Thanks so much to Emma for permission to share this precious time. The images are beautiful, the words are precious. The experience is something those of us who work with women wish for all birthing women and their babies.
Chloë's Birth Story
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Planned-Home-Births.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Amidst all the predictable power based rhetoric about birth place and care provider from the Australian doctors' union, led by the self appointed arbiter on women's choice and midwives' freedom to practice, Dr Andrew Pesce, there is a beacon of light on the subject from British Columbia
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia have just released their position statement, which says:
The College’s Position
The College supports a woman’s right to personal autonomy and decision making in obstetrical care.
Planned-Home-Births.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Updated November 2009
Board Approved December 2009
Although this statement does not go as far as saying that homebirth is safe and that homebirth is a wise choice, as the evidence from around the world clearly demontrates it is, the statement does provide an indication that at last (some) doctors are officially recognising that women are autonomous and have rights. This recognition of women's rights is a step in the right direction for a profession which has traditionally, well, at least for the last couple of hundred years or so, positioned itself as the powerful elite.
This statement is refreshing news and makes Dr Andrew Pesce's posturing on his ability to influence The Australian Minister of Health, the Honourable Nicola Roxon to remove and restrict choice in both birth place and practitioner for childbearing women and limit the practice of midwives, appear as sad, pathetic and out of step with evidence informed practice as it is.
Not only has Dr Pesce got his sights on controlling midwives and birthing women, he and his other unionists are also seeking to deprive the Australian public of another group of excellent health professionals, the Nurse Practitioners. Australia has seen the 'turf wars' raging for several decades now, as doctors use power tactics to keep control of the health system and ensure nurses, midwives, patients and childbearing women remain subservient.
However, the winds of change are blowing.
The disgraceful thing is that while some Australian doctors seek to live in a time warp and glorify the days when doctors were gods, nurses and midwives were handmaidens and patients and childbearing women were subservient by undermining initiatives to improve choice and access to optimal health care, they will unnecessarily hamper true progress in health and health care provision.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia have just released their position statement, which says:
The College’s Position
The College supports a woman’s right to personal autonomy and decision making in obstetrical care.
Planned-Home-Births.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Updated November 2009
Board Approved December 2009
Although this statement does not go as far as saying that homebirth is safe and that homebirth is a wise choice, as the evidence from around the world clearly demontrates it is, the statement does provide an indication that at last (some) doctors are officially recognising that women are autonomous and have rights. This recognition of women's rights is a step in the right direction for a profession which has traditionally, well, at least for the last couple of hundred years or so, positioned itself as the powerful elite.
This statement is refreshing news and makes Dr Andrew Pesce's posturing on his ability to influence The Australian Minister of Health, the Honourable Nicola Roxon to remove and restrict choice in both birth place and practitioner for childbearing women and limit the practice of midwives, appear as sad, pathetic and out of step with evidence informed practice as it is.
Not only has Dr Pesce got his sights on controlling midwives and birthing women, he and his other unionists are also seeking to deprive the Australian public of another group of excellent health professionals, the Nurse Practitioners. Australia has seen the 'turf wars' raging for several decades now, as doctors use power tactics to keep control of the health system and ensure nurses, midwives, patients and childbearing women remain subservient.
However, the winds of change are blowing.
The disgraceful thing is that while some Australian doctors seek to live in a time warp and glorify the days when doctors were gods, nurses and midwives were handmaidens and patients and childbearing women were subservient by undermining initiatives to improve choice and access to optimal health care, they will unnecessarily hamper true progress in health and health care provision.
Saturday, 12 December 2009
US C-section rate up 85% in decade 1997-2007
HCUP Facts and Figures 2007 - Section 3
The mission of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans.
"C-section was the most frequent major operating room procedure—performed on 1.5 million women in 2007. Growth in C-sections, up 85 percent between 1997 and 2007, outpaced increases in most other frequently performed maternal procedures and was among the fastest growing procedures for women 18-44 years old"
Section 3
The mission of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans.
"C-section was the most frequent major operating room procedure—performed on 1.5 million women in 2007. Growth in C-sections, up 85 percent between 1997 and 2007, outpaced increases in most other frequently performed maternal procedures and was among the fastest growing procedures for women 18-44 years old"
Section 3
Cartoon commentary on social environment and attachment parenting
Arun is the clever artist/cartoonist and delightful blogger of his life and experiences as a homeschooling dad. Apart from his excellent cartoons and other commentary, his site contains many gems, including my personal favourite 12 exercises for Mindful Parenting
http://theparentingpit.com/alternative-parenting/mindfulparenting/
For any parent or parent to be, you will find many articles and ideas to consider for yourself in relation to what sort of parent you want to be.
