tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post5149112188407687775..comments2024-03-05T11:36:50.299-05:00Comments on Stand and Deliver: Review of Your Best BirthRixahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908864785513937876noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-61121193801304129222009-07-28T19:18:39.149-04:002009-07-28T19:18:39.149-04:00Great review, thanks! I have not read it yet but f...Great review, thanks! I have not read it yet but feel that I should probably add it to my lending library as a few clients have shown interest. Off to order it now...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-8690283757297410452009-06-26T22:52:44.543-04:002009-06-26T22:52:44.543-04:00I'm reading it right now, but the cuss words a...I'm reading it right now, but the cuss words are really bugging me. I'm sorry but it makes what they are talking about when they use the foul language sound trashy. I try to keep that language out of my spirit. I really am not happy about that.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01286418014358269661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-54944474122482348572009-06-25T01:27:12.695-04:002009-06-25T01:27:12.695-04:00Dear Rixa,
Consider to join us for A Wonderous Wo...Dear Rixa,<br /><br />Consider to join us for A Wonderous Woman Retreat<br />on August 13,14,and 15<br /><br />The Wonderous Woman retreat program leads and encourages every woman to connect to all facets of her purpose and value. Our approach is to create experiential retreats in beautiful venues where you can connect to your mind, body and spirit.<br /><br /><i><a href="http://wonderouswomanenterprises.com/retreat/index.php" rel="nofollow">It's easy to take care of everyone else in our lives,<br />but we tend to forget about ourselves.<br /></a></i>WonderousWomanRetreathttp://wonderouswomanenterprises.com/retreat/index.phpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-66110857983070480362009-06-24T23:58:14.687-04:002009-06-24T23:58:14.687-04:00Also--I really enjoy your blog! I've been foll...Also--I really enjoy your blog! I've been following it for a while, and especially enjoyed your post on describing what labor feels like. The comments were fantastic and fascinating and I emailed the link to all my pregnant friends. Congrats on your beautiful children!KATE!https://www.blogger.com/profile/01976449151817216524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-23375907885984763762009-06-24T23:56:42.160-04:002009-06-24T23:56:42.160-04:00Great, thorough review, and I'm glad this book...Great, thorough review, and I'm glad this book exists, because there are so many women who--as you say, Rixa--haven't a clue that there *are* options outside of a medicated hospital birth. I'm a fan of BOBB, and think Rikki and Abbey have done a great service by bringing midwifery and homebirths to a more mainstream audience. <br /><br />All that being said, I do have a semantic quibble with the title of the book, and the accompanying website/social networking site yourbestbirth.com. And that is the use of the pronoun 'your'--granted, there is much to said for the empowerment that women can feel by 'owning' or 'taking back' the birth process, and making informed decisions based on their desires and needs. However, as someone about to have her first baby any day now, I am very conscious that it's not *my* birth--that happened 30 years ago! It's my daughter's birth, and it is my rite of passage into motherhood. I'm proud of our decision to aim for a homebirth, but I don't expect--nor do I want--to own or control the birth. It's not 'mine'--it's ours, and it's hers. "My Best Birth" smacks of a certain selfish ownership, and a particular kind of control--or notion of control--that seems... unwise? In preparing for birth I think it can be easy to forget who is actually being birthed!KATE!https://www.blogger.com/profile/01976449151817216524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-61049657069844098562009-06-24T17:00:09.769-04:002009-06-24T17:00:09.769-04:00Good review...
Just wanted to note that babies o...Good review... <br /><br />Just wanted to note that babies of medicated moms can (and often do) self attach when given the opportunity. I've seen beautiful baby-led latches in recovery rooms after cesarean births as well as births with straight up epidurals as well. I don't doubt that a baby affected by narcotics might struggle with this, but given the opportunity and some peace and quiet they will find a nipple, latch and suckle effectively. Like so much in this business there are few absolutes! :)Louisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17777614897667728830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-4369405677988720432009-06-24T16:12:41.866-04:002009-06-24T16:12:41.866-04:00Complicating how we can "change" birth i...Complicating how we can "change" birth is an important one, and I am glad that this is one critique you had of the book. All too often solutions to social issues begin at this level and ignore the gap of cultural and social systems at play against one individual.<br />Before I go on, I do want to say that yes, standing up for yourself and finding empowerment over birth is very, very important - but I want to complicate it as a sole solution to the issues. <br />For the authors to suggest individual autonomy about taking control of a woman's birth assumes that women have particular amount of privilege and autonomy in the heath care system to begin with. This is not a reality for all women especially looking at structural and institutional inequalities, racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism. These intersectional pieces also hinder women from taking individual action when you are up against deep rooted inequality in such a large and powerful institution. <br />As an educated woman who knows how to advocate for herself (and can articulate my needs and wants etc), I find that, even at a check up with a very nice and kind family physician or nurse practitioner, I still can't stand up for myself - or ask questions that would promote advocacy for myself. I believe it is from years of culturally learned passivity in medicine and over the care of my body. <br />In short, it takes time, energy, and resources to advocate for "your best birth" and not all women have access to these privileges. Particularly when thinking about how difficult it can be for someone who has advocacy "skills".<br />Without having read this book in its entirety I do think that their solution is not written for "all" women - but a particular demographic (or group, or community) who have access to personal and individual autonomy in heath care. <br /><br />Thanks, as always for your great posts about birth and providing a forum for women to come together and share.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907565919309123854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-47439991245374081452009-06-24T15:42:54.774-04:002009-06-24T15:42:54.774-04:00I liked your review, very fair assessment of the c...I liked your review, very fair assessment of the content<br />I don't like that studies and references are not listed.<br /><br />All in all, too "fluffy" for me. <br /> <br /> I am undecided about suggesting it as a first line to introduce birthing options.<br /><br />I won one of the free copies and will be donating it to my local public library (they don't have it on their purchase list)as I feel it will round out the birth book options there. Thank You<br /><br />P.S. I also was put off by the fact that prenatal testing was not discussed at all. I know it's a birth option book, but they mention...if you are strep B positive you and your baby will get antibiotics...I feel they should have provided information about strep B,where to find info or that women have a choice to be tested.Myssiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445933801134208934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-34979459479747455902009-06-24T15:39:24.468-04:002009-06-24T15:39:24.468-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Myssiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445933801134208934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-22543460434425792242009-06-24T15:01:58.791-04:002009-06-24T15:01:58.791-04:00Deep end or wading pool? Love the analogy!
