I don't know about you, but sometimes it seems like our house just has a funk. Not a less-than-clean funk (which does occasionally happen), but an overall vibe that is less than pleasing. I'm always envious of tv commercial homes where everyone is always smiling (even when the 4 year old just poured and ENTIRE jug of juice on the floor. Again.) and it seems for all the world like someone pressed the "easy" button... That's just not real life! At least, it's not MY life. Not that we're ogres or anything, but sometimes, it seems like everything is stressful and too fast-paced when I really want it to be serene and totally zen-like.

How do you get there? Here are some suggestions:

1. Set a good example.
CHOOSE to be happy. CHOOSE to see the bright side of things. In today's world of anti-depressant laden parenting, it's HARD sometimes to just choose to be happy, or in a good mood. As a mom who does take anti-depressants, I know first hand how difficult it is to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and make a choice NOT to be grouchy. As the mom, it usually does fall to us to take the lead in attitude, and knowing that makes it both harder and easier to lead by example. It is worth it though if you're the one who tends to set the tone in your home. Being concious of that fact and making the choice to be cheerful can help drive that negative energy away.

2. Focus on the positives
Start with yourself. Take a couple of minutes every morning (or evening - whenever) and concentrate on the things in your life that are positive. It may be something small like, "I totally resisted the urge to have an extra donut at breakfast" or "I am so glad that the kid's aren't counted tardy until the 8:30 bell" ;)
From there, work on your family. Pick a time and make it a habit - at a mealtime is a good one, and have each person take a turn to share something positive or interesting they learned, saw, did, or thought about. Use that time to be encouraging and uplifting. Start small - once a week if every day seems like a big-undoable-thing. Don't let it get overwhelming!

3. Clutter causing your funk?
We sometimes don't realize how our home's physical environment can affect mood. My personal philosophy on "stuff" has become (with LOTS of work), "Whatever is in my space should be something that I LOVE, that makes me HAPPY, makes me feel GOOD or BEAUTIFUL." That has helped me (major packrat that I am) to let go of things that I've been hanging onto that don't conform to the above!
If there is a mess in the main living areas (or even your own spaces), or you have clutter causing problems, work together to clear the space. Start a "5 minute family clean up" time focused on one problem area. We call ours the "10 Second Tidy" (from that show, "Big Comfy Couch" - even though it's longer than 10 seconds). Set a timer, play some energetic music (Tejano/Latin/Salsa music is GREAT for motivation!) and either let the kids decide what to contribute to cleaning, or assign tasks. Make it a game... Start out doing it once a week, or once a day, and build from there. There are several schools of thought about the placement of things in your home, or the colors that you use to decorate having an effect on your moods too. Even if you don't subscribe to those reasonings, everyone enjoys a change of scenery once n a while. If all else has been eliminated and the funk persists, try changing things up a bit with different furniture placement or paint colors.

4. Focus on enjoying your time together.
Family togetherness - just enjoying being together as a family without the outside world intruding is a great way to improve the vibe in your home. You can start small - family dinnertime (or whatever meal works best for all of you) - Dinner Games are a great way to get into a new routine. Advance to Family Game Night, Family Dance Party (each person picks a song and dances however they want to the music; after everyone has a turn, put on a different song and have everyone dance together), Family Craft Night or whatever floats your boat. If you're more of an outdoors-y or techie family, find activities that fit your family's style! It may take a while to find a good fit, but you can make the journey part of the fun.

5. Need less pressure?
Try this: simply BE with your kids. Turn off the TV, put away the PC, throw your schedule or agenda out the window and just BE with them, doing what they're doing. If they're in a bad mood, just observe - be in the moment with them. Don't try to cajole them out of it, just BE. If they're in a good mood, great - let your kiddos lead.

6. Count your blessings - literally!
Tack up a big poster board and start counting your blessings. Each person contributes one item on the list. It can be as plain or as decorated as your family wants to make it, but the focus should be on all the positives.