Study shows how gene action may lead to diabetes prevention, cure
Exciting developments in the field!
"A gene commonly studied by cancer researchers has been linked to the metabolic inflammation that leads to diabetes.
Understanding how the gene works means scientists may be closer to finding ways to prevent or cure diabetes, according to a study by Texas AgriLife Research appearing in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
"Because we understand the mechanism, or how the gene works, we believe a focus on nutrition will find the way to both prevent and reverse diabetes," said Dr. Chaodong Wu, AgriLife Research nutrition and food scientist who authored the paper with the University of Minnesota's Dr. Yuqing Hou.
Wu said the research team will collaborate with nutritionists to identify what changes or supplements in a diet will activate the gene to prevent or stop the progression of diabetes".
Nutrition folks! Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition.
And.
Manage your stressors! Turn on the parasympathetic nervous system pathways, keep your nervous system happily calibrating back to a calm, relaxed state and ensure the disease carrying genes are kept switched off; while switching on and keeping on the genes that keep us well.
The role of inflammatory processes in much of what ails us, including premature labour, pre-eclampsia and diabetes - scourges for childbearing women and their babies, is becoming more and more widely recognised.
Inflammatory processes are switched on by numerous environmental factors such as chronic stress (aka cortisols etc), poor nutrition, toxins, lack of exercise and stasis of lymph fluid; feelings generated by social isolation and not feeling/being valued or loved and/or being in a hostile environment to name a few 'biggies'.
Exercise, relaxation, good nutrition, being surrounded by loving people and the ability to talk about what is important to you and bothers you, while being listened to and respected are all environmentally controllable elements which contribute to optimal psychophysiological functioning.
No wonder one to one midwifey care is associated with better heath outcomes for women and babies.
Study shows how gene action may lead to diabetes prevention, cure
"A gene commonly studied by cancer researchers has been linked to the metabolic inflammation that leads to diabetes.
"Because we understand the mechanism, or how the gene works, we believe a focus on nutrition will find the way to both prevent and reverse diabetes," said Dr. Chaodong Wu, AgriLife Research nutrition and food scientist who authored the paper with the University of Minnesota's Dr. Yuqing Hou.
Wu said the research team will collaborate with nutritionists to identify what changes or supplements in a diet will activate the gene to prevent or stop the progression of diabetes".
Nutrition folks! Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition.
And.
Manage your stressors! Turn on the parasympathetic nervous system pathways, keep your nervous system happily calibrating back to a calm, relaxed state and ensure the disease carrying genes are kept switched off; while switching on and keeping on the genes that keep us well.
The role of inflammatory processes in much of what ails us, including premature labour, pre-eclampsia and diabetes - scourges for childbearing women and their babies, is becoming more and more widely recognised.
Inflammatory processes are switched on by numerous environmental factors such as chronic stress (aka cortisols etc), poor nutrition, toxins, lack of exercise and stasis of lymph fluid; feelings generated by social isolation and not feeling/being valued or loved and/or being in a hostile environment to name a few 'biggies'.
Exercise, relaxation, good nutrition, being surrounded by loving people and the ability to talk about what is important to you and bothers you, while being listened to and respected are all environmentally controllable elements which contribute to optimal psychophysiological functioning.
No wonder one to one midwifey care is associated with better heath outcomes for women and babies.
Study shows how gene action may lead to diabetes prevention, cure
American Academy of Family Physicians Launches Consumer Alliance With First Partner: The Coca-Cola Company -- Media Center -- American Academy of Family Physicians
I read on Belly Belly http://www.bellybelly.com.au/ that the American Academy of Family Physicians partnered with Coca Cola. I found that hard to believe so went to the source and sure enough, there on the AAFP's website was the proudly stated announcement that on the 6th October, the AAFP announced the Consumer Alliance, a new corporate partnership program, with its first alliance partner, The Coca-Cola Company.
According to the media release:
"The Consumer Alliance is a program that allows corporate partners like The Coca-Cola Company to work with the AAFP to educate consumers about the role their products can play in a healthy, active lifestyle".
Coca Cola? Healthy active lifestyle? What role Coca Cola's products can play? What a minute! Isn't Coca Cola full of sugar? Isn't obesity increasingly associated with a frighteningly increasing list of health problems for people in the western world?
