Barton Stone
11-20-2006, 10:09 PM
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Please copy and paste the text below and send it off to everyone you know!
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After reading these statistics below, you might feel shocked, surprised, angered and/or saddened by the unknown of maternity care in the United States. Let’s do something about this. You were lucky enough to have read this email and told a friend, sister, or loved one, but most of America and the world do not know about how dangerous birth can be when interfered with.
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Please take the time and follow this link to Oprah’s website and suggest a show that would let honored members of our community speak the unspoken and put birth back into the hands of whom it should be… The Mothers! Just think the 5 minutes it takes you to tell Oprah, might save a life and insure that a baby does not go without a mom. Also, please forward this on to as many moms, dads, friends, aunts, uncles, grandparents... that you know “we must be the change we wish to see in the world”.
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https://www.oprah.com/plugger/templates/BeOnTheShow.jhtml?action=respond&plugId=B2100004 *(Just copy and paste the text below and let Oprah know)
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BIRTH IN AMERICA
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- It is safer to have a baby in Cuba &/or the Czech Republic than the United States. The US ranks 28th in infant mortality among industrialized nations, one of the highest in developing countries, yet we spend the most money on birth. (Child Health USA 2002, Maternal Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services https://mchb.hrsa.gov/chusa02/main_pages/page_03.htm )
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- Each year 4.3 million babies are born in America
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- Fewer than 5% of these births occur naturally
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- Although the majority of pregnancies in the US are considered healthy, the presence of technology at birth is the norm. Interventions are experienced by most moms today.
*
- The United States has an unregulated health care system which spends more on birth than any other country in the world!
*
- The US Center for Disease Control reports an increase in cesareans up 8% in just one year, meaning that 1 in 3 women will give birth via Cesarean.
*
- The neonatal mortality rate of babies born via cesarean is 2 times that of babies born vaginally.
*
- The maternal mortality rate of women who give birth via cesarean is 4 times higher than women who give birth vaginally.
*
-“… the World Health Organization concluded that … there was no justification for any region to have a cesarean rate more than 10 to 15 percent.”
-The United States ranks behind at least 30 other nations in maternal mortality rates according to the World Health Organization. In 2003, the United States reported 12.1 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, up from 7.5 per 100,000 in 1982. However the CDC estimates that maternal deaths are underreported by one half to two thirds, and that half of US maternal deaths are preventable. The rate of death due to childbirth has not decreased since 1982, and increased in 1999. (Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. Ina May Gaskin. Bantam, 2003. pp 274-277)
- Both Singapore and Sweden ranked the lowest in maternal and infant mortality rates, and both have cesarean rates around 7% and the majority of their births are supported by the midwifery model of care.
-Ina May Gaskin a well respected Midwife, has started a quilt project called “Safe Motherhood Quilt”, each piece is devoted to a woman in the U.S. who has died of unnecessary pregnancy-related causes, and is the voice for women who can no longer speak for themselves. You can view some of the patches here https://www.rememberthemothers.net/quilt/thumbnails.php?album=4.
- Obstetricians are trained to view birth as "a catastrophe waiting to happen or a sickness.”
-The Midwifery Model of care views pregnancy, labor and birth as normal, and supports the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle.”
-There is not one study that proves that Hospital Birth is safer than homebirth. In fact most studies will prove that births in a woman-centered model of care have been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
- The typical birth in this country is neither normal nor healthy. What has become the norm is a system of aggressive interventions known as "active management" of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the care of newborns.
- 90% of all babies born in hospitals begin life with drugs in their system. We are not talking about street drugs such as cocaine, but about drugs given to mothers by physicians and nurses—artificial hormones to stop, start or speed up labor; drugs to sedate, and anesthetics to numb sensations. None of these drugs have been fully tested on babies to ascertain the full extent of risk they pose for a baby's liver and brain.*
-There is a drug used in Pregnancy/Labor called Cytotec that is not approved be the FDA that has claimed the lives of thousands of mothers in childbirth since its use started, and is still used widely in hospitals today.
- Research is now showing us that our society is a product of how we welcome and raise our children, and when babies come into this world traumatized from interventions that are common, there is an increase in depression, suicide, and attachment issues through out life!
- With love and connection, babies develop minds that are coherent and flexible, ready in turn to make compassionate and empathic connections as they grow.
