Showing posts with label advocacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label advocacy. Show all posts
Monday, May 12, 2008
Tehelka Article on Alternatives to Hospital Births in Urban India
Here's an article in Tehelka -- an independent news magazine -- that I was interviewed for. The title, in my opinion, doesn't really reflect the content of the article, but oh well.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Consumer First, Patient Second
One of our BBN members passed along this article, which talks about why it's important to find the right doctor for your birth. My experience in urban India is that women and couples have to do a great amount of self-advocacy in order to get accurate information, assert their birth preferences (assuming there are some!), and have some amount of control over their delivery. This is a crucial exercise for having a satisfying birth experience.
Here's an excerpt from the article, which speaks to what we in the Bangalore Birth Network have been discussing for awhile now:
If [physicians'] parameters of care include routine epidurals, episiotomies for all their patients, routines IVs, etc. then that is their place of comfort in giving care. If you don’t want any of those things, you’d be much better off finding a different physician than trying to convert this one to your way of thinking, because you’re asking them to take themselves out of their comfort zone to care for you. It’s important that as consumers of healthcare, women understand the pressures that come to bear upon care providers.
Click here to read the entire article.
Here's an excerpt from the article, which speaks to what we in the Bangalore Birth Network have been discussing for awhile now:
If [physicians'] parameters of care include routine epidurals, episiotomies for all their patients, routines IVs, etc. then that is their place of comfort in giving care. If you don’t want any of those things, you’d be much better off finding a different physician than trying to convert this one to your way of thinking, because you’re asking them to take themselves out of their comfort zone to care for you. It’s important that as consumers of healthcare, women understand the pressures that come to bear upon care providers.
Click here to read the entire article.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
IMBCI
The International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization (IMBCO) has just come out with their International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiatve (IMBCI): 10 Steps to Optimal Maternity Services Worldwide. It's based on the results of a survey of birth and breastfeeding organizations in 163 countries and on input from IMBCO's Technical Advisory Group, international representatives, and from birth experts all over the world who participated in its construction.
It would be great if the Bangalore Birth Network could use this in our advocacy work and to help hospitals improve their maternity care.
Step 1: Treat every woman with respect and dignity.
Step 2: Possess and routinely apply midwifery knowledge and skills that optimize the normal physiology of birth and breastfeeding.
Step 3: Inform the mother of the benefits of continuous support during labour and birth, and affirm her right to receive such support from companions of her choice.
Step 4: Provide drug-free comfort and pain relief methods during labour, explaining their benefits for facilitating normal birth and avoiding unnecessary harm.
Step 5: Provide evidence-based practices proven to be beneficial.
Step 6: Avoid potentially harmful procedures and practices that have no scientific support for routine or frequent use in normal labour and birth.
Step 7: Implement measures that enhance wellness and prevent illness and emergencies.
Step 8: Provide access to evidence-based skilled emergency treatment.
Step 9: Provide a continuum of collaborative care with all relevant health care providers, institutions and organizations.
Step 10: Strive to achieve the BFHI 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Readers Respond to New York Times Article About Doulas
A couple of weeks ago, the New York Times ran this pretty negative article about doulas and lactation consultants. I wanted to post the letters to the editor that were published a week later.
New York Times
March 9, 2008
Letters in Defense of Doulas
To the Editor:
Re "And the Doula Makes Four," by Pamela Paul (Sunday Styles, March 2): I recently gave birth to my son with the assistance of an experienced doula, without an epidural and other interventions that I had hoped to avoid. Your article, in emphasizing negative experiences with doulas who seem to be acting inappropriately and outside their scope, does a disservice to parents. Medical literature has demonstrated that with a qualified doula, a mother is likely to have a shorter labor with fewer complications, including a lower chance of Caesarean section.
Diana Graham, M.D.Raleigh, N.C.
***
To the Editor:
Your article reported that "44 percent of women described the relationship between their hospital nurses and doulas as hostile, resentful and confrontational." In fact, this study - which surveyed a total of nine women from a single hospital in north-central Alabama - found that four women described their nurses as behaving that way. The doulas, on the other hand, were described as "calm," "respectful" and "the best investment I have ever made in my life." In my experience as a doula, the vast majority of nurses welcome doulas' respectful support and nonmedical role. I can only hope doulas will become more widely available so every woman who wants one can have this kind of support during childbirth.
Dorian Solot
Albany
The writer is a birth doula certified by DONA International, a
professional organization that provides training and certification as
well as information for prospective clients.
***
To the Editor:
It seems Americans do more research on car purchases than on medical providers and hospitals. I did my research and had an amazing doula for the birth of my first child. When my second son was born, we had trouble with breast-feeding. A certified lactation consultant saved our breast-feeding relationship. While I am sure there are bad doulas and lactation consultants, I believe the majority are excellent and much needed in our over-medicalized birth environment and pro-formula society.
Corinne Griswold
North Granby, Conn.
New York Times
March 9, 2008
Letters in Defense of Doulas
To the Editor:
Re "And the Doula Makes Four," by Pamela Paul (Sunday Styles, March 2): I recently gave birth to my son with the assistance of an experienced doula, without an epidural and other interventions that I had hoped to avoid. Your article, in emphasizing negative experiences with doulas who seem to be acting inappropriately and outside their scope, does a disservice to parents. Medical literature has demonstrated that with a qualified doula, a mother is likely to have a shorter labor with fewer complications, including a lower chance of Caesarean section.
