After more than a decade of trying to bring down the number of c-sections, some obstetricians are now reversing themselves and promoting more of them. In fact, a growing number of American obstetricians now urge women to “choose” a cesarean even when there is no medical indication that they need one. Read more…. Choose & Lose: Promoting Cesareans and Other Invasive Interventions
Hasta hace 200 años toda la atención del nacimiento en el mundo era humanizada ya que era brindada por parteras que mantenían a la mujer en el centro, y en general, respetaban la naturaleza y la cultura. Read more…. La Partería Global – Tradicional y Oficial – y la Humanización del Nacimiento
Prior to 200 years ago, all birth care around the world was humanized as it was attended by midwives, kept the woman in the center, and in general, respected nature and culture.
Then came the technological age after World War II. If we can put a man on the moon, surely we can also have perfect birth. So without any scientific data to justify such a move, childbirth was moved to hospitals with doctors and machines and drugs. Midwives were marginalized, with no role for women or family, and birth became medicalized.
Photo by Brett Zeck
Throughout history, women (midwives) have been in communities for other women to turn to for support with women’s concerns—not just reproductive health care, but also issues such as spousal abuse. Read more…. Global Midwifery—Traditional and Official—and Humanization of Birth
We Americans are consumed with the need to believe that we are number one. But here’s a wrenching fact: 41 countries have better infant mortality rates than the US. Read more…. Midwifery and International Maternity Care
Off-label use of misoprostol (Cytotec) for labor induction has been steadily increasing for 10 years, even though this use is approved neither by the U.S. [FDA], other national drug regulatory agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, the Cochrane Library nor a number of national obstetric organizations Read more…. Adverse Events Following Misoprostol Induction of Labor
Photo by Hal Gatewood
Without adequate testing of Cytotec (misoprostol) for labor induction, obstetricians simply began to use it on their birthing women. They were taking advantage of a huge loophole in our drug regulatory system. Read more…. Cytotec Induction and Off-Label Use
When the obstetrician said he would use Cytotec, the woman and her husband said they expected he would use prostaglandin gel but he said that he now uses Cytotec, as it is ‘more modern and reliable.’ They were not told Cytotec is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose… Read more…. Midwives and Cytotec: A True Story
…why not allow women the option to choose [caesarean section]? Unfortunately, the option to choose (or demand) is not that simple. CS, even when elective, carries serious risks for mother and baby. Read more…. Choosing Caesarean Section
Cesarean section can save the life of the mother or her baby. Cesarean section can also kill a mother or her baby. How can this be? Read more…. Technology in Birth: First Do No Harm
Of 170 women given misoprostol (Cytotec) for induction with VBAC, eight have lost their uterus and two lost a baby as well, according to the combined data of two articles published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Read more…. Misoprostol: More on the dangers of Cytotec
…figures from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed what too many parents and educators already knew: The incidence of autism is high, making it an "urgent public health issue," according to [the] director of the CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. Read more…. Ultrasound: More Harm than Good?
