Join the Conversation on Tuesday, October 21st at 6pm ET as we expand our weekly Birth in the News segment to dig a littler deeper into the stories making headlines today. We'll chat with the author of a new study, the curator of a groundbreaking book, a picketer on the British midwifery lines, and an attorney for the rights of pregnant women.
Tune into WSLR 96.5 LPFM or online at www.wslr.org on Tuesday, October 21st at 6:00pm ET. The program will also available later in the evening via podcast on iTunes or at maternallyyoursradio.com.
Routine Pelvic Exam Should Be Discontinued, Physician Group Says
In a new practice recommendation issued last week, the American College of Physicians said the routine pelvic exam is not an effective way to detect gynecological cancers, venereal or pelvic inflammatory disease or bacterial infections. The annual procedure causes pain and discomfort to as many as 60% of women of childbearing age, prompting many to avoid regular visits to a gynecologist. And it is particularly likely to cause distress to women who have been sexually abused and those who are extremely overweight. Whether the recommendation will change the routine medical care of women is uncertain, as pelvic exams are most often performed by OB-GYNs who, citing "expert opinion," have defended their value. In a committee opinion drafted in 2012 and reaffirmed this year, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists acknowledged that the case for the annual pelvic exam "lacks data to support a specific time frame or frequency." But the group nevertheless recommended annual pelvic exams for women over 21 without symptoms of possible illness, after a consultation between doctor and patient. Last week, ACOG said it "continues to firmly believe in the clinical value of pelvic exams."
Effect of Home Visiting by Nurses on Maternal and Child Mortality
A new study in the latest issue of JAMA Pediatrics finds that home visits from nurses may help lower the risk of maternal death. The study, revealed that in a group of 1,138 mothers at high risk for maternal death, those who received prenatal and infant and toddler nurse visits at home were significantly less likely to die than those who did not. The mothers were assigned to one of four different treatment groups, two of which included home visitation. After analyzing all cause maternal mortality and preventable-case mortality like sudden infant death syndrome, unintentional injury and homicide in children, researchers found that the average 21-year maternal all-cause mortality rate was significantly higher in the control groups without home visitation. Locally, Sarasota Memorial Hospital had a groundbreaking postpartum home visitation program that was defunded in 2012. The program included home visits from a lactation nurse to over 1100 families annually. We urge Sarasota Memorial to investigate funding sources to reinstate this program. In the meantime, support can be given to The Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, who provides in-home and group support to women through all stages of pregnancy and the postpartum year. Visit healthystartsarasota.org for more information.
National Women's Law Center Launches CoverHer Hotline
In this week’s “Oh, Hobby Lobby” segment, we bring you some good news from our friend Sonia Fuentes, who tells us that the National Women's Law Center has launched a new hotline called “CoverHer” to help women who are having trouble getting access to women's preventive health services - especially contraception - at no cost to them. The user-friendly hotline provides personalized instructions on how to navigate the health insurance process to ensure that women get the coverage for preventive services they are guaranteed under the health care law. It also includes critical follow-up to track the results. The hotline number is (866) 745-5487. Visit www.CoverHer.org for more information.
Rest in Peace, Stephen Gaskin
And we have lost another champion of mother’s rights this week, as we say goodbye to Stephen Gaskin. Stephen was the founding father of the intentional community The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee, and the husband for 46 powerful years to midwifery pioneer Ina May Gaskin. Let’s listen to Ina May talk about the kind of man her husband was.
Tonight's Epilogue:
On tonight's show, we welcomed back Hermine Hayes-Klein of the international organization Human Rights in Childbirth. Hermine expounded on the introduction to her organization she shared on our show two weeks ago, explaining how the motivation so many of us share through absorbing the negative birth experiences of our peers was transformed into the mobilization of multiple disciplines throughout several countries, all with a shared mission: to clarify and promote the fundamental human rights of pregnant people.
The fundamental human rights in childbirth that Hermine's organization works to raise awareness and preservation for are:
We talked about several recently publicized instances of human rights violations in childbirth, including forced cesarean sections, criminalization of homebirth midwifery, lack of VBAC access, shackling and sterilization of incarcerated pregnant women, and an overall obstetric climate that suggests that women are not autonomous, when we are, in fact, the captains of our ships.
