Heather Armstrong (self-described as "the woman who was all EPIDURAL ON THE ROCKS, PLEASE!") has me doing a happy dance this morning with her
latest post on
Dooce, wherein she describes how reading Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein's
Your Best Birth revolutionized her perceptions about natural birth leading up to the recent birth of her daughter, Marlo:
And then, oh God, the worst thing happened. And I didn't even see it coming, but I'm sitting there reading that book, gritting my teeth, shaking my head when all of a sudden it started to make sense. I started to see just how medicalized labor and birth have become in America AND THERE GOES MY WORLD VIEW.
I'm not going to get into the specifics and the really convincing and at times jaw-dropping statistics of it here, there are so many other places and people who can write about it better than I can, but I will say this: if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, GO READ THAT BOOK. From now on when someone asks me what is the one piece of advice I would give to a pregnant woman, it will be: GO BUY A COPY OF THAT BOOK. Listen, I am not affiliated with that book in any way, I do not know Ricki Lake, she and I do not vacation in St. Tropez together (although if she'd like to come ride four-wheelers at my Mom's cabin in Duchesne, Utah, THE OFFER STANDS), I do not owe that publisher any favors. But IT CHANGED MY LIFE. I'm not even kidding, I'll say it again: IT CHANGED MY LIFE.
Considering that only, like, 100 billion people read Dooce, it is really really exciting to see Heather evolving on this issue and speaking out about it so strongly. I have loved her blog for years, but this really makes it dear to my heart. I only read a few of the 505 comments on her latest post, but it is so moving and cool to see how many people have already been positively influenced to start educating themselves about their birthing options just from that one post. And she hasn't even gotten to her actual birth story yet.
Go.
Leigh,
ReplyDeleteHi, I just wanted to introduce myself to you. I found your site through Metropolitan Mom. I am a mom of 6 (2 grown, 2 teens, 1 pre-teen, and a 13-month-old...I know right?
Anyway, I am an avid breatfeeder and home birth experienced. If there is anything you want to know about tandem nursing (I actually think I nursed the for 7 years straight...it was like having aumentation without the cutting, cost, and drugs.
I have a women's blog that talks about health, beauty, emotional issues, and life-change. If you get the chance, stop by and say hi. Be well.
Kellie
I had the same reaction this morning -- yay Dooce! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was so fantastic to read about her sudden transition to natural birth philosophies, particularly after describing her previous beliefs as:
"I was also under the impression, having never really researched the subject whatsoever, that any woman who would opt for a homebirth was not only COMPLETELY OUT OF HER MIND but also not interested in the safety of her unborn child. I mean, there's a reason that infant and maternal mortality rates are so much better than a hundred years ago, right? HOSPITALS. And MEDICINE. And smart people we call DOCTORS. Yes, women routinely used to go out into the field by themselves and give birth without any assistance, and many of them routinely did not return BECAUSE THEY DIED."
I think it's safe to say that us "insane" folks are glad to have her -- with her gianormous readership and influence -- suddenly on our side :)
I wonder if anyone has recommended Pushed over in the comments yet? That book totally blew my mind.
Hallelujah!!!
ReplyDeleteThats way cool, especially since shes like the Oprah of the internet. Woot Woot!
ReplyDeleteThis is Super-Fantastic!!!
ReplyDeleteI JUST read her post earlier and had CHILLS! LOVE LOVE LOVED it!
ReplyDeleteSteph
Admittedly, I've never heard of this writer/blogger, but she truly is an inspiration and comes from where I'm coming from. Not all of us were so lucky to have already known all of this information before giving birth to our first. Thank you for sharing this, her blog post was a really fun read.
ReplyDeleteThat is rad!
ReplyDeleteNell
I found your blog through the "My Best Birth" community of Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein. Glad I did! I'm looking forward to following along.
ReplyDeleteKristen