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to rebel against hospital
practices of separati ng
the woman in labor from
her husband, of routinely
sedating her during birth
and removing the infant
from the parents' pres–
ence for more than a
week during recovery
time in the hospital.
Women, supported by
their husbands, started
to demand a return to a
more natural forro of
childbirth. Experts in
child psychology began
to promote the impor–
tance of the early bond–
wives and home births.
Physicians, arguing that home
delivery was potentially dangerous
(sorne even going so far as to call it
child abuse), fought back by
attempting to legislate against mid–
wifery and by peer pressure on any
of their field who would attend
home births or agree to back up a
midwife. T he battle still goes on.
More and more birth centers
who support natural childbirth
and bonding. The mother can
have family members and her
labor coach at her side during
labor and delivery, and she can
usually go home soon after her
child is born.
Technical medica! services are
available if needed at birth cen–
ters, and delivery is generally less
expensive than a hospital de–
livery.
Insurance firms are
including birth centers in
their coverage, happy to
see the lower rates for
deliveries.
H ospital administra–
tors have noticed the
trend, and therefore
birthing rooms, ABCs–
that is, alternate birthing
centers,-homelike in
decor as opposed to the '
1
aseptic coldness of labor
rooms, are bei ng made
available in hospitals to–
day.
An Educated Choice
Pam invites Aaron to greet bis new brotber. Two-year–
old Aaron, now wide awake, joins bis family to sba re
the first exciting moments of his brother's arrival.
ing experience for both
parents. The pressure was on.
Expectant parents should
not endanger the Iife of
their unborn child by
irresponsibly trying
every new fad in child
are springing up around tbe coun–
try to give couples yet another
option.
delivery that comes al ong. Legal
restrictions should be observed.
But neither should parents neglect
their responsibilities and leave a11
decisions about the delivery of
When family doctors wouldn't
agree or cooperate, parents-to-be,
only a few at first but the numbers
began to increase, turned to mid-
The bírth centers are more like–
ly to be staffed by nurse-midwives
An lnformed Choice
S
o you are choosing
where your baby will be
born. And who your birth
attendant will be, whether a
doctor or a certified
nurse-midwife. There are
certain things you must take
into account. They include
your health at the outset of
the pregnancy, your
personal desires and the
availability in your area of
alternative birthing facilities.
Select someone whose
philosophy about childbirth
is compatible with yours.
One whom you feel you can
trust and with whom you
24
can communicate your
feelings and desires. Be
sure he or she is qualified
and can handle
emergencias should they
arise.
Your attendant should
believe that pregnancy and
birth are not illnesses and
that you should have a
reasonable choice in the
way your labor is handled.
He or she should be able to
give you an accurate and
detailed explanation of any
tests or diagnostic
procedures performed. lf
medications or anesthetics
are necessary, their purpose
and possible side effects
should first be thoroughly
explained to you.
Remember, doctors
handle any type of birth,
however complicated.
Certified nurse-midwives,
registered nurses with one
or two years of additional
training, accept only women
with healthy, normal
pregnancies that could take
place outside of the
hospital, without medica!
intervention. Certified
nurse-midwives always work
with a backup doctor in
case of complications.
The attendant you
choose should be willing to
listen to your questions and
answer them to your
satisfaction, but you should
know what it is that you
want and how to ask
pertinent questions.
• Does your prospective
atiendan! feel that the
mother and father should be
active participants in
pregnancy, labor, birth and
early parenting?
• Does your atiendan!
provide complete prenatal
care-a discussion of the
use of drugs (including
alcohol, cigarettes and
over-the-counter
The
PLAIN TRUTH