Artwork by Teri, "Mandalas and Mehndi Night" participant. Thanks, Teri!
I'd like to clear something up.
This blog was not supposed to be about PowerBirth. When I set up the Mandala Mom blog, I envisioned a space dedicated to celebrating all things fun, creative, powerful, and uplifting about pregnancy and birth. The Mandala Mom blog is about honoring mamas and babies on their momentous journey. It's about spreading the word that birth is instinctive and beautiful and safe. Initially I didn't intend to post anything personal on my blog at all. I saw (and still see) Mandala Mom as a collaborative effort. *I* am not "Mandala Mom." We who are in touch with our wholeness and unity as mothers are Mandala Moms.
This blog was not supposed to be about PowerBirth. When I set up the Mandala Mom blog, I envisioned a space dedicated to celebrating all things fun, creative, powerful, and uplifting about pregnancy and birth. The Mandala Mom blog is about honoring mamas and babies on their momentous journey. It's about spreading the word that birth is instinctive and beautiful and safe. Initially I didn't intend to post anything personal on my blog at all. I saw (and still see) Mandala Mom as a collaborative effort. *I* am not "Mandala Mom." We who are in touch with our wholeness and unity as mothers are Mandala Moms.
I made a capricious decision to post my PowerBirth story after a midwife who has been trying to expose PowerBirth since she moved to my home town asked me to respond to some comments about it on her blog. I turned her down. "No, that's okay. I'm over it." I said.
Her emailed response was "Oh. I'm really glad you're over it." (insert sarcasm. Insert blatant attempt to elicit guilt. Can you see her rolling her eyes? I can. Okay, she has a point, I realized. How many mamas might I have warned in the last 12 years while I was working my way toward being "over it"? I shudder to think of the scope of the damage that's been done.)
So I grudgingly made my way to her blog. The comments in support of PowerBirth were outrageous (and suspicious...hello there, PowerBirth midwife pretending to be a happy customer.) It felt so good to let some of the story out that I decided to write a more detailed account and post it on my own brand-new blog. What the heck? I had had a grand total of one visitor (well, the stats counter reported seven visitors...But then I figured out how to stop tracking my own page views!) so it seemed harmlessly cathartic to write it all down. I never could have predicted what would happen next.
Her emailed response was "Oh. I'm really glad you're over it." (insert sarcasm. Insert blatant attempt to elicit guilt. Can you see her rolling her eyes? I can. Okay, she has a point, I realized. How many mamas might I have warned in the last 12 years while I was working my way toward being "over it"? I shudder to think of the scope of the damage that's been done.)
So I grudgingly made my way to her blog. The comments in support of PowerBirth were outrageous (and suspicious...hello there, PowerBirth midwife pretending to be a happy customer.) It felt so good to let some of the story out that I decided to write a more detailed account and post it on my own brand-new blog. What the heck? I had had a grand total of one visitor (well, the stats counter reported seven visitors...But then I figured out how to stop tracking my own page views!) so it seemed harmlessly cathartic to write it all down. I never could have predicted what would happen next.
During the following week, somewhere around 3,000 people read my story. Many of them were horrified and wanted to know how they could help. How can those who understand the violent and violating nature of such birth techniques get the word out so that 1) care providers know this isn't an acceptable practice, and 2) mothers don't fall prey to this technique, as I did.
Individual people can speak out about what PowerBirth is in order to educate mothers and I'm sure there are other things people can do to help. But I'm writing this post specifically to inform people that there is a Thirteen for Five Project about PowerBirth that needs volunteers.
Thirteen people will dedicate five years to researching PowerBirth vs. Physiological Birth and they will report their findings.
The most egregious aspect of the Powerbirth technique, from my perspective, is that it's being routinely inflicted on mothers who have not been informed in advance. Is a mother in any position to defend herself from abusive birth practices while she's in labor? Is she likely to be verbal and logical enough to decline manual dilation of her cervix and directed pushing without the urge to push when her time to birth has already come? Without explanation or the opportunity to consent to what is being done to her body in advance, is she likely to experience these techniques in a manner very different from that of being sexually assaulted? No, of course not. (I didn't.)
My midwife never mentioned during any of our prenatal visits that she routinely performs vaginal exams during labor and manually forces the cervix to open faster during contractions. When I was in labor, she never explained what she was doing to me or why. She never asked my permission. I did not consent to manual dilation. Neither did any of the other women I know who have been PowerBirthed.
What if the mother is informed in advance and she gives her consent to being PowerBirthed by her midwife, then is it okay? If she really wants her labor over quick and she believes her midwife has tricks up her sleeve that will speed the process, then is it okay that midwives are using these methods on mothers who are informed and willing participants? Sorry, no.
That midwives are practicing these techniques shows a dangerous lack of understanding about the physiology of birth. As Carla Hartley, founder of the Ancient Art Midwifery Institute, pointed out to me recently, the cervix doesn't dilate OUT. Dilation is the result of the uterine muscles shortening and drawing the cervix UP. What manual stretching of the cervix accomplishes (in addition to causing excruciating, mind-boggling pain by interfering with the normal flow of hormones and natural pain-relieving opiates) is complication.
Here are a few of the complications of PowerBirth that I've personally experience, or that have been described to me by other women who've endured their own PowerBirths:
- Tearing of the cervix
- Prolapsed uterus
- Hemorrhage
- Severe swelling
- Extreme pain
- Feelings of victimization
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Post Partum Depression
Thirteen for Five will gather the stories of PowerBirth victims and the evidence about the true impact of these techniques on birthing women and will get the TRUTH out where it can benefit mothers. The project needs writers, film makers, people with website experience, and most of all, people who are passionate about protecting the rights and safety of mothers and babies.