7. Get a motto!
If you're spiritually inclined, put up a verse or saying that makes you feel good in a prominent space and let that be the "reminder" for your family. We have a big chalkboard in our kitchen that often has song lyrics or something funny that one of us said written on it. You can get a cheap "whiteboard" or "dry erase" board by taking a piece of posterboard to Manning's and having it soft laminated. Make it easy!

8. Fill your home with love.
Give lots of hugs and kisses and cuddles, and say lots of "I love you"s. Remind your spouse that s/he hung the moon for you. Make sure that your kids know that they are the EXACT children you asked for. Leave little love notes tucked into random places for your family members to find. Never underestimate how much positive feedback and self-esteem building little things like that can influence the atmosphere in your home. Happy people make happy spaces.

9. Create a cleansing ritual for your home.
Talk with your family about how to improve the funk. Kids love words accompanied by action! Grab a broom and sweep, sweep, sweep the negativity out the door. Make your house smell great - bake some bread or cookies, try potpourri, scented oils, essential oils, incense, Renuzit, Air Wick, whatever makes you inhale deeply and smile. If you'd like some spiritual help, try burning some sage (if there are not respiratory issues), sprinkling some scented water, reciting a poem, reading a verse or saying a prayer...whatever speaks to you and yours.

10. Practice being kind to each other.
It's okay if it's exaggerated so long as it becomes a habit. Don't underestimate the impact that silliness backed by sincerity can have on your kids. Expressing appreciation for the kindness received or witnessed is sure to build confidence and regard.

11. Have a Family Meeting
If you're feeling funky, then you can bet that your family is, too. If your kids are old enough to communicate, then they may have some valuable suggestions for improving things, too. Giving them a forum to be heard can drastically alter the way that they see things and can make a positive impact on your home's vibe.

Whatever you decide to do, doing something on purpose to positively affect the energy in your home is going to net some kind of benefit for your family. Making your family part of the process is even better.

(Inspired by a thread from MDC, here. Thanks to fritz for the bulk of these suggestions!)

As anyone who knows us knows, we’ve had pretty much one thing on our minds lately: Moving. And not just moving down the block, across town, or to another part of our area, but out of state. Across a state, even. To New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s a massive undertaking and a huge source of stress for us all, in spite of the benefits of a new job, new town, etc. My husband and I can see past the problems of today and focus on the rewards of next week, and how much we look forward to a fresh start. But our four year old can’t. Shelby’s not yet developed the coping skills or understanding that she needs to really grasp all that moving entails, and how to deal with the bevy of emotions she’s experiencing. I know she’s happy about moving, because she tells me so. She’s been before, bought toys and treats there and done interesting things. I also know that she’s stressed, but not because she’s voiced her concerns, but because she’s begun wetting the bed frequently, something she hasn’t done in a long time. Children her age don’t know how to put stress into words, so it manifests itself into actions, behaviors and bad habits either new or resurfaced. It’s important to tune into your child and observe how they are coping with all that is going on, and see what you can do to help.

 It’s well known that moving, as all major lifestyle changes, can take a huge toll on children. How can you help your child adjust to the move itself and their new home?

 Before/During The Move: 

Keep things as normal as possible around the house- routines, meals, bedtimes, etc. This makes children feel secure.

Be patient. Everyone is going through this, and your appreciate it when others are patient with you in times of stress.

Help your child label their feelings. Beyond the usual happy/sad, angry/hurt labeling you often do, help them understand that what they’re feeling may be excited, anxious, nervous, hopeful or lonely. Explain in age-appropriate terms what these things mean and give examples.

Use pictures, toys or books to help your child visualize themselves in their new surroundings. This helps them realize that the new destination is a real place, and can make it seem less scary as they become more familiar.

Make sure they know that you’re all going together (unless the move is due to a divorce or other similar situation). That their toys, clothes and other things will be there as well.

Talk to them often about how exciting a new place can be, but don’t get too much into all the details, you don’t want to overload their little mind.

Say goodbye to the house together before walking out the door for the last time.

After The Move: 

Keep things like they were back home as much as possible. As mentioned above, kids love routine. Try to fix some of their favorite meals, make sure their favorite bedding is unpacked as soon as possible, etc. It’s all about making their home seem familiar as opposed to stark and new.

