Born In the USA
My best friend recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Lilliana Elizabeth. Her journey through pregnancy and childbirth and willingness to explore opportunities outside the "doctor knows best" doctrine inspired me to read several books about maternity care.
I just finished Born In the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First by Marsden Wagner, MD, MS and I must say it paints a truly frightening picture of maternity care in hospitals across the US in addition to an outrageously bureaucratic "regulating" body for obstetricians that serves only to uphold scientifically unsound practices by its members.
A review:
"Dr. Wagner depicts the state of obstetrical care in the United States with clarity and accuracy. He is clearly an 'insider' who has the courage to tell the truth about how our love affair with birth technology adversely affects both mothers and babies. Importantly, he outlines a path toward much-needed change. Born in the USA should be 'must' reading, not only for all pregnant women, but also for all ob/gyn physicians, hospital personnel, and those who make public policy. Dr. Wagner has done all of us a great service with this book." - Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom"
What do all of you think? I know that this has been discussed before, but I am just now realizing the extent of this problem. The main question I have is, what do I do about it? I have never had children, but I am planning to in the near future and most of the reading I have done suggests I am at a disadvantage for wanting a natural birth with few interventions. Where can I find out more about birthing options in my state (Texas)? I also felt a fundamental need to protect my "sisters" throughout the book; how can these things be done to our women?! Do we really have so few protections?
I have also picked up "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" which I find comforting and I have a copy of "Pushed" by Jennifer Block waiting. Any other recommendations?
I just finished Born In the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First by Marsden Wagner, MD, MS and I must say it paints a truly frightening picture of maternity care in hospitals across the US in addition to an outrageously bureaucratic "regulating" body for obstetricians that serves only to uphold scientifically unsound practices by its members.
A review:
"Dr. Wagner depicts the state of obstetrical care in the United States with clarity and accuracy. He is clearly an 'insider' who has the courage to tell the truth about how our love affair with birth technology adversely affects both mothers and babies. Importantly, he outlines a path toward much-needed change. Born in the USA should be 'must' reading, not only for all pregnant women, but also for all ob/gyn physicians, hospital personnel, and those who make public policy. Dr. Wagner has done all of us a great service with this book." - Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom"
What do all of you think? I know that this has been discussed before, but I am just now realizing the extent of this problem. The main question I have is, what do I do about it? I have never had children, but I am planning to in the near future and most of the reading I have done suggests I am at a disadvantage for wanting a natural birth with few interventions. Where can I find out more about birthing options in my state (Texas)? I also felt a fundamental need to protect my "sisters" throughout the book; how can these things be done to our women?! Do we really have so few protections?
I have also picked up "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" which I find comforting and I have a copy of "Pushed" by Jennifer Block waiting. Any other recommendations?