Have you experienced these techniques?
Do you want to be part of the effort to stop these harmful practices?
The first conference call to discuss The Thirteen For Five Project on PowerBirth vs. Physiological Birth will take place on the evening of Tuesday, December 4th, 2011.
If you want to participate, please email: ancientartmail@gmail.com.
If you want to participate, please email: ancientartmail@gmail.com.
Gail Hart, a well respected midwife with over 30 years experience, writes: The OB term for stretching the cervix is "acoucherment force" --a french word meaning "forced birth". It is a tool which should be used RARELY for specific indications in abnormal labors or certain emergencies. But it is used quite frequently by... some practitioners. And yes, it has dangers. And yes, it is used far too often.
Let's end the use of these "tools" in routine circumstances so mothers are no longer being robbed of normal, physiological birth.
Why thirteen people? Why five years?
Here's an inspiring video about where the term "Thirteen for Five" came from. For more information, visit:
Thank you again for sharing your story... otherwise I may have never learned about 'Power Birth'. Thanks for spreading the word about this project. I'm going to take a closer look (I've never heard of any midwives using this technique in Canada.)
ReplyDeleteThis Abuse of Power during birth is dangerous and completely unnecessary. This idea would constantly introduce bacteria into a sterile environment and is nothing more than sexual abuse. Unneeded and unnecessary! Hands off is the only way to empower the woman during birth. It really saddens me to see such an abusive technique promoted as something needed. Take a look at our childbirth channel on Youtube at pregnancy secrets to see some of the most empowering and beautiful births ever experienced.
ReplyDeleteWomen are fully capable of birthing on their own. We have magnificent bodies that are fully enabled for birth. Hands free waterbirth puts the power of birth back into the birthing woman's control to the benefit of all.
Abuse of power is everywhere in birth, rushing things up, is the most dangerous. Let's put an end to abuse of power created by educating our young girls and boys about pregnancy and childbirth showing them that birth is a natural, normal process of our bodies. I believe we have to start at the elementary school level.
Good luck on your campaign! Looks like there is a good reason Canadian midwives undergo university training. This is definitely one of them. Best wishes, Gail J. Dahl
Gail Hart left this important comment on a different entry and I'm reposting it here because I love what she says about the intentions of the midwives who are practicing this way (they mean no harm) and about the need for all birth workers to be willing to learn new (old) ways. Please read:
ReplyDeleteI just wrote a long comment..took almost an hour... and the computer ate it!
so here is a shorter version.
I travel some as a midwifery speaker and have have been able to discuss birth with some of the midwives who use these techniques.
the midwives who practice Power Birthing and similar techniques believe they are doing the best for moms and babies.
They believe they are shortening labor by helping the cervix 'move out of the way". They believe this results in a birth which is gentler, easier and safer for moms and babies.
Their intentions are good!
They mean no harm. They are sure they are helping, and most would be shocked that some would call these techniques "interventive".
Like most of us humans, they "Believe what they see." But they also "see what they believe".
Several have described "gently" stretching the cervix during exams, and manualy holding the cervix during transition as helpful and even "merciful", because these techniques shorten transition and second stage and thus reduce the need for ceserean sections.
These techniques are common in some regions; common in many OB practices; they are considered "normal practice".
I do agree that these are sometimes needed during abnormal labors. But the wide majority of labors SHOULD be "normal" and these techniques have no place in "normal physiologic mother-led" births.
Every midwife, doctor, nurse -- every birth attendant - neesd to be open to learning new ways. They need to discover if their methods are truly effective, or actually the best for moms and babies. All types of birth practition can become easily convinced thier way is best. This applies to interventive midwives just as well as to the doctor with a high ceserean rate.
We need to learn from each other; discover (and discuss) the data; listen to those who study physiological birth. And there are many confre3nces, workshops and seminars where this can happen.
But most of all we must LISTEN TO THE WOMEN!
and --- the women MUST speak up!
Thank you for being willing to speak about your experiences!
gail hart
gailhart@midwifeupdates.com
www.midwifeupdates.com
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ReplyDeleteI have commented back & forth in a positive note for the TRUE "POWER BIRTH" technique that I observed and assisted at 100+ births with the founder of the technique, Lydi Owen. I have NEVER seen her stretch or manually dialate anyones cervix in the 28 yrs I've known her & when she was asked about this on another blog that Mandala Mom was telling her story thru, Lydi states,"Manual cervical dialation IS NOT done with Power Birth method, it has NEVER been part of this technique". I keep going back to my original feeling that whoever your midwife was DID NOT do the technique properly, didn't do it AT ALL and claimed what she was doing was the "PowerBirth" technique ? I have seen amazing, good, powerful, beautiful births over & over again with the "PB" used properly. I've asked you several times who your midwife was??? I got no response, twice. I also believe your experience can be a nightmare to you, the Midwife, a abusive power tripping control freak and on & on and the very same birth scenario with the very same Midwife can be another's most beautiful, awsome, perfect birth experience that is why I'm having a difficult time bashing this woman and shredding this "Power Birth" technique. There are THOUSANDS who have had the "perfect" homebirth with this technique & it's founder, the flip side apparently is traumatic, physically & emotionally damaging etc, etc...I had 3 amazing homebirth's with a superb midwife then my fourth homebirth with the same midwife was a nightmare that turned my life upside down, I went thru all the post trauma depressions & disorders you explain but I would not presume this midwife is abusive, neglegent, rushed, afraid to face her own mistakes, etc...in EVERY birth she does from my bad experienced one. Does anyone understand what I'm trying to say or understand about why a whole group of women going nation wide to tell the world about the bad births that happened out of thousands of good just doesn'ty seem right? I'm not being rude, I'm trying to understand what I'm missing here...
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