Reply to Evelyn Muhlhan - another homebirth midwife bites the dust?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Yes because OBs aren't concerned about women's reproductive rights.  Got it now. [/quote]

There's more to reproductive rights and choice than whatever wan grey meaning you're giving it.

Consider that for those OBs who would have all women give birth in the hospital, with all the rules and regs that frequently follow whether or not they are evidence based or in the patients' best interest, are, in fact, acting against choice in birth.[/quote]and you know this because you went to med school and completed a multi-year residency in Ob & Gyn and have seen most of all complications that can happen?

[/quote]

Because I can read and I have read studies that say, for example, that if a laboring woman desires to eat that allowing her to do so improves outcomes. I think the average OB knows this and I think that in a less litigious world they'd allow this for 97% of women. Insurance and hospital policy dictate otherwise.

And you just outlined the biggest OB/midwifery dichotomy yourself: far and away the vast majority of births do not have complications, and while complications can arise in any labor and birth, they can usually be identified by a well trained midwife who is then equipped to deal with them or can transfer. I think if hospital births were more humane with fewer rules (you must have a hep lock, you may not eat or drink, you must be monitored this many minutes of every hour, you must have the baby within x many hours, etc) I would actively advocate against home births. But once you have been admitted in most hospitals, you will be following hospital protocol, whether or not your situation dictates it.  Until then, though, I will advocate for women to have the home birth option. [/quote]

Can a mud wife stitch up a cervix, stop bleeding or operate on a distressed baby, what about a premie[/quote]

[b] What about a preemie?[/b]

Evelyn attended my daughter's birth. My partner and I had planned a home birth. Our daughter had other plans, and was born at 34 weeks.

Evelyn called me back promptly when I was freaking out that I thought my water had broken. She told me to go to the hospital IMMEDIATELY. Upon examination, I was told that a completely natural birth was out of the question, and a home birth would not be happening. I was on bed rest for about a week, in the hospital.

Evelyn was fully supportive of both my partner and my best friend there in the room with me (while the hospital was NOT cool with anyone but the father), doing Reiki and energy work while I dealt with contractions (hospital staff is asking "what's the deal with all the pretty rocks you guys have?").

She understood our wishes for as little intervention as possible, but advised us that we needed several medical interventions to save both my own life, and our daughter's. She even made the suggestion (GASP!) that to avoid a C-section, I should strongly consider some kind of pain management. I'm glad I took her advice- I pushed out a feisty little 4lb 9oz baby in less than seven minutes.

Evelyn helped me balance my desires with what was best for a healthy mommy and baby. When I was uncomfortable with how the hospital staff bullied me, Evelyn kindly stood up for me.

During the month baby was in the hospital, hospital staff discouraged breastfeeding on demand for NICU babies. Lorrie Leigh (one of the other midwives at ABC) came to the rescue. As a mother of a NICU graduate herself, she came to the hospital twice to give me practical as well as spiritual support, out of the goodness of her heart, on her own time. Without Lorrie's help and encouragement early on, I'd likely not have stuck it out with nursing my daughter.

I highly doubt I'd have EVER received that kind of encouragement and support at any standard OBGYN facility.

While I'm not fully aware of the facts surrounding Evelyn's suspended license, I can at least offer my personal experience with "What about a preemie?"

In addition, my daughter ended up with lead poisoning, and it was Evelyn who made sure we received the EPA lead paint pamphlets that our landlord never provided as required by federal law. Evelyn was the FIRST medical professional to make the suggestion that in a healthy, active 20-something living in a pre- Civil War home, lead paint could very likely have contributed to her preterm birth. Had it not been for Evelyn, our daughter would have been exposed to lead for far longer, and the complications to my daughter's health would have been far worse. One of the other fabulous women at the office, Wendy, gave us all sorts of links, brochures, legal advice hotlines, etc about lead exposure before our blood work left the office.

If anyone from Evelyn's office stumbles upon this, you know who I am, and I'd love for you to get in touch with me or my partner about any numbers I can call or letters I can write saying that Evelyn SAVED MY LIFE.[/quote]

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