Who do I need to start writing to...??? Stupid AMA/ACOG. Yeah, let's just go with the docs on this, without looking at any evidence.... Makes sense.
The day it becomes illegal in this country to have a homebirth is the day I'll consider moving out of this country--and I love my country! CONGRESS--you'd better not let this happen... You'll be hearing from me.
AMA Supports Proposed Legislation to Make Home Births
Illegal
ABC News reported on July 11. 2008 that the "American Medical Association has agreed to support proposed legislation that, some physicians say, could make make having a planned birth in one's home difficult, to virtually impossible." Presently their is no legislation but the AMA is backing what is called "Resolution 205" which is a request to support the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) position that home births are not safe.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) spokesperson Gregory Phillips, stated clearly, the ACOG position, "We are against home births, period." He continued in the ABC story by stating, "Women who give birth outside of a clinical setting risk putting themselves and their newborns at risk."
In opposition to this stand the American College of Nurse-Midwives has come out with a strong statement in support of planned home births. Jennifer Block, author of "Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care, who also writes a column for the LA Times stated in her columns that in Britain they routinely ask expecting mothers if they would like to have their babies at home instead of in the hospital. In her column Block noted that a hand-out is given to expecting mothers from Britain's National Health Service that says, "There is no evidence to support the common assertion that home birth is a less safe option for women experiencing uncomplicated pregnancies."
Block also noted in her column that last year a joint statement was issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Royal College of Midwives that said, "There is no reason why home birth should not be offered to women at low risk of complications, and it may confer considerable benefits for them and their families."
Ms. Block concludes her article by noting that she believes this entire issue is nothing more than a turf war by physicians not wanting to give up control. "The AMA's statement calls for legislation that could be used against women who choose home birth, possibly resulting in criminal child-abuse or neglect charges. The group says this is about safety, but with no credible research to back up its claim, this argument falls flat."
The various articles noted that the reaction by the American College of obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) and the AMA came about due to a documentary film called "The Business of Being Born" by talk show host Ricki Lake, where she exposed the American system of birth as a business. Abby Epstein, the film's director stated in the ABC story, "What the film has done is to cause a lot of women to choose midwives over OBs -- especially younger women who've never heard of midwives," said Epstein. "We've received calls from midwives saying that their practices have doubled since our film was released. There's a lot of ego in this -- that one would want to choose a midwife over an MD. It's really a turf war going back 100 years between the medical establishment and midwives.
The trailer for the film can be seen on YouTube at the following address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DgLf8hHMgo
The day it becomes illegal in this country to have a homebirth is the day I'll consider moving out of this country--and I love my country! CONGRESS--you'd better not let this happen... You'll be hearing from me.
AMA Supports Proposed Legislation to Make Home Births
Illegal
ABC News reported on July 11. 2008 that the "American Medical Association has agreed to support proposed legislation that, some physicians say, could make make having a planned birth in one's home difficult, to virtually impossible." Presently their is no legislation but the AMA is backing what is called "Resolution 205" which is a request to support the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) position that home births are not safe.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) spokesperson Gregory Phillips, stated clearly, the ACOG position, "We are against home births, period." He continued in the ABC story by stating, "Women who give birth outside of a clinical setting risk putting themselves and their newborns at risk."
In opposition to this stand the American College of Nurse-Midwives has come out with a strong statement in support of planned home births. Jennifer Block, author of "Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care, who also writes a column for the LA Times stated in her columns that in Britain they routinely ask expecting mothers if they would like to have their babies at home instead of in the hospital. In her column Block noted that a hand-out is given to expecting mothers from Britain's National Health Service that says, "There is no evidence to support the common assertion that home birth is a less safe option for women experiencing uncomplicated pregnancies."
Block also noted in her column that last year a joint statement was issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Royal College of Midwives that said, "There is no reason why home birth should not be offered to women at low risk of complications, and it may confer considerable benefits for them and their families."
Ms. Block concludes her article by noting that she believes this entire issue is nothing more than a turf war by physicians not wanting to give up control. "The AMA's statement calls for legislation that could be used against women who choose home birth, possibly resulting in criminal child-abuse or neglect charges. The group says this is about safety, but with no credible research to back up its claim, this argument falls flat."
The various articles noted that the reaction by the American College of obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) and the AMA came about due to a documentary film called "The Business of Being Born" by talk show host Ricki Lake, where she exposed the American system of birth as a business. Abby Epstein, the film's director stated in the ABC story, "What the film has done is to cause a lot of women to choose midwives over OBs -- especially younger women who've never heard of midwives," said Epstein. "We've received calls from midwives saying that their practices have doubled since our film was released. There's a lot of ego in this -- that one would want to choose a midwife over an MD. It's really a turf war going back 100 years between the medical establishment and midwives.
The trailer for the film can be seen on YouTube at the following address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DgLf8hHMgo
Okay, my more level headed husband found this article that helps explain all this a little better, with less cause for alarm. But it still pisses me off.
Oh, and one more, from the Huffington Post. Thank you, level headed bloggers! :)
Hmnnn, that's an interesting one. Then again, government always wants to clamp down on our right to choose what we want to do with our lives. What else is new?
ReplyDeleteI think that is ridiculous and I honestly doubt it will go far. I mean home-births are just as safe if not safer than hospital births and just as sterilized. I hear stories of so many woman getting infections or illnesses from the hosiptal after they gave birth, especially C-sections or some other complications.
Heck, I was one of them. Actually, let me rephrase that: I was one of the lucky ones, apparently, because there was a woman there who gave birth the same day I did and she got an infection from the C-section and died!!! Awful, awful.
-shakes head- Like I said, it won't go anywhere. As long as there is freedom of choice when it comes to your own body, not much can really be done.
It stinks the government is being this way! I am all for home births if that is what a family wants! Our country is becoming tooo controlled by the govt...can we start over? What happened to by the people for the people?
ReplyDeleteWell, like I said, I may have overreacted a bit. I guess the whole midwife/homebirth thing is handled on a state-by-state basis, and the AMA can't force a state to change its laws. I doubt we'll see the day where homebirths are illegal, though we may see the end of "lay" midwives (non-CNM's). That's not that bad, though CNM's tend to work more in a hospital setting and most don't attend homebirths. So while this is unlikely to affect us (we use a group of CNM's in Alexandria) there are many out there it may.
ReplyDeleteI guess it just pisses me off that ACOG is so against midwives and homebirths. I know they're convinced it's not as safe, but all they have to do is look across the sea to Europe--I think it's something ridiculous, like 80% of births are done by midwives (not necessarily at home, though.) Their c-section rate is 10-12%. Obviously, we're missing the boat on something if we spend THE most on birth, and yet have the 2nd highest infant mortality rate...
But I digress... :)