Keep them busy. I know you’ve got a lot on your own plate trying to get things settled, but keep in mind that a bored child can be an unhappy child. Take time to color, play, go for a walk, or do something fun together. The best thing would be to find a park, library or museum somewhere so that you can both be entertained and get to know your new community.

Help them deal with the absence of friends and family by having them write a letter or e-mail (with your help, of course), or make a picture to send to the folks back home. Join a playgroup to help them make new friends.

Be patient after the move as well. It can take several weeks for your child to feel at home in their new surroundings. Understand that they may long for the old days. Listen to what they have to say, and put them at ease as best you can.
 

 The other day Shelby and I were watching TV, and she said “Mama, I don’t want to move to New Orleans anymore.” I was a bit surprised, as she’s been excited since day one. I asked her why, and she said it was because she didn’t want to have to eat bugs. I was even more surprised. After talking for a little while I realized she had seen something my husband and I were watching on TV about the new Insectarium in NOLA, where people can eat bugs in their special café. She thought that that was a common practice, and wasn’t having any of it! Sometimes our kiddoes get strange, and humorous, things in their heads. We just have to listen and understand that they see the world differently. While moving can make us just about lose our minds, we have to remember the effect it has on the little ones as well. We are our children’s best lifeline in all of life’s situations, and it’s up to us to make sure they have the information and skills to take what comes their way.

 I have since reassured Shelby that no one will ever make her eat bugs, although we may one day convince her daddy to eat a cricket if we visit the Insectarium ourselves. She was down with that.

 ~AnnA

Although we'd probably all prefer that being a parents is always joyful, the sad truth is that sometimes it is really not. The loss of a child, whether by miscarriage, a loss near or at birth, or the death of a child, is not something that we often discuss. In fact, the loss of a child is rarely mentioned. It is an uncomfortable topic for most of us, and it seems safer not to speak of such things - as though talking about it might somehow inflict that kind of tragedy on our own beloved children. What most of us don't realize though is that once you have lost a child in any way, not speaking of him or her and never having your missing child mentioned is almost like losing them all over again. There are SO many emotions that go along with loss, and it is so, so hard to navigate the rough waters of such fathomless depths of tragedy.

Many of the moms I know who have lost a child, especially who have lost a child through miscarriage, have a hard time answering the question, "how many children do you have?" Mentioning the missing child seems wrong, feels wrong; but there's an inner dialouge that wonders if there is an easy and quick way to get the facts about the child you lost without making a big deal out of the revelation, or if you're even in the mood to reveal your loss, and so should you just mention the number of living children...but is it disrespectful not to mention the lost child, and is it even anyone's business how you answer that question??... it's a process that can cause a panic attack if the mom is unprepared.

And it does sneak up on you. Moments of profound sorrow in an otherwise normal day. Having someone unexpectedly ask a question or seeing something that brings back a memory can drive waves of emotion up that choke the breath from your throat. It's rarely appropriate to start screaming in the middle of the grocery store, but in a perfect world, that's what you might very well do. Then there are days where you feel like keeping everything about your experience private and the mention of it stirs up anger at having grief intrude on your otherwise peaceful day. That may be one of the hardest things for me, personally, is never knowing how I will react to the mention of my angel baby.

I would never presume to put words in the mouths of mothers who have lost babies during or shortly after birth or who have lost children who are older. My only personal experience with the loss of a child comes from miscarriage. As horrible as my experience was, both physically and emotionally, I can only imagine how many scenarios that would have been so much worse to live through. My heart aches for mothers who have gone through their pregnancy thinking everything would be fine, only to give birth to a still baby. For the mother who has held her living, breathing pink bundle only to find themselves making funeral arrangements a few days later. For the family who spends their child's whole life in and out of hospitals due to chronic illness, and for those who have had tragedy befall them suddenly and unexpectedly... there is nothing I have experienced that is anywhere near the soul-rending pain of losing a child.

