So what's the big deal about taking classes from an independent source? Independent instructors are not paid by the doctors office or the hospital. So they are not influenced in their teaching. If a Child Birth Educator works at a hospital where it is their policy to have continuous fetal heart monitoring there is little chance that in that class you will be told the cons of that policy. Independent instructors hands are not tied when it comes to letting you know what your rights and choices are when you are in labor at the hospital.
The tendency at hospital and Dr.'s offices classes is to let you know what to expect from them. An independent instructor is more inclined to let you know what to expect and what your choices are when you are confronted by the things you can expect to happen in labor, so you can make informed choices. You are not likely to hear about the many dangers involved with (for example) getting an epidural (there are many). Most physicians and hospital instructors are not likely to explain these to women, so as not to scare them. As sweet as that may be, it is not informed consent which is every mom/new parents right. Your baby is counting on you for love, nourishment, shelter and advocacy. No one loves or could love your baby like you do. You owe it to yourself and your baby to learn as much as you can, from the right sources.
A report issued in October states that the US maternity-care system continues to rely on costly practices that endanger birthing women and their new born children.
The report, Evidence-Based Maternity Care by Carol Sakala and Maureen P.Corry (Milbank Memorial Fund, 2008), charges that ineffective and/or risky practices such as drugs, treatments, tests, monitoring, and surgeries are alarmingly overused, while the following proven, cost-effective, low-intervention practices are widely underused:
*continuous support through labor (such as provided by a Doula)
*measures that increase comfort and facilitate labor
*upright and side-lying birthing positions
*delayed clamping of umbilical cord
*early skin-to-skin contact between baby and mother
*when possible access to vaginal birth after cesarean (more than nine in ten women with previous cesareans now have repeat cesareans.
Doctor's fear of litigation and the financial incentives of costlier procedures, rather than medical necessity, are listed as reasons that less-intensive care is not provided more often.
The report issues recommendations to rectify the gaps between the procedures research dictates are best and those that are actually used.
Read the full report and get more info at:
www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10575
In Fresno you can take Independent Childbirth Education Courses from Bradley, Lamaze and ALACE, and Birthing From Within. For a list of Instructors and more info please email me at mommymattersonline@sbcglobal.net
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5 comments:
My husband, when I told him I signed up for an independent childbirth education class, was flabbergasted.
"What do you need a class for?"
"You paid HOW much?"
"It's a 12 session class?"
Well, let's just say, the class was mind-blowing, worth every penny, and was the reason I decided to become an instructor too.
Indy classes include Lamaze, Birthing from Within, and Bradley Method. I chose Bradley because I knew the instructor and a study of 200,000 Bradley "students" reported 86% had spontaneous, unmedicated vaginal births (compare these stats with national average - you'll be surprised!)
We learned ways to stay healthy during pregnancy (low-risk), what's going on physically and emotionally in labor (amazing body!), and had great discussions about the culture and business of giving birth (vs evidence-based practice). We practiced comfort measures (lots of them, so we had lots to pick from on THE day), and thought out our priorities and options (so we could make better, informed decisions if something came up on THE day).
I didn't appreciate at the time, but many of the options we discussed in class are not usual hospital procedures. And, unfortunately, I've heard many moms say, "Oh I wish I knew that before" or "if only I asked!"
I really believe it's our responsibility to seek out a childbirth class (indy, of course), a doctor/midwife that you jive with, a birth place that you feel comfortable in, and consider things (doulas) that will make your pregnancy, labor, and birth the best it can be.
I am a lamaze certified childbirth educator and I teach for a hospital. My class is four sessions, two hours each. I go over stages of labor, breathing, positioning, pain managment, medical intervensions and end with a little post-partum, newborn and breastfeeding. I always discuss pros, cons and alternatives for every procedure. Every instructor has thier own way of teaching, so to group "hospital" instructors together is not fair. As with anything else in life reserch anything you are going to invest your time and money in. Especialy when you are producing a miracle.
Well said. In earlier posts I've talked about the importance of knowing if the class you are taking is really LAMAZE. If that's the class you THINK you are signing up for. I always let moms know if the instructor is not a certified instructor than it is not LAMAZE.
Many people think that ALL CBE classes at the hospital teach LAMAZE, and in Fresno, this is not the case. Please share which hospital you teach at so we can send moms to your class.
The main emphasis with this blog is to educate and let moms know about informed consent. And to empower them to ask questions and take charge of their birth.
I'm sorry to have offended by grouping you in with classes that do not emphasize informed consent. Thank you for the work you do.
Warmly, GK
Mamas and Dadas-to-be,
There is a lot to learn and your baby's BIRTHday is likely going to be the most important day of your lives. You can't go into it blindly. Knowledge is power and the responsibility for the choices you make lies in YOU, not your Dr. There are several great independent CB classes. Find one that jives with you and EDUCATE yourselves. You'll be so glad you did:)
In respose to Sarah, I too am a Lamaze instructor. It really doesn't matter what or how the instructor teaching at a hospital WANTS to teach, it 100% is a matter of what the hospital will ALLOW you teach. I for one can NOT teach in ANY of our hospitals in FRESNO or CLOVIS as NONE of them embrace all 6 of the Lamaze care practices, and ALL 6 carepractices NEED to be taught in order to market classes as Lamaze. If your hospital allows you to teach this way then I want to know who they are so I can make sure they get public recognition!!! I think that was the point Gena was trying to make. Almost all CBE's want families well informed, almost all hospitals and practices that offer CBE do not........
PS: Breathing is NOT part of the 6 care practices :)
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