The media release continues:
"As part of this partnership, The Coca-Cola Company is providing a grant to the AAFP to develop consumer education content on beverages and sweeteners for FamilyDoctor.org, an award-winning consumer health and wellness resource".
Aha! Money. This buy ability and the subliminally associated street credibility is why no company that manufactures breastmilk substitutes is able to fund midwifery or breastfeeding related educational materials or conferences (for ethically sound organisations)
"The AAFP recognizes the significant influence that consumer companies have on consumer health,” said Lori Heim, M.D., president-elect of the AAFP. “We look forward to working with The Coca-Cola Company, and other companies in the future, on the development of educational materials to teach consumers how to make the right choices and incorporate the products they love into a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.”
This statement would be really really funny if it weren't so sad and distressing.
"About the AAFP Consumer Alliance
In addition to health care providers, AAFP recognizes that consumer products companies have significant influence over consumer health. Therefore, the Consumer Alliance is a strategy whereby AAFP aims to partner with companies who demonstrate good corporate stewardship and a strategic focus on consumer health."
My understanding is that we all have blind spots. Our role as health professionals is to examine evidence and use evidence to inform our practice, seeking to identify and overcome our blind spots, gaps in information and overall ignorance.
Seemingly, we can convince ourselves of anything if the reward is great enough.
The aafp News Now newsletter November 2009 • Volume 5 • Number 11 (online) states proudly:
http://www.aafp.org/online/etc/medialib/aafp_org/documents/news_pubs/ann/monthly-pdfs/november-09-pdf.Par.0001.File.dat/Nov09-ANN.pdf
"The Consumer Alliance program also will create a new source of funding for AAFP, which, in recent years, has broadened its search for funding outside the pharmaceutical industry. “We’ve made a conscious effort to diversify our sources of revenue,” Heim said. “This is the first of what we hope will be many Consumer Alliance agreements".
American Academy of Family Physicians Launches Consumer Alliance With First Partner: The Coca-Cola Company -- Media Center -- American Academy of Family Physicians
According to the media release:
"The Consumer Alliance is a program that allows corporate partners like The Coca-Cola Company to work with the AAFP to educate consumers about the role their products can play in a healthy, active lifestyle".
Coca Cola? Healthy active lifestyle? What role Coca Cola's products can play? What a minute! Isn't Coca Cola full of sugar? Isn't obesity increasingly associated with a frighteningly increasing list of health problems for people in the western world?
The media release continues:
"As part of this partnership, The Coca-Cola Company is providing a grant to the AAFP to develop consumer education content on beverages and sweeteners for FamilyDoctor.org, an award-winning consumer health and wellness resource".
Aha! Money. This buy ability and the subliminally associated street credibility is why no company that manufactures breastmilk substitutes is able to fund midwifery or breastfeeding related educational materials or conferences (for ethically sound organisations)
"The AAFP recognizes the significant influence that consumer companies have on consumer health,” said Lori Heim, M.D., president-elect of the AAFP. “We look forward to working with The Coca-Cola Company, and other companies in the future, on the development of educational materials to teach consumers how to make the right choices and incorporate the products they love into a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.”
This statement would be really really funny if it weren't so sad and distressing.
"About the AAFP Consumer Alliance
In addition to health care providers, AAFP recognizes that consumer products companies have significant influence over consumer health. Therefore, the Consumer Alliance is a strategy whereby AAFP aims to partner with companies who demonstrate good corporate stewardship and a strategic focus on consumer health."
My understanding is that we all have blind spots. Our role as health professionals is to examine evidence and use evidence to inform our practice, seeking to identify and overcome our blind spots, gaps in information and overall ignorance.
Seemingly, we can convince ourselves of anything if the reward is great enough.
The aafp News Now newsletter November 2009 • Volume 5 • Number 11 (online) states proudly:
http://www.aafp.org/online/etc/medialib/aafp_org/documents/news_pubs/ann/monthly-pdfs/november-09-pdf.Par.0001.File.dat/Nov09-ANN.pdf
"The Consumer Alliance program also will create a new source of funding for AAFP, which, in recent years, has broadened its search for funding outside the pharmaceutical industry. “We’ve made a conscious effort to diversify our sources of revenue,” Heim said. “This is the first of what we hope will be many Consumer Alliance agreements".