Though nothing will truly "help", here are some websites, articles and interactive blogs that offer ways to connect with other parents. I found a great deal of support in reading the experiences of others who have lost children, and in sharing my own story. I hope that you may find a measure of comfort in such a way as well.

For a stay-at-home mom, it may seem like spending quality time with your child is a given. After all, you’re there within arm’s reach (more or less) of your beloved all day long. But lately I’ve felt disconnected. All the stress and anxiety stemming from an out-of-state move we may be making in the near future for my husband’s job, mixed with the normal frazzled-ness of life, and telecommuting to work for a local organization I’ve recently joined… Mama has been a bit tense.  

It makes me feel terribly guilty that I’ve let the things going on in my life affect how I interact with my daughter. For all of her drama and craziness, questions and negotiations, Shelby is a pretty cool kid. She’s also extremely tiresome at times. That mixed with the afore mentioned worries has left me at my wit’s end, and I’ve been ready to about jump off a time or two! But that’s no excuse for a short fuse with the preschooler I adore. 

So…. Now that I’ve confessed to not being Mother of the Year, what am I doing about it? Well, I’ve moved my laptop- my social and business lifeline- to the dinning room table. It’s situated perfectly where I can survey the entire living room and most of the house, as well as be close to the kitchen to grab snacks and juice when she calls for them. It also prompts me to want to take more breaks because of the crummy seating (antique = cool, not necessarily comfy). But the biggest perk is that Shelby can sit right beside me and do whatever, all the while, we can talk and I can listen to the new song she’s made up. I have a pack of new crayons I keep in the kitchen for just these occasions. They’re only for the table, and only when I’m sitting at it. This A) keeps them from getting broke/lost/used for mischief and B) it entices Shelby to sit next to me, color and visit. We love to draw together, and I make sure to post our creations on the fridge at the end of the day. 

Are there other things that I could do? Of course, there always are. But until Bootsie gets tired of our current setup, it’s what works for us. And I’m getting lots of art to add to her scrapbook. 

What do you (or can you) do to stay connected to your kids? If you have any tips, tricks or ideas, don’t be stingy- share ‘em! We’d love to hear.

And you thought hula-hooping was just for kids, right? Apparently not!
www.HolisticKid.com recommends hula hooping for women who are TTC (trying to concieve) or are pregnant. Here's the article.

There are even "special" hula hoops and exercises that are designed for pregnant women! Check out www.Hoopnotica.com.

I don't know how 'beneficial' hooping would be to TTC, but as for fitness, I know that even when playing the hula-hoop challenge on Wii, I am winded, so it can't hurt, right? :)
 

Do you think that there should be a focus on more vaginal births in Southeast Texas? (to clarify - VAGINAL... not necessarily "all natural" or unmedicated for the purposes of this poll)

What kind of birth(s) did you have?

What is your opinion of hospital-based childbirth education/preparation courses?

When it comes to supporting elective, non-medically indicated c-section, I..

— Cynthia B. Flynn, CNM, PhD
Associate Professor of Nursing, Seattle University

I'd like to add my thanks to Ms. Cohen for her efforts in creating this video, and for allowing to to be shared so openly! 

~Heather

• La Leche League International is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed. La Leche League of Beaumont meets each month to provide the same for women in our area. All women, whether they are currently breastfeeding, pregnant or simply interested in breastfeeding, are welcome to come to our meetings or call our Leaders, regardless of whether or not you have beastfed, how long you have or if you plan to
  breastfeed!
  
  Leader Contact Information
  Amity 755-3273
  Heather 347-1245
  or email beaumontlll-owner@yahoogroups.com for information.
  

