Thursday, July 31, 2008

we are not amused

is it just me or do we in all of our medical progress do everything short of sticking our heads up there and shake hands with babies in utero? but if you're into that sort of thing, then THIS should be perfect!


this is where you picture me doing a big fat sarcastic thumbs up

6 comments:

Amber said...

Ugh...isn't it aweful. I commented on the original blog, but I will say it here. A friend of mine read this and her OBGYN made her have internal fetal monitoring...her little boy is 3 1/2 now and he still has a scar and a dent in his head. Also, they scared her into a C-section, which OF COURSE, means she has had three of them, for all of her children now. It makes me so upset!!! It's just so sad.

Olive said...

i had an internal monitor with augustine's birth (the pressure variety that measures contraction strength, not the kind screwed into the baby's head). i can't believe i consented to that! worst pain ever trying to insert that too. manually dilating me with no epidural was 10x worse than the pain of a natural delivery.

kasandora said...

i agree...manual dilation sucked (laminaria) Luckily I only had intermittent monitoring and nothing inside...but I almost passed out when ol' Doc Miyake inserted the laminaria and cervical balloon...won't ever do that again!

mousebell said...

this makes me literally feel sick to my stomach. jenny i first found olive's birth video on youtube and found it so beautiful and inspiring. i'm 35 weeks pregnant with my first and really praying for a gentle birth - hopefully in the water! so far i'm in good hands: i live in germany where it is federal law that midwives attend all births (if your birth is non-complicated, you only meet the doctor once as an introduction), most hospitals are set up with tubs and all the gear to get your active in labor, and episiotomies are discouraged. better yet, i am going to a birthing home and have been looked after by 3 of their lovely lovely midwives as well as a fantastic, relaxed but attentive independent OB who is fully supportive of non-hospital births. i feel really really lucky as i know if i were in the states it would be more of a song and dance to set up such a scenario. i check in on your blog regularly and am always comforted and inspired! thank you!

Olive said...

mousebell - by and large europe is always ahead of the curve when it comes to health. it doesnt surprise me in the least that what we consider "progressive" here in the US is commonplace there. good luck dear!!

Anonymous said...

Wow-Yuck!

You know.... I am SOOOOO glad I waited til the last minute to go to the hospital for Jonah's delivery (my 2nd). It happend so quick, the most invasive thing I got was an IV. In fact, I never even got the hospital gown on--I had a mjor contraction while changinf clothes and ended up delivering in the Buff!!!!