There are so many other startling statistics that could be listed. We can change this, but we must act!
Here are just a few well respected member of out community which could speak on birth, tell Oprah about them:
-Ina May Gaskin https://inamay.com/biography.php
-Peggy O’Mara https://www.mothering.com/guest_editors/quiet_place/113.html
-Dr. Gladys McGeary, MD
-Joseph Chilton Pierce
- Joel Evans, MD https://www.drjoelevans.com/
- Christiane Northrup, MD https://www.drnorthrup.com/
-Suzanne Arms https://www.birthingthefuture.com/btf_index.html
- Michel Odent, MD https://www.wombecology.com/
- Sarah J Buckley, MD https://www.sarahjbuckley.com/
And some celebrates that would be good spokespeople on having gentle home births:
-********
Pamela Anderson
-********
Meryl Streep
-********
Demi Moore
-********
John Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston,
-********
Singer Nellie Furtado
-********
Cindy Crawford
-********
Noah Wyle’s with Tracey Wyle
Also, please know that there are organizations that you can support. Here are a few which are already working on changing how birth is viewed and treated in this country:
-The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services https://www.motherfriendly.org/ or 10 Questions to Ask link https://www.motherfriendly.org/Downloads/10Qs.pdf
-The Association of Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Health https://www.birthpsychology.com/
-Doula’s of North America https://www.dona.org/
- Alliance*for*Transforming the*Lives*of*Children https://www.atlc.org/
-Birthing the Future https://www.birthingthefuture.com/btf_index.html
-Holistic Mom’s Network https://www.holisticmoms.org/
-Maternity Wise https://www.childbirthconnection.org/
-Midwifery Today Magazine https://www.midwiferytoday.com/
-Mothering Magazine https://www.mothering.com/
-International Cesarean Awareness Network https://www.ican-online.org/
-Lamaze International https://www.lamaze.org/Default.asp
“A woman giving birth needs to be treated as the very special being that she is, for the future of humanity to be something better than is has been. The seeds of violence, I believe, are sown right in the delivery room." *—Dr. Christiane Northrup, obstetrician, from the video Giving Birth: Challenges & Choices
Please copy and paste the text below and send it off to everyone you know!
*
*
*
After reading these statistics below, you might feel shocked, surprised, angered and/or saddened by the unknown of maternity care in the United States. Let’s do something about this. You were lucky enough to have read this email and told a friend, sister, or loved one, but most of America and the world do not know about how dangerous birth can be when interfered with.
*
Please take the time and follow this link to Oprah’s website and suggest a show that would let honored members of our community speak the unspoken and put birth back into the hands of whom it should be… The Mothers! Just think the 5 minutes it takes you to tell Oprah, might save a life and insure that a baby does not go without a mom. Also, please forward this on to as many moms, dads, friends, aunts, uncles, grandparents... that you know “we must be the change we wish to see in the world”.
*
https://www.oprah.com/plugger/templates/BeOnTheShow.jhtml?action=respond&plugId=B2100004 *(Just copy and paste the text below and let Oprah know)
*
BIRTH IN AMERICA
*
- It is safer to have a baby in Cuba &/or the Czech Republic than the United States. The US ranks 28th in infant mortality among industrialized nations, one of the highest in developing countries, yet we spend the most money on birth. (Child Health USA 2002, Maternal Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services https://mchb.hrsa.gov/chusa02/main_pages/page_03.htm )
*
- Each year 4.3 million babies are born in America
*
- Fewer than 5% of these births occur naturally
*
- Although the majority of pregnancies in the US are considered healthy, the presence of technology at birth is the norm. Interventions are experienced by most moms today.
*
- The United States has an unregulated health care system which spends more on birth than any other country in the world!
*
- The US Center for Disease Control reports an increase in cesareans up 8% in just one year, meaning that 1 in 3 women will give birth via Cesarean.
*
- The neonatal mortality rate of babies born via cesarean is 2 times that of babies born vaginally.
*
- The maternal mortality rate of women who give birth via cesarean is 4 times higher than women who give birth vaginally.
*
-“… the World Health Organization concluded that … there was no justification for any region to have a cesarean rate more than 10 to 15 percent.”