• Heather Thomas, Breastfeeding Educator & LLL Leader
  409.347.1245
  
• Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital Breastfeeding Warmline:
  409.899.8523 or toll free 1.800.810.2829
  Lori Wenner, IBCLC and Stacie Jones, IBCLC
  

• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International
  
• Adventures in Tandem Nursing by Hilary Flower (LLLI)
  
• Mothering Your Nursing Toddler by Norma Jane Bumgarner (LLLI)
  
• How Weaning Happens by Diane Bengson (LLLI)
  
• The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins
  
• The Nursing Mother's Herbal by
• Medications & Mother's Milk by Thomas Hale (updated yearly)
  
• The Breastfeeding Book by Martha & Dr. William Sears
  
• Milk, Money & Madness: The Culture and Politics of breastfeeding by Naomi Baumslag & Dina L. Michels
  
   

The following is Wikipedia's entry on "informed consent":
"Informed consent is a legal condition whereby a person can be said to have given consent based upon an appreciation and understanding of the facts and implications of an action. The individual needs to be in possession of relevant facts and also of his or her reasoning faculties, such as not being mentally retarded or mentally ill and without an impairment of judgment at the time of consenting. Such impairments might include illness, intoxication, insufficient sleep, and other health problems."

I wonder how often, though, informed consent is actually and truly obtained for medical procedures and interventions during chidlbirth? I know for a fact, for example, that during my last birth, the admitting nurse CERTAINLY didn't obtain my informed consent before stripping my membranes. She actually explained to me WHILE she was examining me that she was was "loosening things up a bit", but never that stripping of my membranes could likely introduce infection that might be risky to my baby during a vaginal delivery before ASKING if I'd like to have it done. My attending doctor didn't obtain my INFORMED consent when proposing to break my bag of waters. He didn't tell me that one of the reasons that many women choose NOT to rupture their membranes is that it sometimes leads to fetal distress. Anyone want to venture a guess as to what happened as soon as my membranes were ruptured (aka: water broken)? My baby's heartrate began having decelerations during each contraction. He began exhibiting signs of fetal distress. Was the fact that that was a possible outcome included in the list of pros and cons discussed with me PRIOR to the procedure (i.e. informed consent)? In fact, were ANY cons disclosed? No. Not one. In fact, the only thing that was eluded to was that we "needed" to get things moving along. I don't remember being given any reason, just that we "needed" to. It wasn't until after the procedure that things went south. REAL QUICK. Less than 20 minutes later, my child was forceably ripped from my body through an incision in my abdomen and my doctor was the hero who had saved the day. Never mind that things were proceeding normally before the AROM (artificial rupture of membranes). Never mind that NO OTHER procedures were attempted, much less suggested, to remedy the situation. The FIRST course of action was c-section................or, as I was informed, we'd likely BOTH die horribly. Again, was true INFORMED consent given? Was I told of the risk of infection or the risk or hemmorage or the risk of any of the other PLENTY of things that can go wrong during a c-section? You guessed it. NEVER  ONCE.

My problem with procedures being performed without true informed consent is that the patient isn't armed with all the information they need to be able to effectively assess their risk during each procedure. My decisions weren't based on factual and proven risks and I know, after talking with lots of mothers lately, that it's pretty routinely done that way. I'm actually pregnant with another child and have, in fact, taken the intiative to inform myself. I've drawn up a birth plan and enlisted a support team who are totally on board with what it is that I want out of this birth and don't doubt that none of them will hesitate to obtain my informed consent for any proposed procedure. 

I encourage each of you to force your medical providers into a position of disclosure of ALL the possible risks and benefits of each procedure they propose. 

Here are some interesting tidbits concerning informed consent:

• Sometimes health care workers refer to the consent form itself as an informed consent. This is not quite accurate. Informed consent is the process or action that takes place as you learn about and consider a treatment before you agree to it. Your signature on the form is taken to be evidence that this took place. In other words, if you don't feel FULLY informed, DON'T SIGN THE CONSENT. Once you've signed it, you're as good as legally informed whether or not you're ACTUALLY informed.                                                                                                                                              

• Even when there are no other accepted medical treatment options, it is still your right as a competent adult to refuse to have a treatment that you do not want. But once you sign the consent form, it is considered to be your formal, legal agreement that you are okay with the plan or procedure that is listed on the form unless you revoke (take back) your consent before treatment is given. The doctor or facility will usually give you a copy of the consent form, but they keep the original as a legal record that you agreed to the treatment. In other words, once you DO sign the consent, you have no recourse unless you revoke it BEFORE a procedure is performed. You have, after all, signed that you understand and have been informed of ALL possible risks.

