Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Macrosomia (large baby) Found Inaccurate

"Ultrasound-estimated fetal weight "is not very accurate, and we have to counsel patients on that, when they come to ultrasounds and they are worried that they are going to have this [enormous] monstrosity of a baby," lead investigator Dr. Alese Wagner said in an interview. "You can tell them [that] most of the time, we are off."'

"The mode of delivery was cesarean section in 66% of the pregnancies, compared with just 29% of all pregnancies in Calgary during the same period. "So it’s [more than] double, the percentage who are getting C-sections, on what is [an inaccurate weight]," said Dr. Wagner."

Pros and Cons of 11 Common Labor Positions

Too Many Babies Are Delivered Too Early: Hospitals Should Just Say No Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/31/too-many-babies-are-delivered-

Pregnancy lasts 40 weeks for a reason. At 35 weeks, a baby's brain tips the scales at just two-thirds of what it will weigh by weeks 39 to 40.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/31/too-many-babies-are-delivered-too-early-hospitals-just-say-no/#ixzz1D0qCRFxZ

Why Is ACOG So Scared of Midwives?

"Having a CPM attend your birth comes with a major benefit to taxpayers and states as well -- lower c-section rates, and lower complications result in big savings. Washington reported a savings of $2.7 million after just 2 years of use of CPMs. The Department of Health also found that over 87 percent of the time, transfer to a hospital is not required for moms or babies birthing outside the hospital with constant one-on-one care from a CPM"

Newborn Deliveries Are Scheduled Too Early, According to Hospital Watchdog Group

This is not to say that once a woman reaches 39 weeks gestation there are no longer any risks to "elective" delivery. I wholeheartedly believe that our bodies and babies know that they are doing and just as we put our trust in the natural process of labor and birth as being the safest for Mother and baby, so should we put our trust in the timing of labor to begin on it's own for the safety of Mom and baby.

"Every hospital should publicly report on their rate and actively prevent the practice, and every woman planning to give birth should demand the information,"

Hospital Rates of Early Scheduled Deliveries

"What’s going on at my hospital?
The Leapfrog Group, a non-profit organization that compares hospitals on national standards of safety and quality, asked hospitals to voluntarily report their rate of elective deliveries before 39 completed weeks of pregnancy. The hospital’s rate of elective deliveries is the percentage of non-medically indicated (without a medical reason) births between 37 and 39 weeks gestation, that were delivered by caesarean section or induction. Hospital rates of elective deliveries are listed below by state. Women should look at the rate of early elective early deliveries performed at hospital hospitals in their area and chose one that has a low rate"

What You Need to Know about Induction of Labor

SE MN Childbirth Network presents... "A Midwife...Why?"

Find out how incorporating a midwife in your
pregnancy can be more than beneficial.

Please join us at the
Rochester Athletic Club
Thursday, February 3rd
7pm—Multipurpose Room

"No medication can deliver complete pain relief without risks," - Dr. William Sears

Why you shouldn’t “try” to have an unmedicated birth.

LOVE LOVE LOVE the logic of this one!!! A MUST read for anyone considering an un-medicated birth.

Luke's birth story (HBAC)

Click on the title link to be redirected to the article.

Brand New Bradley Method® web site!!!

Come and check out the new and improved, better than ever Bradley Method® web site. It's got a great new look and lay out, as well as awesome new features that are easier to use than ever!

Mom defies doctor, has baby her way

Don't Ask, Just Do It

"What if we simply stopped asking permission? What if we simply did what we wanted to? What if the mantra of laboring women became "don't ask, just do"?"

The Day 14 Myth

Very interesting information. Even the "best" tests are no match for a woman's awareness of her own body.

To read the full article, click on the title link above.

Eight Reasons Our C-section Rate Is Too High

Dr. Priver states that over his 36 years of practice, his c-section rate never exceeded 10%. He modestly describes himself as having “no extraordinary wisdom, skills or dexterity” but offers points that he believes, if taken into consideration by OBs, could successfully decrease the c-section rate.

Read the entire article by clicking on the title link above.

The Pregnant Patient's Bill Of Rights

Click on the title above to read the full article.

"American parents are becoming increasingly aware that well-intentioned health professionals do not always have scientific data to support common American obstetrical practices, and that many of these practices are carried out primarily because they are part of medical and hospital tradition."

""In the last forty years many artificial practices have been introduced which have changed childbirth from a physiological event to a very complicated medical procedure in which all kinds of drugs are used and procedures carried out, sometimes unnecessarily, and many of them potentially damaging for the baby and even for the mother"."

"It is the obstetric patient and her baby, not the health professional, who must sustain any trauma or injury resulting from the use of a drug or obstetric procedure. The observation of the rights listed above will not only permit the obstetric patient to participate in the decisions involving her and her baby's health care, but will help to protect the health professional and the hospital against litigation arising from resentment or misunderstanding on the part of the mother"

In defence of the amniotic sac

"Artificial rupture of membranes (ARM) aka ‘breaking the waters’ is a common intervention during birth. However, an ARM should not be carried out without a good understanding of how the amniotic sac and fluid function in labour. Women need to be fully informed of the risks associated this intervention before agreeing to alter their labour in this way."

New Guidelines for Women With Prior Cesareans

"Many women who have had a cesarean section delivery -- and some who have had two C-sections -- can safely attempt to deliver vaginally, according to updated guidelines on vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC, issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists."

SE MN Doulas

"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it." ~ John H. Kennell

, M.D.

Looking for a doula in the SE MN area? Here is a list of several to choose from. :-) Two of them, Jennie Schindle & Jackie Mysak are included in my "Bradley® Supportive Business Owners" listing, located toward the top of the page.