Preparing for Birth is like preparing to climb Mount Everest, but with much more chance of success and a lot more warmth! When climbing Everest, a Sherpa is an essential part of your team. They know the landscape, the climate and remain calm and alert. In Birth, a doula is like a sherpa. The doula is familiar with the location, the people and the physiology, remaining calm and alert, guiding and supporting you.
You may be familiar with Robert Frost’s “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood”. This pastiche looks at two options emerging in a birthing ward.
Imagine if we were decision focused instead of consent focused.
Imagine if we supported physiology rather then relied on technology.
It’s easy if you try.
Our current approach to maternity is far short of what the minimal for maternity should be. In a society that values mothers, we would see a minimal standard based on compassion, connection and confidence. We would be celebrating and honouring the transformation, and doing everything we could to ensure women transition whole and powerful. We …
As the sexual revolution expelled it’s sex positive culture with ‘compulsory sexuality’, devoid of morals and responsibility, all we need is a yes and anything – anything- goes. Choking, and other violent acts of violation are becoming normalised as the pornification of society screams yes…even when they want to say no.
meanwhile, in maternity, The medicalisation of birth is marching fast towards complete dehumanisation. We can do anything, so we now redefine normal and slip all too willingly into a capitalist approach to reproduction. No longer about birth and transformation, women or mothers; babies are a product of an industry so focussed on yes, they have forgotten that no is an option. Just as the sexual revolution made sexuality compulsory, modern maternity has made medicalisation compulsory.
Is there such a thing as Too Much Information? A point where overwhelm means overcome? Is it possible that blissful ignorance Protects us from being The One? The One who has a bad time, The One who gets The Lot, The One who is disappointed The one whose birth was shot. And what does it …
A health care directive contains many decisions, for various what ifs. Including explicit instructions regarding what will happen with your remains, beyond burial vs cremation, is very helpful. There are ethical considerations, and if you do not express your decisions, others will be left to decide.
What is the difference between birth preferences and informed decisions?
There was a time, not so long ago, when doctors were supported in law to withhold details that might influence your decision making, or that they thought might scare you. This was Bolam’s Principle. Basically this principle states that as long as the collective of doctors reckon you ain’t negligent, then you ain’t negligent. Afterall …
Birth is Dangerous! or is it? ‘Danger’ and ‘Risk’ are sometimes used interchangeably, but they actually mean very different things. To use ‘danger’ when you mean ‘risk’, could be very damaging. The Nocebo Effect is a very real phenomenon, and the words we use are very powerful. Using ‘danger’ when you mean ‘risk’, and ‘risk’ when you …