• For informed consent to take place, the information that is shared must be understood. This responsibility is shared by the patient, since the doctor won't know what you don't understand until you ask about it. The patient must have the chance to consider the information and ask questions. In other words, be certain that you understand exactly what is to be performed and what risks are involved before signing because after you sign, you can't say that you weren't informed that a negative outcome was possible. You've signed that you WERE informed.

• Informed consent requires disclosure of "material" (significant or important) information that will help the patient make an informed choice. The law defines material information in 2 ways; in terms of your health provider's responsibility and in terms of patient responsibility. Your health care provider's responsibility is limited to telling you those things that a health professional practicing in your community would tell you under the same or similar circumstances. Patient responsibility, however, and a patient-oriented standard of disclosure, is different. It means that the health provider is required to make known all the facts, risks, and alternatives that a reasonable person in the patient's situation would consider important in deciding whether to have a recommended treatment. In other words, you carry the majority of the burden of ensuring that you have given informed consent, not the doctor. His only burden of proof is obtaining your signature. He assumes that if you sign the consent, you're informed.

• Part of the informed consent process includes allowing you to ask questions about other treatments that may help you or other options that may offer you something that you prefer. You may choose other options, even if they are not as well proven as the one your doctor recommends or prefers. This is the part where you bring to the table all the research you've done BEFORE the proposed procedure and suggest alternatives that you'd like to try first. Examples might include changing laboring positions to encourage quicker labor progression as opposed to using medicinal augmentation, having a hep lock placed as opposed to a continuous IV line or intermittent fetal monitoring as opposed to continuous so long as everybody's doing well.

• If you are competent to make your own medical decisions, you have the right to refuse any and all medical treatment and diagnostic procedures. Even if not treating the disease or condition means that a patient will die, US courts have affirmed the right of patients to reject treatment. If you have decided to refuse treatment or diagnostic tests, the health provider may inform you of the risks or likely outcomes of this choice. This is called informed refusal. The doctor or facility may ask you to sign a form that states you received this information, and that you still choose not to be treated. If you do not wish to sign, the doctor may ask witnesses to sign that you were so informed in order to protect himself.

As much as informed consent is talked about in medical circles, it's sometimes unclear how to go about making sure you are being given the whole laundry list of pros and cons when actually having "the" conversation with your doctor. Here is a list of of some good talking points to consider when discussing procedures and interventions:

• What is my diagnosis (the medical name for the illness I have) and what does that mean for my pregnancy and/or labor?
• How serious is my diagnosis? (There should be a diagnosis for any recommended course of action.) 
• What methods of treatment/procedures are recommended?
• Are there other treatment options/procedures we should consider? If so, what are they?
• What benefits for myself and my child would you expect from the recommended treatments/procedures and other options?
• What are the risks to myself and my child or complications of the recommended treatment/procedure and the other treatment/procedure options?
• Are there discomforts for myself and my child that may be caused by the treatment/procedure?
• What are all the possible side effects of the treatment/procedure to myself and my child -- immediate, short-term, and long-term?
• How will having the treatment/procedure affect my normal process of labor?
• How would having not having treatment/procedure affect my normal process of labor?
• Is there a time frame that you are willing to delay the treatment/procedure in an effort for the condition to normalize on its own?
• Can you suggest any natural alternatives to the treatment/procedure that might be as effective?

Once you have gone through the process of becoming informed, the decision must be made as to whether you will follow your doctor's recommendation and proceed with his suggested treatment. Your doctor should give you ample time and not resort to bullying and unethical treatment to sway your decision. Assuming that you've been informed of the risks of denying treatment, the risks shouldn't have to be repeated to you unless you specifically ask for them to be. Generally, there is time for a private discussion between yourself and your spouse of other support person even in an emergency situation. Ask for 5 minutes alone to regroup and assess what risk is acceptable to you and what risk you aren't willing to consider. 

