nature Does Know Homebirth Is Safe