I thi...Deep end or wading pool? Love the analogy! <br /><br />I think this book is perfect for someone who doesn't have a clue and probably the wading pool approach is better for your friend.Rixahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908864785513937876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-47448714447248348972009-06-24T13:24:40.542-04:002009-06-24T13:24:40.542-04:00Thanks for the review! I'm wondering if it wou...Thanks for the review! I'm wondering if it would be something you'd recommend giving to someone who literally hasn't a CLUE about birth, natural or otherwise, and is somewhat paranoid by the whole procedure? I'm always ambivalent about which is the better way to introduce the topic of homebirth and natural childbirth to friends like this. That is, is it better to hand them something like "Spiritual Midwifery", or something by Marsden Wagner and just knock their socks right off from the beginning, or instead start them off with something along these lines (or Henci Goer). What's you're strategy? Throw them in the deep end, or start them off in the wading pool?lislynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10226221709279544399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-5423652849100274342009-06-24T12:57:55.694-04:002009-06-24T12:57:55.694-04:00I actually don't even care if it's a lie. ...I actually don't even care if it's a lie. As long as people read it and believe it, and it BECOMES truth.<br /><br />LOL. That's pretty cynical, huh?<br /><br />^__^LadyLesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09925818923535509944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-81236366784783382242009-06-24T09:42:16.495-04:002009-06-24T09:42:16.495-04:00"One of the BEST things I'm hearing from ..."One of the BEST things I'm hearing from your review is actually news to me--that there is a major shift going on..."<br /><br />I hope this is true--it's hard to know how much of it is is Ricki and Abby's perception (or even wishful thinking?) and how much of it really is reflective of a true shift in birth culture.Rixahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908864785513937876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-22664202958960851212009-06-24T06:55:23.171-04:002009-06-24T06:55:23.171-04:00I think you make a very good point about the "...I think you make a very good point about the "it's all up to you" message maybe setting up for failure.<br /><br />Women who experience traumatic births in which there is assault, coercion, and abuse did not "ask" for those things to happen. Nor was it a failure on their parts to be fully informed or to make the right choices.<br /><br />You can't be prepared for all that a birth experience has to offer in many cases.<br /><br />Of course, I do agree that they should spread the word that it is in every woman's best interests to independently pursue knowledge in order to make informed decisions in regards to health, prenatal care, and birth.<br /><br />One of the BEST things I'm hearing from your review is actually news to me--that there is a major shift going on, med students and nurses requesting midwifery shifts in their education, etc. I love hearing that.LadyLesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09925818923535509944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-62314001580559731172009-06-23T21:40:04.941-04:002009-06-23T21:40:04.941-04:00Nice review. Well done.
I like the book a lot....Nice review. Well done.<br /> <br />I like the book a lot. I have to confess that it was annoying at first that there were no citations and I had to sort of "reset" and start reading the book again to get used to the friendly tone. It's a square one book... in a good way. <br /><br />They do refer to Thinking Woman's Guide in Chapter 11, which I think would complement this book well.<br /><br />The resources listed in the back of the book are all great starting places for women who have never considered researching birth before.Jill Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03551060770466451088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-113183508654274002009-06-23T19:53:15.941-04:002009-06-23T19:53:15.941-04:00I am experiencing anger issues over laborist comin...I am experiencing anger issues over laborist coming to my hospital. I have a good relationship with the Docs who have been there for a good long time and we repect each other and our patients. But a laborist? I think the L&D nurses could deliver the babys with a Doc nearby in a call room. So if we need to rush to the OR, we can. Plenty of the night nurses have caught plenty of babies. <br /><br />I am also interested in the British system of midwifes in hospital doing a lot of the L&D nurse work and catching the baby. However, the post partum period in England sounds crowed. <br /><br />It would be nice if folks could have a post partum doula come home with them after 24 hour stay at the hospital to help them with the physical and emotional transition. That would clear out the post partum ward.pinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00198277802918823591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-18112763358519412192009-06-23T19:32:03.230-04:002009-06-23T19:32:03.230-04:00two notables for me in this post. 1) we are traini...two notables for me in this post. 1) we are training 'them' to be sheep not sherherds' love that and 2) Labourists - is this for real?? yes its rhetorical...Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05004659288503834211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-33552082349715232542009-06-23T18:56:47.094-04:002009-06-23T18:56:47.094-04:00I'm looking forward to reading this post in de...I'm looking forward to reading this post in depth, but I wanted to send you this link (and easier to comment than email). <br /><br />http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/feature/2009/06/23/unassisted_childbirth/index.html<br /><br />I was thoroughly thought-provoked.Jane of Seagull Fountainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14842786356309158400noreply@blogger.com