One important point to remember is that your doctor is obligated to continue his care of you regardless of your decision. According to ICAN (ican-online.org), professional ethical guidelines state that a physician may only drop you from his care after giving you 30 days notice. This means that if you are within 30 days of your likely delivery date, your care provider cannot terminate your care. In addition, if you are pregnant and are outside of that 30 day time frame, your provider must give you a referral and ensure you are transferred to a specific provider. Physicians who fail to meet these guidelines may be charged with patient abandonment, which is grounds for malpractice and constitutes a violation of ethical conduct that could result in loss of licensure.

In addition, a hospital may not refuse to admit you or treat you even if you refuse a procedure that is deemed necessary by them or their doctors. This includes hospitals who have "banned" VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) even if you refuse a cesarean section. The federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) requires hospitals to admit women in active labor and to abide by their treatment decisions until after the baby and placenta are delivered. The act was originally designed to prevent hospitals from "dumping" patients who couldn’t pay but has since been widely used to hold hospitals accountable for violating other patient rights, including the right to refuse treatment. If your hospital threatens to perform a cesarean despite your refusal, notify them that they are in violation of your rights under EMTALA and that you plan to file a complaint. To find out where to report an EMTALA violation, go to MedLaw.

Understanding informed consent is a huge first step in ensuring that you get the birth experience you want especially in a birth culture like our local one. When you realize that YOU are the person who calls the shots in your medical treatment (or lack thereof), you become empowered in a way that you never realized before that you could be. In that scenario, doctors, nurses and hospitals become exactly what they were always intended to be - consultants who are being paid for their professional medical opinions. They have no more power over what happens to you than you give them. The "god" complex that has grown to become associated with doctors is one WE have handed to them through our own lack of education and blind trust that they always have our best interests at heart. As much as I truly believe that there aren't very many doctors who would cause intentional harm to their patients, I also know that sometimes their primary motivation is to avoid litigation even if it means suggesting a course of action that might not be at all what their patient would have chosen given access to all the information.

~ Amy

**Portions of this blog were directly quoted from ICAN (ican-online.org) and the American Cancer Society website (cancer.org).

You may ask yourself "Why do they have a page dedicated to talking about c-sections?" Our goal witin writing this post is to bring awareness to the rising number of c-sections that are performed on women each year in Southeast Texas, and in the US, and to educate women about the serious risks that result from routine use of what is designed as an emergency procedure.

Research shows that there is an increase in postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder in women who have had c-sections. Many of our friends and clients have had c-sections for various reasons and we feel that this is an area that really calls for more support from peers and professionals. This is particularly important in light of the fact that the c-section rate for Jefferson County is over 43% (2004).

The information in this post is designed to help women understand what factors can increase their risk of c-section, what having a c-section might mean for them and what options they have for pregnancies after a c-section, and to support them throughout their experiences no matter what the circumstances.We realize that some of our positions on birth and maternity care are unpopular. We feel that this quote explains our position better than we could:"A truth's initial commotion is directly proportional to how deeply the lie was believed. When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker, a raving lunatic." - Dresden James

Click here to return to the Pregnancy page.

Interested in VBAC in Southeast Texas? With local hospitals placing a (illegal and unethical)  "ban" on VBACs, what can you do? CLICK HERE!

APRIL is  Cesarean Awareness Month!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT C-SECTIONS

What is a cesarean section (c-section)?
A caesarean section (cesarean section), or c-section, is a form of childbirth in which a surgical incision is made through a mother's abdomen and uterus to deliver one or more babies. It should only be performed when a vaginal delivery would put the baby's or mother's life or health at risk.

Why might I have a c-section?
Usually, a woman's medical care provider will recommend a c-section when one or more factors present
themselves, however different providers may disagree about when a cesarean is required. For example,
while one obstetrician may feel that a woman is too small to deliver her baby, another or a midwife might
well disagree. Similarly, some care providers may be much quicker to cite "failure to progress" than others.
Disagreements like this help to explain why cesarean rates for some physicians and hospitals are much
higher than are those for others. The medico-legal restrictions on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC),
have also increased the cesarean rate.

You can find a list of medically indicated reasons for c-sections here. A discussion of other factors that may
prompt an OB to recommend c-section can be found here.

