Comments on: Twilight Sleep

By: Larissa

Larissa — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:39:34 +0000

@Bethany-

I’m certain there are people out there in the world who judge you for chosing a cesarean. I know and work with some of them. However, I don’t see anything in this blog post that implies that choice is somehow a lesser choice than any other choice a woman can make for herself in birth.

Something that is crucial to include in this discussion is that most women who have cesareans did not choose them from a place of empowerment and informed consent. Either they are unexpected cesareans that occur after a course of labor or they are repeat cesareans on women who have had prior cesarean births. Women who choose elective cesarean are a tiny portion of the cesarean section rate.

If women are truly free to choose then it shouldn’t just be elective cesareans that we have as an option, we should also be free to choose vaginal birth after cesarean and unmedicated low intervention births with the provider of their chosing – midwife, family physician or OB. We should be able to choose to birth at home, at a birth center or at a hospital. Without fear of prosecution, denial of coverage, or charges of child endangerment.

Most women in the US do not have these choices.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:24:18 +0000

Have any of you seen “The Business of Being Born”? It really gets at the heart of this post and goes into more detail as well. I highly recommend it!

Well said though, Kathryn.

By: Angela

Angela — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:19:19 +0000

Very well written article. I can only speak of my own experience, I had an emergency C-section 20 years ago after 23 hours of labor and almost no dilation, my daughter was delivered with the cord wrapped around her neck and she had her first bowel movement in utero. She was healthy and we looked to a VBAC for our second child’s birth 3 yrs later. After much consultation we decided to have another C-Section because my doctor strongly urged for it because “my body was not really made to have babies’. He was sure I would suffer from failure to progress again. What I realize now was that it was much easier to schedule a birth for him than to wait it out again. In hindsight I wish I would have chosen to try for the VBAC. i am glad that women have a choice now, but as you say it must be THEIR choice.

By: Bethany

Bethany — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:20:41 +0000

I am proud of the fact that I chose an elective C-section. You are all about choices, but condemn those choices if they don’t fall in line with what you are passionate about…not to be rude, but if you’re all about the freedom of choice, you shouldn’t belittle those of us that feel C-sections are the best option for us. I had no medical reason for a C-section, just felt like that is the way I wanted to give birth…and I haven’t regretted it for a second.

Freedom of Choice!!! You don’t want people attacking the choices you have made in your own life…so why is it ok to attack others for the choices they make!?

Written respectfully!!!

By: Karol

Karol — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:39:35 +0000

I was made uncomfortable by the constant use of the word “negro.” Grossed me out. I liked the elevator scene with Hollis and Pete Campbell. Hollis tried to explain without really explaining why they couldn’t have a conversation about TVs.

The person in the death sequence with Betty’s parents was Medgar Evers – that says if you speak up, you might end up dead. All of this was about being trapped where you are and how oppressive life can be at all times, not just in the 60’s. Thanks Ms. Martini!

By: GG

GG — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:00:57 +0000

I was fortunate to be “poor” during my pregnancy. I went to county health centers and saw nurse practitioners and got excellent care, plus, even at 25 I was educated enough to know how to take care of myself, even though I wasn’t happy about being pregnant. I saw a doctor exactly twice–once when he came in to the labor room, peered over my belly and said “Push!” and 2 days later when he checked my stitches. I had one shot of Demerol during labor and that was it. Oh, and my total labor time was less than 8 hours. Otherwise, between the nurses and my mother I was out of the hospital and at the grocery store a week later in my pre-baby jeans (sadly, that didn’t last ).

“Death by treatment” is a phrase one of my blog readers used on a recent post about hospitals that I wrote, and it is all too true. For me, doctors are “body mechanics”, tying this thing and that thing to make people “better” when there usually really isn’t much wrong with them in the first place that good food, good exercise and good sleep wouldn’t improve. But it sure rakes in a lot of money, doesn’t it?

By: melissalion

melissalion — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:23:15 +0000

You’ve often told me that the birth experience affects the woman for the rest of her life. I haven’t believed that, until recently.

I think the lack of control I felt at the induction, the anesthesiologist poking my spine for fifteen minutes straight, and the resulting post-partum depression are all tied together. I think the lack of support I got from A’s dad also contributed. But I wonder if I were in control of that day, what I would feel like at this moment.

By: Donna (Atlanta)

Donna (Atlanta) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:17:21 +0000

I’m a 66 yr old Mad Men fan. What you write about needs to be said, loudly and often. But having said that, what struck me about that episode was three scenes: the ‘house cat’ dream and her face as she heard the comment, the one after she’d said she wanted to name the baby after her father and then Don tells someone no name has been chosen yet, and the final scene where she pauses so very long in mid-step before continuing on to check on the new baby’s cry.

She went to her parents in the dream looking for support and encouragement (perhaps of the kind that grandpa so often gave the granddaughter). What she got was a message of her worthlessness and that she ought to be grateful for it! Her face spoke volumes of being a trapped animal and desperation.

She wanted to name the baby Eugene after her father and Don basically said nothing committal; but later to others he basically denies her wish when he says no name has been chosen. Like ‘I’ll choose the name and manipulate her into acquiescense…as usual’. His house, his rules….as usual.

Then back home in her ‘cage’ the baby cries in the dark of night and she so wearily gets up to check on the baby. She takes some shuffling steps toward the door, then stops, and simply stands there in the darkness for ever so long, before continuing on. Her pause, her posture spoke volumes of the woman trapped by duty, without an ounce of joy in her life.

I know the feelings; I remember.

Betty’s going to rebel….just you wait!

By: CoffeeGal

CoffeeGal — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:20:07 +0000

We live in a society today..if something is not right, there is a pill for that. If you are in pain, you take a pill. If you are depressed, you take a pill. If you don’t feel right, you take a pill. If you can’t sleep, you take a pill. If you want to lose weight, you take a pill. If you are anxious, you take a pill. And so on. And If you don’t get a perfect response, on what you think you should have..you sue.
We are being conditioned that it is unneccessary to “feel” anything that is uncomfortable. Why suffer the pains of childbirth, just get an epidural, or a pain-less c-section and as an added bonus the baby comes out all perfect. There are multiple factors which have led us to a higher c-section rate. The two major factors, I believe, is our out of control tort system and that we mustn’t feel any discomfort or pain as we are a civilized people. And yes..I guess you can guess..I work in health care..

By: CJ

CJ — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:44:29 +0000

If that’s not a cause to go the midwife route, I don’t know what is. As always, point on.