Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/869597
Labor Induction: Warning: This article contains radical ideas about labor, birth, and women's right to intelligently choose what's best for them and their babies! Read at your own risk of empowerment! The Induction Pressure Cooker and Women's Autonomy According to recent data from the latest Listening to Mothers III national survey of 2,400 mothers who gave birth in US hospitals from mid-2011 to mid-2012, women are being pressured by their healthcare providers to have inductions. Many women, in their desire to avoid induction, which sometimes also means changing plans from birthing center or home birth to hospital birth, will try to self-induce labor rather than endure a hospital induction. At least 64% of nurse midwives in the US, based on surveys, support the use of natural methods of labor induction. As a homebirth midwife, and also a family doctor licensed to practice obstetrics, I have worked hard to help women avoid unnecessary inductions. Sometimes this has put me at odds with what the medical profession says I "should" be doing – but if things are ever going to change in how obstetrics is practiced, then those of us who can, must take a stand for a woman's right to choose what she feels is best for her and her baby – even though this may be in conflict with conventional obstetric practice. The Low Down on naTuraL approaches from a miDwife-mD Labor Induction: Labor Induction: The sad reality is that conventional medical practices are not always based on the best available medical and scientific evidence, or the best interests of the mother. They are heavily influenced by doctors' fears of getting sued, data that is skewed by the interests of professional societies, insurance reimburses, hospital risk assessment teams, and even medical journal articles that have been written by or paid for by medical device and pharmaceutical companies. We need to take a stand for honoring the wisdom of nature rather than succumbing to pressure and fear. We must also fiercely protect one of the fundamental tenets of medical ethics: respect for autonomy. Autonomous individuals act intentionally, with understanding, and without controlling influences. When it comes to obstetrics, however, some medical authorities have questioned whether pregnant women should retain the right to autonomy, since their decisions affect not only themselves, but also their babies. Thus, some women have found themselves with court orders to undergo hospitalizations and obstetrics interventions – including cesarean sections – against their will! It is in the spirit of women's autonomy in the face of a compromised obstetrics system that I present what I know and have used in my own clinical practice, for getting labor started when the pressure to do so is on for gray area medical reasons. meDicaL vs. eLecTive inDucTion: an imporTanT Difference Labor inductions are done too often and many times, for non-medical indications. Unnecessary inductions can lead to a host of additional unnecessary interventions – including Page 26 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysHealthAndNutrition.com