Love What You Dou

06/13/2023

08/12/2022

Repost It's no coincidence that the demise of midwifery and in the United States occurred simultaneously with the massive wave of industrialization we now often refer to as "Fordism" at the turn of the 20th C. At that time, the still-developing field of obstetrics gained legitimacy through multiple strategies; one, as I've discussed before, was anti-midwifery propaganda fueled by racism. Another, though, was the adoption of the values of industrialization; obstetrics sold as a mechanistic procedure that tools and technologies could manipulate and improve.

The history of in America reflects the persistence of this idea, and has consistently trended toward increased control by physicians and increased medicalization in an effort to make the process more perfect and efficient. The definition of “normal” has become narrower and narrower; the toleration of deviance from that "norm" lower and lower. "Failure to progress" is the number one reason for c-births performed in the U.S. today.

But how can physicians determine you've "failed to progress" in your labor when they don't actually know what a normal labor is? Most OBs haven't ever seen normal labor, and have no idea how long it should or shouldn't take because the evidence has never studied normal labor. The two studies on which our definitions of "failure to progress" are based were conducted on labors where a majority were augmented by pitocin, forceps, various forms of pain management, or a combination of all three: i.e. mechanistic, industrialized birth.

But time is not actually the enemy during birth and efficiency isn't the goal. In fact, time often solves most of the "problems" we perceive in birth by allowing the baby to do the work of birth for which they are responsible - something obstetrics routinely ignores.

04/20/2022

You read that right.

Per the American College of OB/GYN's 2019 VBAC guidelines, the risk of maternal death during a planned vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is 0.0019%.

Expressed another way, that is a risk of 1 in 52,600.

Did you have any idea the risk was that low?

Whereas the risk of maternal death with an elective repeat cesarean after one cesarean is 0.0096% or 1 in 10,000.

Again, both really small numbers but the risk of maternal death is five times higher in a repeat cesarean.

This is why when pregnant people are threatened with "you could die if you plan a VBAC," it falls flat.

But it is often really successful in coercing someone into a repeat cesarean... as well as eroding patient autonomy and any trust when the birthing person learns the facts.

As a L&D nurse told us, "There is no real informed consent anymore."

This is just yet another example.

ETA: Some people asked in the comments about the risk of fetal death. We discuss that here: https://vbacfacts.com/2012/04/03/confusing-fact-only-6-of-uterine-ruptures-are-catastrophic/

Others have asked about vaginal birth after classical cesarean: https://vbacfacts.com/2021/08/10/vbac-after-classical-t-j-incision/

… or after two cesareans: https://vbacfacts.com/vba2c

… or after three or more cesareans: https://vbacfacts.com/vba3c

Also, you can download our free resources including:

- a report debunking the top 5 uterine rupture myths: https://vbacfacts.com/report

- a handout busting the top 3 VBAC myths using national guidelines: https://vbacfacts.com/acogmyths

- and a VBAC planning checklist: https://vbacfacts.com/checklist

10/06/2021

Love What You Dou welcomes Baby Girl!
10/06/21 @2:26am
8lbs 4oz

08/14/2021

Brittany always shares the best content for visualizing movement in birth! Simple pelvic manipulations through movement can provide extra space where your baby needs it most, through every stage of labor and delivery!

08/10/2021

02/02/2021

Good Morning everyone! I apologize as I've been a bit MIA recently: my family is currently moving and I had some personal health issues toward the end of 2020, but things are on the up!

My availability on DoulaMatch is current! If you or anyone you know is seeking doula support, I'm more than happy to chat about what I offer, or help you find the doula of your dreams. Don't hesitate to shoot me an email: lovewhatyoudou@gmail.com

Have a great day all!

Rachel DeLise Birth and Postpartum Doula Profile, including calendar, certifications, services offered, and client testimonials