Hospital Rejects Birth Plans
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Want to have a doula or labor coach to assist at your birth? Interested in drafting a birth plan with your partner? Don’t have your baby at the Aspen Women’s Center in Provo, UT.
The center has posted a sign in their entryway that reads:
Because the Physicians at Aspen Women’s Center care about the quality of their patient’s deliveries and are very concerned about the welfare and health of your unborn child, we will not participate in a “Birth Contract”, a Doulah Assisted, or a Bradley Method delivery. For those patients who are interested in such methods, please notify the nurse so we may arrange transfer of your care.
Let’s try that again, shall we: You, the woman who is about to go through one of the most challenging, painful experiences of her life, had better not have any opinions about how you would like to be cared for during that ordeal. It’s imperative that you keep your personal support network out of the way too. We absolutely can’t have anyone in the room who might advocate on your behalf.
They sound like a cult, cutting women off from their loved ones, their professional support and their own intention and intuition. Sadly, they also sound like too much of mainstream medicine.
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Comment by MegCraig on Dec 07 2009 02:55:56:
Unfortunately the assumption that the willingness of most women is to have the empowering, medically un-assisted delivery is wrong. There seems to be a big divide between home-birthers and hospital-birthers. I had two in-hospital births without any drugs and am very happy with my experiences. I was, however in the tiny minority in doing so – lots and lots of women choose epidurals and pain meds. I was later in a conversation with a member of a pro-homebirth group saying that I have not actually given birth because it was not at home. Really? Can we only have positive, empowering experiences at home? That is a shame – I think women do each other a disservice when we cut each others decisions up – they are personal decisions that are not always in our control. For all those who feel it is a woman’s right to choose the method of birthing at home / drug-free / by hypnobirthing, Bradley or Doula – remember it is also a woman’s right to choose the hospital, an epidural, even elective c-sections. Both sides have stories of bad experiences and sad tragedies, as well as great and inspiring ones. It is not really the medical community against “all women” who would otherwise be giving birth in the most natural environment. This is a disagreement between those who believe birth as a natural, non-medical event and those who want to have a baby on their own schedule – pain-free and on the date they choose. These are polarizing ideologies and both by woman who argue for their right to choose. Speak up and find the provider which suits your needs and desires as it is your body. Lots of women don’t and regret it. Sorry to argue that this is not your doctors fault. I say – have your baby your way and take responsibility for your decision – it is one of your first as a parent to this new life.
Comment by MegCraig on Dec 07 2009 03:06:50:
In actual response to the article – there are online posts from staff at the facility which seems to show that they want to be upfront about their opinions and that the health and well-being of the woman and her baby are the primary concern. They also have a CNM on staff and will apparently allow doulas and certainly your spouse in the room (contrary to what the article suggests). They state a 95% requested epidural rate, so Bradley methods aren’t even attempted often there. My first post was more of my thoughts on this topic from reading a slanted article with an alarming headline.
More from those in and around the center…
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/provo/article_3085b44b-cf7c-5029-ac0b-0b2bdb8baadf.html