Disrespect and abuse in facility-based childbirth
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has published a report on disrespect and abuse in facility-based childbirth around the world. From the Executive Summary: Lack of respectful and non-abusive care at birth may encompass many points along a continuum that spans dignified, patient centered care, non-dignified care, and overtly abusive maternal care. Examples […]
Cesareans 17% more likely at for-profit hospitals
California Watch, a nonpartisan investigative reporting initiative, has released a study showing that for-profit hospitals in California are performing cesareans at higher rates than non-profits, even in low-risk pregnancies. A database compiled from state birthing records revealed that, all factors considered, women are at least 17 percent more likely to have a cesarean section at […]
Best of the Birth Blogs – Labor Day Edition
Your weekly one-stop for highlights from the birth blogosphere. Visit weekly for the latest on childbirth, especially related to cesarean prevention, recovery, and VBAC. To nominate a blog post to be featured here, email me at blog@ican-online.org. Happy Labor Day! Rixa at Stand and Deliver gives a great round-up of recent birth-related news coverage. Also […]
Call for 2011 ICAN Conference Speakers!
ICAN (the International Cesarean Awareness Network) is hosting its biannual conference April 8-10, 2011 during Cesarean Awareness Month, at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac in St. Louis, Missouri. The ICAN conference is a unique opportunity for speakers, as it brings both the consumer and the birth professional to learn and grow together. Rising cesarean rates […]
One-third of first-time mothers having cesareans
A study published in this month’s American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology has made headlines, including the Los Angeles Times. Results of the study show that 1 in 3 new moms are giving birth surgically: Overall, cesarean deliveries account for about a third of births in the U.S. While much attention has recently focused on […]
Orgasmic VBAC
Jennifer posted a wonderful story of her orgasmic VBAC on Livemom.com: I pushed for two hours, which isn’t too bad compared to the 43-hour marathon labor stories we hear. I was pretty vocal; mostly pissed that there was zero pain-relief from the epidural. I think the contractions were more painful because I had the expectation […]
Antibiotics Before Cesarean?
ACOG has issued recommendations that all women scheduled for cesareans be given antibiotics an hour beforehand and “emergent cases” should be started on antibiotics “as soon as possible.” According to Medpage Today: Although antimicrobial prophylaxis to reduce postoperative maternal infections is already common practice for C-sections, clinicians need to stop waiting until after clamping the […]
Lauren's Worst Day
The day my eldest son was born was the worst day of my life. I know what you’re thinking…how can you say that? But it has nothing to do with my love for him and everything to do with the way that he was brought into this world. I know they say that birthing a […]
Best of the Birth Blogs – August 9-22
Your weekly one-stop for highlights from the birth blogosphere. Visit weekly for the latest on childbirth, especially related to cesarean prevention, recovery, and VBAC. To nominate a blog post to be featured here, email me at blog@ican-online.org. It’s summer and we’re a little slow around the blog lately…but there’s been plenty of good reading in […]
The Birth of Forest
Ingrid sent in her beautiful home birth story to share… Ocean, my three year old son, and I came home Friday night from a fun evening of hanging out with Ocean’s cousins, Emma and Andrew. We had all gone out for pizza and to the duck pond. I had felt pretty darn tired while we […]
Mother-sized Activism at Work in Iowa
Have you contacted your local hospitals and OB providers yet to ask about their practices in light of ACOG’s new VBAC recommendations? Stephanie Windgardner in Sioux City, Iowa has. She shares: My [OB] office previously stated the ACOG guidelines as why I could not try for a VBAC with my next child. Since the guidelines […]
Best of the Birth Blogs – Week Ending August 8th
Your weekly one-stop for highlights from the birth blogosphere. Visit weekly for the latest on childbirth, especially related to cesarean prevention, recovery, and VBAC. To nominate a blog post to be featured here, email me at blog@ican-online.org. How is it possible the summer is flying by so fast??? The National Advocates of Pregnant Women posted […]