Childbearing women are humans, and humans have basic fundamental rights. Human Rights in Childbirth is leading a global movement to restore and preserve these rights. If you would like to support their efforts, please visit their website, and go to their IndieGogo campaign to learn more. (You can score some sweet gifts, too.)
Join the Conversation Tuesday, July 8th at 6pm ET as Laura and Dana welcome back Hermine Hayes-Klein of Human Rights in Childbirth. Following her appearance on our episode on Forced Cesareans two weeks ago, Hermine will share the history of her organization and the pressing human rights issues facing childbearing women worldwide. Have a question for our hosts or guest? Please email us or post to our facebook page.
Tune into WSLR 96.5 LPFM or online at www.wslr.org Tuesday, July 8th at 6:00pm ET. The program will also available later in the evening via podcast at maternallyyoursradio.com.
Join the Conversation on Tuesday, June 24th when Laura and Ryan discuss "forced cesareans." If informed consent is a pregnant patient's legal right, then how can a cesarean be forced? We will welcome Farah Diaz-Tello of National Advocates for Pregnant Women to discuss the issue, as recent cases like Rinat Dray's in Staten Island, NY have brought it to the forefront of both birth justice and feminist action groups. We'll also hear from Ms. Dray's attorney, Michael Bast, and the founder of the NGO Human Rights in Childbirth, Hermine Hayes-Klein. We will share statements from both the Staten Island hospital being sued by Ms. Dray, as well as our own Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and of course, we'll hear from women themselves who have felt forced into surgical birth.
In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision to strike
down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Laura and Carmela discussed gay rights
and parenting. We began the show with a discussion of DOMA, and what impact the
recent Supreme Court decision will have on gay couples in our nation. Currently, the biggest impact will be on
individuals who are already legally married in their own states, as it will
impact their ability to receive federal marriage benefits. However, the ruling
does not establish a constitutional right to gay marriage. We spoke to Nadine
Smith, an executive director of Equality Florida in
order to gather more information about the ruling.
We then welcomed
Kristen and Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson to the show. In April of this
year, one of two Time magazine covers for the same issue featured the words
"Gay Marriage Already Won" and a black and white photograph of two
women kissing. Those two women were Kristen and Sarah. As wives and advocates
for equal rights, their story is fascinating enough. As mothers, it is
downright incredible.
Kristen Ellis-Henderson is a founding member, bass player,
and songwriter of the all-female popular country/ rock band Antigone Rising.
Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson has spent the past seventeen years working on such
top brands as Vogue, In Style, and most recently as Executive Vice President of
Real Simple Magazine. They joined us to discuss their own relationship and
parenting journey, and to share a bit about what the recent Supreme Court
ruling has meant for their family.
Kristen and Sarah shared the remarkably story of how they
came to be pregnant on the same day, and discussed their coinciding pregnancy
and birth stories. Our guests shared to importance of finding support,
particularly in a world where prejudice can still be prominent. Kristen and Sarah also discussed their own
advocacy with us, including how they came to be featured on the cover of time
magazine!
TONIGHT’S RIGHT: Every woman
has the right to receive complete information about the benefits of
breastfeeding well in advance of labor, to refuse supplemental bottles and
other actions that interfere with breastfeeding, and to have access to skilled
lactation support for as long as she chooses to breastfeed. To learn more about
your rights, please visit ChildbirthConnection.org.
Thank you to the Sarasota Herald Tribune for publishing this letter today, written by one of our Collective.
Recently, Gov. Rick Scott signed the Healthy Pregnancies for Incarcerated Women Act (SB 524) into law. I applaud Sen. Arthenia Joyner, Rep. Betty Reed, Gov. Scott, and all who championed this legislation.
The practice of shackling incarcerated pregnant women (the overwhelming majority of which were arrested for nonviolent crimes) is barbaric, inhumane, and dangerous to the health of the mother and the baby. It interferes with the work of her health care provider, and makes the labor process more painful and more difficult than necessary. It increases trauma, and subsequent post-traumatic stress and post-partum depression, both of which increase rates of recidivism, drug use, and suicide. Conversely, when a woman gives birth with dignity and compassion, attachment to her baby is facilitated, giving that baby the greatest chance of physiological and emotional success in those first critical hours of life.
I strongly encourage the Florida Legislature to examine a prison nursery system, much like the ones in place in New York, Nebraska, California, Washington, Ohio and Indiana. Healthy maternal infant bonding strengthens a healthy society.
