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BirthsMART tm (the video!)Facebook comments: 41 comments to BirthsMART tm (the video!) |
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Copyright © 2012 Mama is… - All Rights Reserved Bad Behavior has blocked 312 access attempts in the last 7 days. |
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BirthsMART tm (the video!)Facebook comments: 41 comments to BirthsMART tm (the video!) |
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Copyright © 2012 Mama is… - All Rights Reserved Bad Behavior has blocked 312 access attempts in the last 7 days. |
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Incredible! I loved it. Everything from the numerous nurses to their floral and duck motif shirts, to the people in the hospital, to the trademarked terms…
Also a great reminder that intervention begins with the very first doctor visit.
Crying. That hits a little too close to home at the end.
Wow. That was my exact experience with my first pregnancy and birth. I was determined to change it the second time around and prepared for an unmedicated VBAC with the support of my very pro-natural birth, pro-breastfeeding, pro-cosleeping OB and my doula, and Bradley Childbirth Classes. Unfortunately ended up with pretty severe complications from H1N1 and ended up with a c-section anyways. Third times the charm though. My OB is on-board for giving me another shot at a VBAC. Sooo excited.
Thanks for the very real, very sad look at what a hospital birth is like for so many moms.
yup! Totally sums it up!!
Thanks for putting this out there for everyone to see! Keep up the awesome work!
Great video!
I knew you would eventually do this! Excellent!
Even the elevator music is great!
This is very much how things happened my first two pregnancies, except that I must have resembled some kind of tigress. I wouldn’t let them near me once they said “c-section” and had my mom and husband remove them from the room. Eventually with my first, we did let the doctor back in. I’d had too much epidural; couldn’t feel anything from the nipples down; and couldn’t get off my tailbone. The baby’s head was 15″, and he *was* stuck–only because of their insistence and misplaced epidural. Any higher and they could have killed me.
Damn straight. Now everyone–share this on your Facebook, twitter, whatever. Inundate, inundate, inundate. I don’t know how the message can be spread more concisely. Great job–as usual–Heather.
Well done Heather! I forgot to be horrified in the middle and actually laughed a few parts. Clever details.
You did an excellent job! That was great! I loved the little baby cry when the baby was born.
You are one amazing lady! is there a home birth video in the making? I hope, I hope!!
Now how do I get this to the OB’s office?
I feel very blessed to have had much better experiences than this with my hospital births. I had the same OB/GYN for all 3. I didn’t have dozens of nurse at my appointments. I had 2. The same 2 have worked with my doctor for years, so I dealt with the same 2 nurses at each appointment for all of my children.
I didn’t get the same nurses at the hospital is my only real complaint. But even so, the most I ever had to deal with was 2 separate nurses at the hospital. They didn’t insist on checking my “progress” constantly.
They encourage me to walk around. To sit on and use the big exercise ball to sit on. To use the giant tub. Try different positions. Basically, anything they could think of to help me deliver naturally.
They asked me, very gently, once or twice if I wanted anything for the pain. When I said no, they dropped it.
When my children were born, with my doctor right there, not some random doctor I’d rarely or never seen, they didn’t rush to cut the umbilical cord right away, but rather encouraged me to try to nurse as soon as possible. They helped me do so. When they did cut the cord (I didn’t time it, but probably close to an hour later), They asked me if they could get his weight and length really quickly. Which I let them, and it was quick, and they did it right there next to me, where I could still touch the baby.
All in all, my hospital births were very good experiences. I find it so sad that so many others have had such negative experiences.
Love the music, heh!
@Apryl: That is what a natural birth in a hospital is ‘supposed’ to be! and it is pretty close to homebirth
I am soooo happy for you!
But sadly, overall, yes. This is what hospital births are. End of story. Fin. Even true high-risk cases are not handled as well as they can be, and with my first (severe preeclampsia – induction at 31 weeks – vaginal birth thank God – NICU 17 days) my DH and I still believe it was ‘baby rape’.
With my second, I changed my diet, planned for a homebirth and had the experience of birth I wanted! It was quick and beautiful
LOVED it! Sadly close to what my first birth was like.
Creepy. Thankfully, my hospital experiences weren’t like this. I still chose to go with a midwife and birth center with my fourth, but my hospital wasn’t nearly as bad as I’ve heard from others.
So so true, and sad. Looked almost exactly like my first experience minus the C-Section. Barely made it out of there without one. UGH.
My first 3 pregnancies were exactly as you portaied. Thankfully, I did progress and never had to have a c-section. They were all born at 38 and 37 weeks. Still, the end left me in tears. I did get to have a homebirth (at 41 weeks) in December, though and am so greatful for it. Thanks for your amazing work. Forwarding this to my midwife!
You can if you are willing to try this very simple method of discharging the flood of adrenaline which is inhibiting labor, help to lessen the pain and distress of labor significantly.
You will almost certainly need a partner or Mum who will act as your protector, as most hospitals are very uneasy with you making a noise, or doing anything yourself to lesson the pain.
They are well meaning but while they understand the mechanism of fight or flight, they don’t have any stategy available to combat it. And they certainly don’t want to listen to me!
