Friday, April 25, 2008

Differences

After some thought I have decided to keep going with these posts. I know we all have different opinions and some very strong feelings but this is why it needs to be said. There needs to at the very least be a discussion in this country to what we all really want in our lives. No woman can make a real informed decision if they do not know there are many options out there. What do you even pray about if you do not know all of your choices. Most women think of a midwife as a lady who wants you to have our baby in a barn or only in your home. This is not always the case. There are people out there who are only making things worse because they are antagonistic towards anything other than what they think you should do. This is NOT what I am about. I only want women to have the option. To know what they are getting into when they choose to have there babies wherever they choose to have there baby. So this post is the different options for a caregiver during our pregnancy and birth.


Midwife's And OBYN's   * These quotes come from MANA (Midwives Alliance of North America)

*A midwife is a person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational programme, duly recognised in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practice midwifery.

The midwife is recognised as a responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, to conduct births on the midwife’s own responsibility and to provide care for the newborn and the infant. This care includes preventive measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of complications in mother and child, the accessing of medical or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures.

The midwife has an important task in health counselling and education, not only for the woman, but also within the family and community. This work should involve antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to women’s health, sexual or reproductive health and childcare.

A midwife may practice in any setting including in the home, the community, hospitals, clinics or health units.*

Did you know there are four different types of midwives. Lay, Direct entry,Certified Professional Midwife, and Certified nurse Midwife, I would love to dredge through the confusion and let you all know the difference. 


Lay Midwife: *This is a term used to designate an uncertified or unlicensed midwife who has been educated through informal routes such as self study or apprenticeship.* 


These types of midwives are outlawed in most states in the U.S. However, there are many who practice under the eyes of the law. They are not licenced to suture, resuscitate, write prescriptions, or even to transport to the hospital. They have to disappear if something goes wrong because they can (and in my opinion probably should) be prosecuted. a lot of the moms who choose these types do not realize how little medical training they have. Although some are well trained in low risk birth I am weary because they would maybe push moms no to see a dr. or be tested for many things that would decrease there ability to birth away form a medical facility.


Direct entry midwife: *She is an independent practitioner educated in midwifery through self study, apprenticeship, a midwifery school, or a collage- or university- based program distinct from the nursing program. She works in and out of hospital setting.*


- again this lady though probably well trained to handle a low risk birth still, has no medical training. Many states licence these types of midwives, however there is a push for outlaw going on in this country as well. They have the same limitations as far as suturing and resuscitation as lay midwives.


Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) 

*A Certified Professional Midwife is a knowledgeable, skilled and professional independent midwifery practitioner who has met the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and is qualified to provide the midwifery model of care. The CPM is the only international credential that requires knowledge about and experience in out-of-hospital settings. *


- These women have more medical training but not enough to be able to prescribe medication. They practice at home births.


Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) 
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is an individual educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery, who possesses evidence of certification according to the requirements of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.*


-These are my pick These women have an advanced medical degree the same as a nurse practitioner. They can resuscitate both baby and mom. They bring with them pitocin in case of hemorrhage, they very often work with OBGYN's to transfer a woman who becomes high risk. If they develop complications, or if mom needs to be transported. They monitor for these things very closely. And in no case would they deliver a women who (even if they begged) should not deliver out of the hospital. Many of the time these women deliver at homes because in this country most birth centers close within a few yeas of opening. Due to a lack of support from insurance companies.


In all other developed countries (for example: Great Britain, Sweden, Japan, Norway...) CNM's often practice alongside OBGYN's the Midwifes work with the 70-80% of low risk and the OBGY's take care of the other high risk women. 


OB/GYN: A commonly used abbreviation. OB is short for obstetrics or for an obstetrician, a physician who delivers babies. GYN is short for gynecology or for a gynecologist, a physician who specializes in treating diseases of the female reproductive organs. The word "gynecology" comes from the Greek gyno, gynaikos meaning woman + logia meaning study, so gynecology literally is the study of women. These days gynecology is focused largely on disorders of the female reproductive organs. An obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) is therefore a physician who both delivers babies and treats diseases of the female reproductive organs.  ( this definition comes form Medicinenet.com)


-A OBGYN is a medically trained surgeon When in medical school if you specialize in Birth you have a surgical rotation. These professionals are very good at what they do. They are trained to save women who need them. Unfortunately they also look for pathology where it may not be. Many of them have never seen a truly natural intervention free birth. 