American Academy of Family Physicians Launches Consumer Alliance With First Partner: The Coca-Cola Company -- Media Center -- American Academy of Family Physicians
Tragic suicide of a New Midwife after she wrongly thought she was to blame for baby's death | Mail Online
What a sad, tragic loss of a beautiful, enthusiastic young woman on the start of her midwifery journey.
Theresa Naish's despair and her distraught response to the sad and distressing loss of a baby following an obviously precipitate labour and birth of an 'at risk' baby raises so many questions about how this hospital runs, how information is shared, how problems are flagged so staff are aware of potential problems and how new staff members and junior staff members are treated. How is it that this baby's situation wasn't 'known' by all the seniors on duty? How is it that a well articulated plan for the birth of this baby wasn't given a high priority? How is that the plans and needs for this baby weren't clearly documented/flagged so that everyone could immediately see, from the notes, that the baby was 'at risk'?
From this statement:
'She did amazingly well to get the mother to the labour ward as quickly as she did".
it would seem the mother was on the antenatal ward when Theresa came on duty. Theresa clearly noted the woman was in labour and took her to the Birthing suite.
This disturbing event illuminates our responsibilities in health care to ensure that our staff are well supported by processes and structures that facilitate appropriate communication of any woman/fetus/baby needs and presenting problems.
Theresa's death is a stark reminder that when adverse events occur in health care, as they do, that the staff who were involved in the situation and the families of the afflicted person need, deserve and must get the best possible support to help them negotiate and deal with the emotions that rage after such an event.
Theresa's suicide indicates that she had a caring and sensitive nature and was distressed at feeling responsible for the baby's death. I sometimes hear midwives say things like "I couldn't live with myself if I did anything wrong". Midwives who say things like that are the sensitive, caring, respectful, gentle souls whose passion is palpable. Theresa perhaps felt like that.
Midwifery is mostly about joy and happiness. Occasionally our work involves tragedy. When there is a a distressing event, we have to do more to prevent another tragedy like Theresa's suicide. We can't afford to lose bright, sensitive, caring midwives like Theresa.
King's College Hospital would be examining their processes to improve them. We all need to learn from Theresa so her death is not in vain.
Sincere condolences to Theresa's parents, sister, relatives and friends. Sincere condolences to the mother and relatives of the little baby. Words are never easy and never enough at these sad times, but please know that people's hearts are with you.
Midwife hangs herself after she wrongly thought she was to blame for baby's death | Mail Online
Theresa Naish's despair and her distraught response to the sad and distressing loss of a baby following an obviously precipitate labour and birth of an 'at risk' baby raises so many questions about how this hospital runs, how information is shared, how problems are flagged so staff are aware of potential problems and how new staff members and junior staff members are treated. How is it that this baby's situation wasn't 'known' by all the seniors on duty? How is it that a well articulated plan for the birth of this baby wasn't given a high priority? How is that the plans and needs for this baby weren't clearly documented/flagged so that everyone could immediately see, from the notes, that the baby was 'at risk'?
From this statement:
'She did amazingly well to get the mother to the labour ward as quickly as she did".
it would seem the mother was on the antenatal ward when Theresa came on duty. Theresa clearly noted the woman was in labour and took her to the Birthing suite.
This disturbing event illuminates our responsibilities in health care to ensure that our staff are well supported by processes and structures that facilitate appropriate communication of any woman/fetus/baby needs and presenting problems.
Theresa's death is a stark reminder that when adverse events occur in health care, as they do, that the staff who were involved in the situation and the families of the afflicted person need, deserve and must get the best possible support to help them negotiate and deal with the emotions that rage after such an event.
Theresa's suicide indicates that she had a caring and sensitive nature and was distressed at feeling responsible for the baby's death. I sometimes hear midwives say things like "I couldn't live with myself if I did anything wrong". Midwives who say things like that are the sensitive, caring, respectful, gentle souls whose passion is palpable. Theresa perhaps felt like that.
Midwifery is mostly about joy and happiness. Occasionally our work involves tragedy. When there is a a distressing event, we have to do more to prevent another tragedy like Theresa's suicide. We can't afford to lose bright, sensitive, caring midwives like Theresa.
King's College Hospital would be examining their processes to improve them. We all need to learn from Theresa so her death is not in vain.
Sincere condolences to Theresa's parents, sister, relatives and friends. Sincere condolences to the mother and relatives of the little baby. Words are never easy and never enough at these sad times, but please know that people's hearts are with you.