The British School of Midwifery did admit that my theory of fight or flight was correct, and that they had noticed many of the symptoms of delayed birth that I described, but they do not recomend any pregnant mother to try strenous excercise as a way of discharging the adrenaline. Why not? Was my question
But they did not answer. Same as all of the rest of the various professional bodies which are concerned with labor and birth. Was it not safe? I have been trying to get this very simple and easy aid to the birthing community for the last 28 years. To no avail. Hence the rather long post, for which I hope you will understand.
Someone will have to stand guard at the door, and negotiate with any midwife or physician who is objecting. If not they will soon overwhelm any of your plans for a birth in line with what you want to experience. “This is too dangerous, you are disturbing the other mothers”, the reasons why you will have to lie on your back with all the panapoly of the modern birth experience holding you back from giving birth in the way your body wants you to do.
What happens is, that the intrusion of ANY person into the birthing environment; even your loved ones will be determined by that mindless, unconscious, flight or fight reaction that is there for your survival, are they a predator or not? But is now out of date. It is almost cetainly a left over from more primitive times when women gave birth in a disused cave with other women or/and men on guard outside with their home made spears fending off the sabre toothed tiger. The tiger has scented the blood, heard the screams, and wants an easy meal.
If for some reason, your fight or flight mechanism kicks in, the adrenaline surge will close down or inhibit your cervix from opening. This was originally designed to give you two or three minutes to either flee, or to fight off a predator. (This is why women in labor need a quiet, private and dark place in which to give birth.) If after two or three minutes, you have not discharged the adrenaline, by the physical act of fleeing or fighting, you are in trouble. Pain and eventual distress will then start to make itself felt.
You will need to discharge the adrenaline, once the F & F mechanism has been stimulated, to actively engage in very strenous exercise, and also to express your feelings in grunts and groans. This will take about 20 to 30 minutes of fairly non stop activity. The best way, but not the ONLY way is to mimic fighting off a predator. Get a large pillow and beat the hellout of it. Don’t worry about hurting your baby to be, it is already starting to wonder what is going on, and wants to be born as soon as possible! Your birth coach can help by getting her own pillow and beating it with you
Once the fight or flight mechanism was essential for the survival of the species, but there are no predators around in most birthing environments, only kind, loving people who want to help. This is an out of date mechanism, one in which scientists would be well advised to seek to eradicate. This would do more for the health and comfort of women and their newborn worldwide. I can’t think of any reason why it should not be eliminated or it’s reaction muted. If anyone on this blog can think of any reason why it should be allowed to remain, please email me. I would love to know the reason for it’s contined presence.
Midwifery Today has been kind enough to print articles by me on this subject of lessening pain and discomfort, and Ronnie Falcoe’s excellent newsgroup has had my article, up for ever.
I am in a Internet Cafe at the moment as I am waiting for my broadband to be tranfered so I do not have access to my references.
What is happening to you if you have gone into fight or flight is very simple. There are three muscles in the uterus. One is there to bring blood and oxygen, another starts to push the neonate (fetus) down the birth canal. The third one which is the bugabo, is designed to stop your newborn being born into an unsafe environment. When the adrenaline hits it, it will block the cervix from expanding so that the neonate cannot safely, and easily pass through it.
In technical terms it is called failure to progress. This will block birth until an epidural or some other form of deadening the pain is given, or forceps are used, or if birth is being delayed beyond a certain point and the neonate had become distressed and it’s heart tones are giving warning signs, (I need to be out of here!!) a ceasarion is essential for your and your babies survival.
Sorry for the jumping around, lots of school kids are here, and it is chaos!!
Warmly
rayner
If you want more information I will not be able to answer for 24 hours until I come to the Internet Cafe again. I will have my references with me. I will be happy to answer any questions by my email. rayner@intuit.org.uk
I actually had a decent experience at the hospital (one of the lucky ones!). I researched which one to go to and luckily am in an area where there are several to choose from!
With my current pregnancy, though, I’m probably going to a birthing center that’s opening up. Can’t wait to check it out!
I have just gone to Ronnie Falcoe LM MS, A home birth midwife in Mountain View, Ca., website, who has one of the most comprehensive websites that I have ever referenced. A veritible storehouse of information, and anecdotes on Home and Hospital Birthing.
She has had my article Turning Fear and Pain into Relaxed Focus for Birthing for many years upon it. The URL is: http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/rayner.html
Lots of other very interesting and pfofessional articles on it as well. Happy reading!
Mama is.. fabulous!
I loved it!
Boy we think alike….but I can’t draw!!!!!!! I love you….you are amazing.
ingenious and completely sharing on my blog.
This was so hard to watch. I hated it. But I love you for making it…..How can we get it out and shown all over the place? I really MEAN IT. This needs to be on everyone’s website, blog, twitter or facebook or myspace account. We really need to get in on the news, shown in schools, and added as a short subject in random movie theaters.
