April 2019

New, relevant  and updated blog posts

 Induction: yes or no? 
I have heard some extraordinary reasons to justify induction, but this one takes the cake:
"we can't be sure of the conception date, so it would be dangerous to go past your due date"
err...then how do you know the 'due date'? and why would not knowing this make a random date passing dangerous?

​Recovering from Birth: Eve Syndrome 
​We have a huge problem in our society.
And it is not that women need time and support to ‘recover’ from birth.

Elimination Communication
Cloth or Disposable...that is the Question....or is it?

Before Consent 
A poem, and an announcement.

Autonomy in childbirth: why does it matter? 
In which I introduce the Five Stage of Being

From Fear to Celebration: The Five Stages of Being

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Some important work from some fabulous women

 Elly Taylor: Becoming Us 
(informed birth AND BEYOND preparation...the beyond is critical to the story)​

Rebecca Schiller: Birth Doulas are misunderstood.  Here's what we actually do. 

Emma Svanberg: Birth Demands 
(this is touching on the answer...it goes so close...articles like these make me cheer and also cry out: Birth MAP, the process you seek is Birth MAP!)
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Emerging Research into epigentics and the microbiome  
​features two papers by Australia's Prof Hannah Dahlen.  

Coaching a slow birth with the woman in an empowered position may be less harmful than routine hands-on practice to protect against severe tears in birth – A discussion paper

Wise Gatherings is a new initiative by my friend Hollie B.  These events are happening near me.  Coming up in May is a Mens Gathering and a five day meditative silent retreat.

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Have you ever wondered why we submit to authority?

Why do we do as we are told, even if it seems ridiculous, if we perceive them to have authority?
Dr Chris and Dr Xand set up an experiment (probably based on the Milgram Experiment).
​After seeing this segment whilst my children watched the ​Operation Ouch program, I was prompted to look into this phenomenon when it comes to childbirth.

I knew, anecdotally, from my experiences as a doula and from hearing the stories of other mothers and their partners, that many people felt a loss of power when they enter a hospital.  Was this obligation? or intimidation? or cultural expectation? or was it a desire to be relieved of a responsibility that felt too great?
And more importantly - what can be done to change this narrative?

How can we ensure that women and their partners feel powerful when entering a hospital to birth?

Rhea Dempsey  refers to this as the 'trance of acquiescence'.  It is a state of being where we will hand over our power (and the responsibility) to the person who seems most in control - the one with the 'authority'.  In this state we will agree to things that afterwards, when the trance is lifted, we question ourselves.  Then try to find justification.

I feel confident that a Birth Map is the key to answering this.  The birth map aids not just the birthing woman, but her partner also.  This power comes from the advanced decision making that provides the big picture.
Informed: means you understand your choices and how one intervention might link to another.  It means you know when an intervention is warranted and when it is reasonable to continue without intervention.  It means understanding that 'consent' is flawed and being prepared to provide your informed decisions when required.
Supported: means that you have developed a team around you.  Your partner is prepared, and can advocate for you if needed and can communicate on your behalf using your map. It means enlisting a doula, particularly in the absence of continuity of carer.  
Confident:  With solid preparation, advanced decisions and support, your confidence rises.  No longer uncertain, reliant on authority - you become the authority.  You know you best, and the medical staff become part of your team.  If you are confident and self assured, the medical carer will respond accordingly.  If you are uncertain, they will take responsibility - they will take control - because that is what they are trained to do.

​If you want the power: you must take the responsibility. 
​The best way to do that is through knowledge.

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In the News:

Some news articles that caught my eye this past month:
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The Conversation: what is a doula and how do they help women giving birth? 
Meghan and Harry have employed a doula - apparently - so doulas are making headlines!

​Banning Nappies in Vanuatu
Is it possible? 

european bias in genetic studies missing diversity 
This one is particularly interesting...and of great concern.  How can we all be 'treated' the same when we differ so much?

"It felt like a violation of my rights": the issue of consent during childbirth