If we as Americans want to bring our Mortality rates during birth back to where they should be Doctors and midwives have got to work together. There has to be a link between these two worlds. We have got to come together to help the women in this country. We have to quit fighting and work together to get informed. We have got to get better results, we claim to be the most developed country and we have more women and babes dying every day, than morst third world countries. We have got to come together Our babies deserve that. 

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Birth in America

I have gone back and forth with my decision to write this post. I have a hard time with saying things that may be offensive, I don’t want to hurt any ones feelings I don’t want to offend my friends. But I have some extremely strong feelings about giving birth in this country. So I am going to write a series of posts on this very subject. I am going to start out with simple statistics. I bet you did not ever know. 


*In every other country in the world 70-80% of births are attended by midwives. 
*America has the 2nd Worst Newborn death rate in the world.
*In a list of 7 most developed countries with 400,000 births or more WE ARE LAST! In Maternal And infant death rate. 
*In 1900 95% of births took place at home 
*In 1938 half of babies were born at home 
*In 1995 less than 1% it is the same today. 
*In ten years the Cesarean rate in America jumped from 4 to 23% 
*Today one in three babies is born by Cesarean section. This number is rapidly rising! 
*In the Netherlands the Cesarean rate in less than 4% They also have the best Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates in the world. 
*Home birth for low risk pregnancy is as safe if not safer than at a hospital. When attended by a qualified trained midwife. 
*America’s Maternal Death Rate is higher than most 3rd world countries (with the exception being African Countries) 
*Cesarean Section is major Surgery, You are 3 times more likely to die during a Cesarean than a vaginal birth. 
*If other mammals gave birth via Cesarean they would reject there babies. 
*Birth is painful.  
*Cesarean Sections are the Number 1 surgery given to women in this Country #1!!! 
*There is a definite connection between Induction and Cesarean section. 
*In 1930 we were X-raying every woman's pelvis, before we knew it caused cancer to baby. 
*In 1950-60 We were using Philmitatine which caused some babies to be born without arms and legs. 
*In 1990 we used Sitotek which caused uterine ruptures Babies Died! We did not stop until 1999! 
*Today we have No real medical studies to show what happens to baby because of what we are using today! 

I am afraid for women in America, not only do they not know what your body is meant to do but, we have been scared into believing that birth is a scary thing to do. “You could die, baby could die.” The best thing I have heard in all of my research is from a Dr. in the New york time said “obstetrics is 98% easy 2% sheer terror” The risks are there. Thank heavens for Obstetricians they Save lives. They are very good at what they do. However, so are women.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008


You Are Pocahantas!

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Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.


Which Disney Princess Are You?



How Funny is that! Considering this is the only disney movie i really don't like! However I will say okay I can go with that.
Thanks Sarah that was fun.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

I'm it!

I think I have done this one before, but hey I don't have much more to say and I can't really remember if I have or not. Thanks to SARAH (Humes on my list) for tagging me!

FOUR JOBS I'VE HAD IN MY LIFE:
1. Movie Theatre Cashier
2. Medical Assistant 
3. Waitress IHOP (SO MUCH FUN!!)
4. Sonic Drink and Ice cream maker.
FOUR MOVIES I WOULD (OR HAVE) WATCHED OVER AND OVER:
1. Steel Magnolias
2. Air force One (I don't know why)
3. Friends (I know not a movie but I am an addict anyway)
4. Smokey and the bandit
FOUR PLACES I'VE LIVED:
1. Hemet, CA
2. Southern, NV
3. The back of a semi
4. Utah
FOUR PEOPLE WHO EMAIL ME REGULARLY:
1. Salt lake county Library
2. Sally
3. Netflix
4. spam
FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS:
1. Del Taco (chicken tacos & chili fries)
2. cereal
3. Tuna fish with ritz crackers
4. White cheddar popcorn
FOUR PLACES I'D RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:
1. Sitting next to Joe (He's cleaning for me) 
2. In the shower, if I could sand by myself
3. My moms house
4. My moms bed!!
FOUR THINGS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2008:
1. Seeing my new baby The whole birth process. I love it. 
2. Fourth of July in Vegas
3. Jordan going to nursery
4. No longer throwing up (Are you sensing my problem yet? I am kind of grumpy today) SORRY
FOUR FRIENDS I WANT TO TAG:
I think this has been around my group but, if you feel up to it go for it.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

News

I am officially confirming the rumors.