Oh….I still feel sort of sick from watching it, though. Just too true. What I hated the most was the silence from the Mom. Can’t she speak up? I wanted to shout at her, “Say NO!” about each and every intervention or those horrible negative comments made by the people who are supposed to be helping her. Women need to beware of “helpers” like these. They are dangerous.
Best,
Bonnie
cant view. how come
Yea, mine was good. But I’ve also heard from some other mamas that went to the same hospital that their experiences were not as good. Even from some who used the same doctor. I have notice she seems to be one of those “Love her or Hate her” people. All the mamas I have talked to that see her, some can’t stand her, some adore her. There seems to be no in between.
I had some complications with my deliveries and feel really blessed that they didn’t try to push me into unnecessary cesareans because of them.
When I went to my first appointment with ob/gyn for my first child, I was told that an epidural is natural childbirth because you are awake. I left the office, called all over creation to find a midwife and had my baby at home. With my second child, there was some question over placental positioning. I went for an ultrasound at 36 weeks to make sure all was well. I was told my son’s femurs were measuring short and that I had a “big baby in there” and “might want to consider a c-section” even though my first child, born after three pushes with my midwife, was 9 lbs 12 oz. It was realized they messed up my dates and so the femurs were not really short, and ultrasound is known for measurement inaccuracies that late, etc. Since the femurs were equal and in proportion to the baby’s body, I was not worried at all, and reassured my husband who was then worried. I went back to my midwife with a story to laugh at and then pushed 1.5 times to deliver my 10 lb. 2 oz. second child at home, no meds, no episiotomy, no tearing, etc. The office apparently came across my chart some months later and called my house to inquire about the status of my pregnancy. It was all my husband could do not to lie to them and say “oh, she’s still pregnant, should we be concerned?” Instead, he was polite and said that yes, I’d had the baby and he was perfectly healthy and normally formed.
@ Kate: LOL!! and, “I was told that an epidural is natural childbirth because you are awake…” OMG!! I would have ran screaming away as well! and short femurs?!?! of course they are short! he’s a baby!!
you must live in a town full of sadistic comedians
Had two hospital births. I don’t think I could survive a third.
I would be laughing so much, if this weren’t so darn spot-on.
Great job. Everything perfectly done; the music, the nurses, the frame of *just* the clock…
It makes me sick. I wonder how many will watch this and see their own experience…?
I hope MANY watch and give serious consideration to their birthing plans!
Thanks, Heather!
I noticed that there arent many ‘male’ comments…and thats just a shame. Im 26 yrs old, and at the moment, dont plan on having any kids at all. (even considered gettin a vasectomy to ensure this cannot happen) However, I know that the only exposure ive ever gotten as far as childbirth is concerned, is from the (and i hate to admit this) TELEVISION. Now if by now you havent realized that EVERYTHING on television is fake, then my heart goes out to you, you moron. So its not wonder that i can sit here and say “WOW, this is how it happens in real life.” And sadly sadly sadly, it is, and i know it is. I think the most truthful statement in this short is when the nurse says “where your birth is our business”. If i do ever decide to contribute to the birth of another human being, I pray its is with someone who can see thru this big business practice of hospital birth and drugs. We are so far removed from nature that the ‘sheep’ dont even realize what they are letting society do to them. Dont be a sheep, in the sense of following the herd. Be one in the sense that a real sheep gives birth in a meadow on the grass and earth, as nature intended. Not a hospital bed, jacked up on painkillers and contraction promoters. I wish all moms, soon to be and already beens alike, all the best with their current kids and children soon to be. And as for the fathers…droppin the seed in the hole aint enough to bear good fruit. Get involved, get educated, and be a positive encouragement. And a huge thanks to Heather, for her witty satire and humor. It certainly takes much talent to not only create these illustrations, but to give them that comedic voice that also lets you see the real side of a misguided ‘industry’ and the most natural phenomenon on the face of this planet.
Wow. Spot on. Except I refused to consent to a c-section. They gave me cytotec and ds ended up in the NICU with fluid filled lungs for four days while they figured out if he had pneumonia (instead of a side effect from all the drugs they gave me). It’s horrific. BUT, if I wouldn’t have had the horrible, traumatic, unnatural experience that we had, I wouldn’t have gone off and done all the reading and networking I have. Now, I can’t wait for number two so I can go through pregnancy, labor and delivery as nature intended.
[...] last week, Heather Cushman-Dowdee posted her YouTube video called BirthsMART (the video): Filed under Uncategorized Tagged ACOG, advocacy, cesarean, maternity care, [...]
AWESOME! Sad but VERY TRUE!
Wow. I’m so glad that I’ve had only homebirths. I am content to learn from the hard experiences of others.
This breaks my heart because that’s almost exactly what happened to me. I’m a nurse and never realized what we do to mothers until it happened to me. I’m so glad my eyes have been open recently!
I had 4 hospital births and then a homebirth and am expecting homebirth number 2 in December. This video might seem cynical but unfortunately is so true for a great many cases. Thanks for making this.
Reminds me of my birth experience (only I was 3 weeks overdue rather than before my due date). I hate it when no one realizes how traumatic c-sections can be when so many sing their praises.