Midwife hangs herself after she wrongly thought she was to blame for baby's death | Mail Online
Friday, 11 December 2009
‘Survival of the Kindest’ – Sympathy is Strongest Human Instinct
“Because of our very vulnerable offspring, the fundamental task for human survival and gene replication is to take care of others,” said Keltner, co-director of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. “Human beings have survived as a species because we have evolved the capacities to care for those in need and to cooperate. As Darwin long ago surmised, sympathy is our strongest instinct.”
Empathy in our genes
Keltner’s team is looking into how the human capacity to care and cooperate is wired into particular regions of the brain and nervous system. One recent study found compelling evidence that many of us are genetically predisposed to be empathetic".
‘Survival of the Kindest’ – Sympathy is Strongest Human Instinct
Empathy in our genes
Keltner’s team is looking into how the human capacity to care and cooperate is wired into particular regions of the brain and nervous system. One recent study found compelling evidence that many of us are genetically predisposed to be empathetic".
‘Survival of the Kindest’ – Sympathy is Strongest Human Instinct
Bacteria offer insights into human decision making
Fascinating! Provides insight into why good communication skills are important with childbearing women and ensuring true, informed choice. Application of the learning from simple bacteria to the way medicine approaches maternity care could revolutionise the way women are provided with information and supported to make choices about what is right for them.
As the researchers note:
"We learned a simple rule: Anyone who needs to make a decision under pressure in life, especially if it is a possible death decision, will take its time. She or he will review the trends of change, will render all possible chances and risks, and only then react."
Bacteria offer insights into human decision making
As the researchers note:
"We learned a simple rule: Anyone who needs to make a decision under pressure in life, especially if it is a possible death decision, will take its time. She or he will review the trends of change, will render all possible chances and risks, and only then react."
Bacteria offer insights into human decision making
Scientists discover first evidence of brain rewiring in children
Aren't our brains amazing?
"Carnegie Mellon University scientists Timothy Keller and Marcel Just have uncovered the first evidence that intensive instruction to improve reading skills in young children causes the brain to physically rewire itself, creating new white matter that improves communication within the brain".
Scientists discover first evidence of brain rewiring in children
"Carnegie Mellon University scientists Timothy Keller and Marcel Just have uncovered the first evidence that intensive instruction to improve reading skills in young children causes the brain to physically rewire itself, creating new white matter that improves communication within the brain".
Scientists discover first evidence of brain rewiring in children
Ovaries must suppress their inner male
"This shows that the maintenance of the ovarian phenotype is an active process throughout life," Treier said. "Like Yin and Yang, FOXL2 and SOX9 oppose each other's action to ensure together the establishment and maintenance of the different female and male supporting cell types respectively."
Further analysis showed that FOXL2 works in cooperation with the estrogen receptor to repress Sox9. Without FOXL2, the estrogen receptor fails to work suggesting that loss of estrogen levels could lead to sex reversal. Treier suspects that this mechanism might underlie the occasional signs of masculinization seen in menopausal women.
"When estrogen declines [in menopause], part of the ovary may switch to a testicle-like structure," he said."
Ovaries must suppress their inner male
Further analysis showed that FOXL2 works in cooperation with the estrogen receptor to repress Sox9. Without FOXL2, the estrogen receptor fails to work suggesting that loss of estrogen levels could lead to sex reversal. Treier suspects that this mechanism might underlie the occasional signs of masculinization seen in menopausal women.
"When estrogen declines [in menopause], part of the ovary may switch to a testicle-like structure," he said."
Ovaries must suppress their inner male
Research finds the mum-bub bond may reduce neglect
Another study which provides insight into the importance of one to one midwifery. A midwife working in a primary health care, one to one relationship with a childbearing woman can provide a safe, supported and trusting 'space' where that woman (and her partner) can explore what having her baby means to her/them. In the context of that relationship, the midwife can promote prenatal bonding and breastfeeding, leading to an improved mother-child relationship.
"This study emphasises the need to address the basic, universal needs of children, and stresses the importance of this early mother-infant relationship.
"Strengthening this crucial relationship may help to prevent some of the long term consequences of neglect that we are seeing more commonly today, such as delinquency, crime, developmental delay and psychiatric disorders."
Research finds the mum-bub bond may reduce neglect
"This study emphasises the need to address the basic, universal needs of children, and stresses the importance of this early mother-infant relationship.
"Strengthening this crucial relationship may help to prevent some of the long term consequences of neglect that we are seeing more commonly today, such as delinquency, crime, developmental delay and psychiatric disorders."
Research finds the mum-bub bond may reduce neglect
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Monday, 7 December 2009
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