I am having another baby. Yeah!!! Now if I could only get myself standing for five minutes of the day I think I could really get into this. I get so very sick when I am pregnant. I have found a great midwife who is doing her best to get me through this without resorting to home health visits and bed rest. So far it is going okay, I am eating enough to keep me going, and am keeping down more than I have at this stage before.  Which if you know me it is not much but, at least it is something.

 I am going in a new direction this time. Here in Utah you have several options when having a baby Hospital, Home birth, or they have a birthing center. I am so happy to say I am ditching the hospital! I am so not a fan. I don't like the epidural, I hate not being able to eat, And I Abhor having to stay for 24 hour when all I really want is to get my baby home.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of doctors, They save lives!! But I do not believe that giving birth is a "medical event" that women need to be saved from. I love that my body was made to have babies. (Even if I swear the very selfish side of me is secretly trying to expel it in the first 5 months through my mouth). I also am not a fan of doing it in my house. I have several very sweet friends who love having their babies born into there homes. That route is just not for me. But let me tell you The birth center here in Salt Lake is so great. ( If you feel like seeing it you can see it here) I went and toured yesterday and it was awesome. What a wonderful way to have a baby. The rooms are set up in a way that you feel like you are in your own room. But hidden in the walls are the tools that can save our lives.  The Nurse midwife can write prescriptions and resuscitate both mom and baby if necessary. I was so comfortable with her. I can't wait for my first real in depth appointment to get to know her better. Anyway I will finish my rant for now. But a am so excited to be having another little baby.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Balloon yarn baskets

I mentioned this craft project over at Smee's but I thought I would post a few pictures of how it turned out. I saw this on the Today show, Rosie ODonald was on promoting her new book Crafty U (I ordered it yesterday). I watched and said "hey, I have all the stuff to do that" 
We started by filling balloons. Then we taped them down and chose our yarn colors. We dipped the yarn into white glue and layered it over the top of our Balloon. When The glue dried we popped the balloons and had some really fun baskets.

Moms

Ora's

Michael's




Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Over medicated

I got sucked into watching a special on PBS' frontline special called "the medicated child" If you have time check it out it is seriously scary!! Here
It hit home for me on a major level. 

I am having the hardest time making a decision. My little boy Michael is amazing. I know, I know all parents think there kids are special. But let me tell you a little about my son. 
The minute, and I mean he minute he was born, my Mother and I looked at each other and we both said "Wow, he has been waiting a very long time to get here" We both just knew he was so old. It felt like he was so much wiser than I was and he was literally minutes old. As a baby he never stopped crying. He would have to be moved every 10-20 minutes in order to keep him entertained and occupied. At 5 or 6 months he was figuring things out on his own. Finally one day he stopped crying and started walking. At 9 months. Hallelujah, I thought "great he just needed a little more control. I did better with him than my next two, he signed allot so we were able to communicate early and he could tell me most of the time what he needed. But he still kept sticking his fingers in the light sockets (probably shocked himself 10 times by the time he was 1),and jumping from all different spots along the couch.  He has just always been extremely curious. 
When he was 20 months old he got really into the prophets and decided he wanted to know all of them, so I taught him the song. But that was not good enough so we printed pictures and he learned them by sight. At 3 he tought himself how to add and subtract. I am not kidding He taught himself  he came into the room and said "Mom if I have three apples and then I get 2 apples, I have 5 apples" I said, "you are so right. But what if you ate 3 of those apples?" He thought for a minute and said said "I will have two." This went on for a while we went up to if you have 9+4, it took him a while but he came up with 13. Earlier that year he got assigned to read the article of faith in primary and so we went over it a few times during the week. On Friday he came up to me and got about halfway through the article and wanted to be able to say it all. It took all of five minutes and he was reciting it just fine. 
Now that he is older 4, he wants to read. I have come to the decision that I will help but, I also am not pushing this new stage because I guess I don't want people to think I am some crazy person and pushing him to hard.
Now however he is wanting to know more every day. We have read a book on the solar system. He has learned so much about all of the planets and if you talked to him he would teach you all about it. He will move on to something new in a few weeks. I have a book on he presidents that he is starting to like. Anyway..... 
To my point, I seriously give him two weeks in Kindergarten before I know I will be called in to "talk" about him. I know I will hear the words Ritalin,ADD, ADHD, or bipolar disorder. He needs allot of attention and is a learner but, he does get very frustrated if things don't click just right in his head. (We spent 45 minutes on the grass the other day trying to decide if he believed that the earth was round and turning in circles). I know he will be stunted in a "normal" school.  I have spent many days worrying about him and still have not come up with a conclusion. I just want my child to be the best he can. I don't think I have a good enough education (or patience) to homeschool him, and I don't think I can afford a private school. So any suggestions on what I should do???