-The United States ranks behind at least 30 other nations in maternal mortality rates according to the World Health Organization. In 2003, the United States reported 12.1 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, up from 7.5 per 100,000 in 1982. However the CDC estimates that maternal deaths are underreported by one half to two thirds, and that half of US maternal deaths are preventable. The rate of death due to childbirth has not decreased since 1982, and increased in 1999. (Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. Ina May Gaskin. Bantam, 2003. pp 274-277)
- Both Singapore and Sweden ranked the lowest in maternal and infant mortality rates, and both have cesarean rates around 7% and the majority of their births are supported by the midwifery model of care.
-Ina May Gaskin a well respected Midwife, has started a quilt project called “Safe Motherhood Quilt”, each piece is devoted to a woman in the U.S. who has died of unnecessary pregnancy-related causes, and is the voice for women who can no longer speak for themselves. You can view some of the patches here https://www.rememberthemothers.net/quilt/thumbnails.php?album=4.
- Obstetricians are trained to view birth as "a catastrophe waiting to happen or a sickness.”
-The Midwifery Model of care views pregnancy, labor and birth as normal, and supports the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle.”
-There is not one study that proves that Hospital Birth is safer than homebirth. In fact most studies will prove that births in a woman-centered model of care have been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
- The typical birth in this country is neither normal nor healthy. What has become the norm is a system of aggressive interventions known as "active management" of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the care of newborns.
- 90% of all babies born in hospitals begin life with drugs in their system. We are not talking about street drugs such as cocaine, but about drugs given to mothers by physicians and nurses—artificial hormones to stop, start or speed up labor; drugs to sedate, and anesthetics to numb sensations. None of these drugs have been fully tested on babies to ascertain the full extent of risk they pose for a baby's liver and brain.*
-There is a drug used in Pregnancy/Labor called Cytotec that is not approved be the FDA that has claimed the lives of thousands of mothers in childbirth since its use started, and is still used widely in hospitals today.
- Research is now showing us that our society is a product of how we welcome and raise our children, and when babies come into this world traumatized from interventions that are common, there is an increase in depression, suicide, and attachment issues through out life!
- With love and connection, babies develop minds that are coherent and flexible, ready in turn to make compassionate and empathic connections as they grow.
There are so many other startling statistics that could be listed. We can change this, but we must act!
Here are just a few well respected member of out community which could speak on birth, tell Oprah about them:
-Ina May Gaskin https://inamay.com/biography.php
-Peggy O’Mara https://www.mothering.com/guest_editors/quiet_place/113.html
-Dr. Gladys McGeary, MD
-Joseph Chilton Pierce
- Joel Evans, MD https://www.drjoelevans.com/
- Christiane Northrup, MD https://www.drnorthrup.com/
-Suzanne Arms https://www.birthingthefuture.com/btf_index.html
- Michel Odent, MD https://www.wombecology.com/
- Sarah J Buckley, MD https://www.sarahjbuckley.com/
And some celebrates that would be good spokespeople on having gentle home births:
-********
Pamela Anderson
-********
Meryl Streep
-********
Demi Moore
-********
John Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston,
-********
Singer Nellie Furtado
-********
Cindy Crawford
-********
Noah Wyle’s with Tracey Wyle
Also, please know that there are organizations that you can support. Here are a few which are already working on changing how birth is viewed and treated in this country:
-The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services https://www.motherfriendly.org/ or 10 Questions to Ask link https://www.motherfriendly.org/Downloads/10Qs.pdf
-The Association of Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Health https://www.birthpsychology.com/
-Doula’s of North America https://www.dona.org/
- Alliance*for*Transforming the*Lives*of*Children https://www.atlc.org/
-Birthing the Future https://www.birthingthefuture.com/btf_index.html
-Holistic Mom’s Network https://www.holisticmoms.org/
-Maternity Wise https://www.childbirthconnection.org/
-Midwifery Today Magazine https://www.midwiferytoday.com/
-Mothering Magazine https://www.mothering.com/
-International Cesarean Awareness Network https://www.ican-online.org/
-Lamaze International https://www.lamaze.org/Default.asp
“A woman giving birth needs to be treated as the very special being that she is, for the future of humanity to be something better than is has been. The seeds of violence, I believe, are sown right in the delivery room." *—Dr. Christiane Northrup, obstetrician, from the video Giving Birth: Challenges & Choices