Diana Graham, M.D.Raleigh, N.C.
***
To the Editor:
Your article reported that "44 percent of women described the relationship between their hospital nurses and doulas as hostile, resentful and confrontational." In fact, this study - which surveyed a total of nine women from a single hospital in north-central Alabama - found that four women described their nurses as behaving that way. The doulas, on the other hand, were described as "calm," "respectful" and "the best investment I have ever made in my life." In my experience as a doula, the vast majority of nurses welcome doulas' respectful support and nonmedical role. I can only hope doulas will become more widely available so every woman who wants one can have this kind of support during childbirth.
Dorian Solot
Albany
The writer is a birth doula certified by DONA International, a
professional organization that provides training and certification as
well as information for prospective clients.
***
To the Editor:
It seems Americans do more research on car purchases than on medical providers and hospitals. I did my research and had an amazing doula for the birth of my first child. When my second son was born, we had trouble with breast-feeding. A certified lactation consultant saved our breast-feeding relationship. While I am sure there are bad doulas and lactation consultants, I believe the majority are excellent and much needed in our over-medicalized birth environment and pro-formula society.
Corinne Griswold
North Granby, Conn.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Calling all gentle birth advocates in Bangalore!!
If you or anyone you know is interested in joining our efforts, please contact me!
The Bangalore Birth Network (BBN) is a group of professionals and concerned citizens in Bangalore who share the beliefs that:
• Pregnancy and childbirth are normal physiological processes as well as social events in the life of a woman and her family.
• Women, not medical practitioners, are the primary caregivers for themselves, their fetuses, newborns and families.
• Every woman should be treated with respect in every phase of her care from pregnancy through postpartum. Respect includes, but is not limited to complete, unbiased information about tests, treatments, and procedures, fully informed consent, preservation of privacy, and polite respectful communications by all involved with her care.
• Intervention in the process and the application of technology are only justified when their use can be shown to enhance wellbeing and improve outcome for a particular mother and her baby. Routine protocols not based on research evidence should be avoided. Maternity care should be grounded in evidence, and care providers should be accountable to the mother and family for the mental and physical outcomes resulting from their actions or inactions.
• A primary maternity care system that offers a variety of options in prenatal care and birth settings and in choice of caregivers is essential to meeting women’s needs. Each birthing woman has individual needs, and it is her right to select the care provider and setting for birth that best fits those needs.
• Professionals and citizens must actively promote the allocation of resources towards measures that support the basic needs of women and their babies, while reducing the over-use of expensive obstetric technology.
• Every woman has the right to accessible, affordable, proficient maternity care.
In keeping with this position, the Bangalore Birth Network will:
• Promote childbirth practices and guidelines for care which enhance the normal physiological process;
• Promote the allocation of resources towards measures which support the basic needs of women and their babies as a priority, such as improved nutrition and social support during pregnancy;
• Continuously evaluate intervention and the use of technology in midwifery and obstetrical practice and take measures to avoid unnecessary interference;
• Provide information and education to women and their families that enhances the understanding of birth as a normal life process and enables them to make informed decisions; and
• Promote research and training in evidence-based maternity care coalition-building, communications, and networking with other organizations to achieve our vision.
The Bangalore Birth Network (BBN) is a group of professionals and concerned citizens in Bangalore who share the beliefs that:
• Pregnancy and childbirth are normal physiological processes as well as social events in the life of a woman and her family.
• Women, not medical practitioners, are the primary caregivers for themselves, their fetuses, newborns and families.
• Every woman should be treated with respect in every phase of her care from pregnancy through postpartum. Respect includes, but is not limited to complete, unbiased information about tests, treatments, and procedures, fully informed consent, preservation of privacy, and polite respectful communications by all involved with her care.
• Intervention in the process and the application of technology are only justified when their use can be shown to enhance wellbeing and improve outcome for a particular mother and her baby. Routine protocols not based on research evidence should be avoided. Maternity care should be grounded in evidence, and care providers should be accountable to the mother and family for the mental and physical outcomes resulting from their actions or inactions.
• A primary maternity care system that offers a variety of options in prenatal care and birth settings and in choice of caregivers is essential to meeting women’s needs. Each birthing woman has individual needs, and it is her right to select the care provider and setting for birth that best fits those needs.
• Professionals and citizens must actively promote the allocation of resources towards measures that support the basic needs of women and their babies, while reducing the over-use of expensive obstetric technology.
• Every woman has the right to accessible, affordable, proficient maternity care.
In keeping with this position, the Bangalore Birth Network will:
• Promote childbirth practices and guidelines for care which enhance the normal physiological process;
• Promote the allocation of resources towards measures which support the basic needs of women and their babies as a priority, such as improved nutrition and social support during pregnancy;
• Continuously evaluate intervention and the use of technology in midwifery and obstetrical practice and take measures to avoid unnecessary interference;
• Provide information and education to women and their families that enhances the understanding of birth as a normal life process and enables them to make informed decisions; and
• Promote research and training in evidence-based maternity care coalition-building, communications, and networking with other organizations to achieve our vision.
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