Monday, April 07, 2008

Guitar Cake

 

I don't have a ton to say today so I just thought I would put up a picture of Joe's Cake! Michael found a picture of this in one of my books and said it had to be Dads cake. It was a lot of fun. Mostly for the kids but, Joe seemed to enjoy it as well.


Thursday, April 03, 2008

Happy Birthday Baby



He is the very best thing to ever happen to me!! I love him more than words can say. Thank you Joe for bringing me into your life. I am so glad you were born!!!

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

A Families worst nightmare


My heart is broken today as I sit and watch the news. On Monday afternoon Little Hser Nay Moo (Ser Na Moo) was a little girl playing in her front yard. Then tragedy struck, and Amber alert was issued on Tuesday and the troops released. Utah residents sprung into action. Thousands of searchers looked high and low for this beautiful 7 year old child.  

The father of this girl Cartoon Wah talked to the press yesterday to say that all he wanted was his little girl back, She was his only daughter n the world and he loved her the most. This family came to America just last August, escaping Burma to Thailand and then coming on to Utah. They do not speak any English and needed interpreters to speak with the press and police. I am sure this father felt he was doing the best thing for his family by bringing them here and then to have this happen must be making him feel like he made a huge mistake. The mother of this little girl has just given birth not to long ago and has been in and out of the hospital ever since. 
I am sorry to say this story does not end nicely yesterday shortly after I put my own children to bed safely we heard Hser Nay Moo had been found dead not 75 yards from where she lived. She was in the basement bathroom of a neighbor. Now that neighbor has been jailed and admitted to killing his wonderful child. I never knew this girl however I find myself bursting into tears whenever I think about her and her family. She was blooming here in Utah and was getting good grades in school. My heart goes out to her family and especially to the mother who will not be able to properly mourn her daughter due to her own illness and the demands of her infant child who still needs her care.  I cannot get over it. Please add your prayers to mine for this family. A donation account has been set up for the family at Zions bank under the name of Cartoon Wah, for Hser Nay Moo. 

 

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

I've been tagged by Chrinicler

If your life were a soundtrack, what would the music be?
Here’s how it works:
1. open your library (iTuneswinamp, media player, iPod)
2. put it on shuffle
3. press play
4. for every question, type the song that’s playing
5. new question — press the next button
6. don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool

opening credits: New Monkey, Elliot Smith

waking up: Square One, Coldplay

first day at school: Ain't that lonely yet, Dwight Yoakam

falling in love: Water in my head, Buck-O-Nine

breaking up: Happy man. Less than Jake

prom: There's a fire, OK Go

life’s okay: A place in my heart, Social Distortion

mental breakdown: Big River, Johnny Cash

driving: Jimmy James, The Beastie Boys

flashback: It's You, Michelle Branch

getting back together: What would you say, Dave Matthews Band

wedding: Ape Dos Mil, Glass Jaw

birth of child: Pink Roes, Glass Jaw

final battle: Monkey, Saves the day

death scene: The words we say (accoustic version) Straylight Run

end credits: For a minute There, Garth Brooks

That was funny,  I love how my love life has revolved around Punk rock. So funny. This list does make me seem cooler than I am thanks to the fact that Joe ad I are sharing an ipod.  I will have to do this again when I get my own.  Thanks Chronicler! I will tag Lindz,  and Shinbo