"Obstetricians and hospitals have found that high-intervention birth, warranted or not, is very profitable. So
there is a tremendous financial incentive to bypass the clinically optimal approach, and opt for convenience
and profit. For example, many hospitals across the country have eliminated facility-based midwifery
practices simply because the low-intervention approach, while clinically sound, does not bring in as many
dollars." - Tonya Jamois, president of ICAN
www.ICAN-online.org



What factors can impact or increase the risk of having a c-section?

This is hardly an exhaustive list, but some factors may include:
 

• maternal health complications
  
• fetal health considerations
  
• history of sexual abuse
  
• inadequate prenatal care
  
• lack of education about birth and the issues that surround it
  
• not knowing what the variations on normal are in childbirth
  
• choosing to birth in a hospital
  
   
• continuous fetal monitoring
  
• staying in bed during labor
  
• having epidural or spinal block
  
• having pain relieving drugs
  
• going to the hospital 'too early'
  
• allowing 'too frequent' internal examination
  
• lack of confidence or self-esteem
  
• lack of support
  
• thinking of pregnancy & birth as an illness or a medical event
  
• thinking of c-section as 'normal'
  
• not asking your OB what his or her c-section rate is
  
• having lots of friends who have had c-sections
  

"Epidurals rip women off of an opportunity to experience themselves as competent adults." - Margaret Egeland, CNM

"Technology has turned the fetus into a patient, reducing the mother to being the 'maternal environment' and preventing attachment until after the ultrasound has shown the fetus to be 'normal'." - Jennifer Hall


Can I have a vaginal birth after having a c-section (VBAC)c-section?

For most women, the answer is YES, YOU CAN! Vaginal birth after cesarean, even after repeat cesarean, is not only possible but it is usually SAFER for both mother and baby and safer for future pregnancies as well. As in all things, there are some instances where VBAC carries more risk than a repeat c-section, but those instances are fewer than you may think. Each mother should ask questions about her previous cesarean(s) and learn what the circumstances were that led to the cesarean section recommendation in order to make decisions based on what best fits her needs. Discussing your previous birth(s) with your care provider and getting a second and/or third opinion from another type of care provider is always a good idea as well!

"If I don't know my options, I don't have any." - Diana Korte

Why should I consider VBAC?

Repeat cesarean has been proven to be more dangerous than VBAC (childbirthconnection.org). Additionally, women who have successfully had a VBAC report that they have a better postpartum experience. Few women would choose major abdominal surgery that requires a lengthy recovery period over a natural process that has fewer risks, a shorter recovery period (mothers are often able to perform most tasks within hours or days of birth) and statistically better outcomes.

"Quite interestingly, the highest rate of VBAC is in women who have experienced both vaginal and cesarean births and given the choice, decide to deliver vaginally." American Pregnancy.org

"Reluctant doctors like to believe that they haven't much influence over their patients, but that is clearly not the case. Several studies have found that when doctors genuinely encouraged women to have VBACs, most of them did, and when they said nothing or acted neutral, most women didn't. Finally, when obstetricians discouraged VBAC in women who wanted to try it, none of them did.
"A study of interactions between women and obstetricians offers an explanation. It described three levels of increasing power imbalance: In the first, you fight and lose; in the second you don't fight because you know you can't win. However, in the highest level of power differential, your preferences are so manipulated that you act against your own interests, but you are content. Elective repeat cesarean exemplifies that highest level." - Henci Goer, Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth

• PUSHED: The Truth About Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block
  
• BORN IN THE USA by Marsden Wagner
  
• CREATING YOUR BIRTH PLAN by Marsden Wagner
  
• The VBAC Companion by Diana Korte
  
• Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: The Smart Woman's Guide to VBAC by Elizabeth Kaufmann
  
• Silent Knife by Nancy Wainer Cohen & Lois J. Estner
  
• "Cesarean Delivery" on OBGYN.com
  
• "Are You Booked in for a C-Section?" on BreastfeedingMums.com
  
• "Birth Patterns" by Lee Bowman
  
• Obstetrical Myths versus Research Realities by Henci Goer
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