AmazonMidwife

So, I've been pondering on this Palin birth buareadh. It's just chock full of issues for me, no matter which way I look at it. Here's the best, most charitable angle from which I can view it: that the baby was indeed Palin's daughter's child, and Palin acted from a (misguided from my perspective) fear that having an illegitimate child would indeed ruin her daughter's life and created the charade pregnancy to save her daughter. (Yes, I know that it would also save her OWN reputation, and there were several degrees of self-interest involved. However, as I said previously, this is the MOST charitable reading I can give this situation.)

How can this be the best of all possible perspectives? Well, as per the title, I have judgement issues regarding Palin's parenting choices. I've had them ever since I heard that she was boasting about going back to work three days after having the baby. I know that economic necessity faced by some moms who indeed MUST return to work prematurely postpartum; I've been at some of their births. And, indeed, most postpartum mothers who have older children return to work prematurely as well, but that gets into a whole 'nuther rant re women and unpaid work. However, when I'm thinking about Palin, it's hard for me to imagine that the state of Alaska medical benefits forced her to return to work that soon. And, considering that our supposed President regularly takes a couple weeks off to go vacation at his ranch, I can't imagine that there would be such pressing matters in Alaska that Gov. Palin couldn't have handled them by doing a little work from home via the phone or with administrative aides shuttling back and forth a bit.

My whirlwind week continued. CHOICE was one of the sponsors who brought Jennifer Block to town, to talk about her book, Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care. (Here's a link to her blog.)

She was mainly preaching to the choir. But I was able to take away this idea: "We have to start saying to our friends that we think their decisions about their births are a bad idea." I have always refrained from that, because I know that women need to give birth where they feel safest. But the current state of obstetrics, as it is practiced in this country, is, in many ways, unsafe. Yet I see and hear of so many competent women, who question authority adroitly, who research and educate themselves tirelessly when making choices, just putting themselves blindly in the hands of their OB. The only thing I've found so far that may partially explain it is this link, which the 'Savant sent me last week. It could be; I've always thought that oxytocin had a pheremonic quality.

Not being able to squirt hormones up the noses of my friends, I have found that it is folly to tell someone else that one thinks they are making a bad choice. Throwing down that gauntlet rarely gets someone to change their mind; instead it usually causes a defensive reaction that intensifies their commitment to the decision in question. But telling a friend "I am worried about your chances of having the birth you want in the hospital." can be a good way to open a discussion and do some educating.

I was less than 6 feet from Eddie Izzard for 20 minutes while he did a Q & A at the Palace stagedoor after the show tonight, (which was brilliant BTW.) He's gorgeous and quite nice--better than cake. Can you name the show that featured that bit?

In other news, soccer is over!!! and next Sunday is the end of both the Our Whole Lives class and the regular religious ( 3rd grade) education I help teach at church. I might have a bit more time to blog, if I can get the kids caught up on all the schoolwork they've not had the time to do during the spring season.

Finally, here's the link to the radio interview on waterbirth that I helped do last week. They did leave out my enormous gaffe about water purity in India in the broadcasted version, but mentioned it in the printed edition. Next time, when asked whether water is clean enough for birthing, I'll just say (after coaching from Lindsay), "We drink it and that seems to work out okay."

I'll be there, as will my partners (barring a birth of course).

I had a revelation Saturday while watching the Girl's soccer game: coaching a sport and midwifing a birthing mom use, in many ways, the same skill set. Both involve instilling self-confidence in one's body and its ability to perform the necessary tasks, looking for and praising said physical prowess, and carefully watching the athlete/mom while they are working to find ways to help them improve.