Unassisted Childbirth on the news! Click here for the story.
Not sure how long this link will stay up, most news stations will only keep the vids up for a month.
In the story, web site traffic was mentioned. Some of the bigger Unassisted Childbirth sites get tens of thousands of hits a month, My site is not as popular as those, especially since I don’t host a forum, but what I have noticed over the years is that people tend to come in and really surf around the site, printing out many of my columns and sending links to friends.
Here is my traffic from the past few months, on this blog and on my web site, which is devoted to mothering issues. Those coming into my blog are not necessarily interested in birth, as I write about a variety of topics. For those of you who don’t know, Unique Visitors are the key indicator of a sites traffic in terms of individual readers, NOT overall hits.
Here are the stats for my Natural Family Company Web Site for the past few months.
February 2007 – Unique Visitors: 1,655 Hits: 74,598
March 2007 – Unique Visitors 1,835 Hits: 38,016
April 2007 – Unique Visitors 1,485 HIts: 26,776
May 2007 – Unique Visitors 1,655 Hits: 35,596
And here are the stats from my Blog from the past few months:
March 2007 – Unique Visitors 19,661 Hits – 196,245
April 2007 – Unique Visitors 12,972 Hits 94,336
May 2007 – Unique Visitors 15,154 Hits 83,340
What generates the most traffic on my sites is my Lotus Birth Picture Gallery. It has had hundreds of thousands of hits since I put it up on my web site, and just during the month of February 2007, it had a total of 46,645 hits!!!
One of the troubling sides of my work online is that the various people who have purchased books, transcripts, and video have freely shared those links with friends. For example last month I did not sell one book, e-video, or transcript, yet 99 people downloaded my book A Lotus Birth for free, 63 People downloaded my book Elijah Birth for free, and 54 People downloaded the transcript of our birth conference for free. Three people opened up A Mothers Journey for free, and 31 people watched the conference for free.
While it is gratifying to have individuals interested in my writings and work, it has been difficult to have so many just taking the information for free when it has cost me thousands of dollars of family money to put it up on the web, and hundreds each month to continue hosting. I have not made a dime off my sites in months, and while grateful for the traffic, I wish those who take for free would send along a couple bucks to help with my monthly costs. Especially if they felt the information was helpful.
I am overall thrilled that others find what I do and how we live interesting and informative. My writing has been a labor of love, and I devote all of this work to the generations of babies that will come in the future and into eternity.
Jenny Hatch
This globe and mail story will only be on the site for a couple more days….
http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/video/index.html
Click on the link and then scroll down to thursday and hit FreeBirthing

Hey Guys,
I noticed you were having your big annual meeting this weekend, so thought I would take the time to share the blog entry I wrote responding to your recent media advisory about unassisted birth.
Dr. LaLonde, you said in an article:

“We think this is something that is really dangerous and irresponsible,” André Lalonde, the group’s executive vice-president, said in an interview yesterday. “Women are dying in Latin America, Asia and Europe because they don’t have skilled attendants for the delivery of their babies. And here in Canada we’re going to move back to this? I don’t think so.”

So my questions is, what do you propose doing to those of us who refuse to enter a hospital to give birth?
Lock us up?
Take our children away?
Put a little ankel bracelet on and put us under house arrest?
Hook us up to an EFM during the final weeks of pregnancy and then send the police out to pick us up when we are in active labor?
A mother in America was recently forced to the hospital with police escort, even though she was nine centermeters dialated and birthing perfectly at home. She was forced to have a second section, because the docs in the US have decided VBAC’s are too dangerous.
Again, what do you mean by the words “I don’t think so”.
Here is my blog post and response.
I suggest we have a nice big healthy debate with full media coverage. I would be happy to engage in that debate with any of you doctors so we could come to a meeting of the minds about DIY birth. We are not going away. We are not going to cave to the pressure to give birth with an attendant. And we claim our female rights of self determination over our own bodies.
The question is, just what exactly are you going to do with us? I’m really curious.
Jenny Hatch
Birth Activist and UC Birth Promoter
I thought since they were having the big annual meeting this weekend, they might like to hear from one of our group. You know, just so they could know exactly what I think of them and their little Media Advisory Notice to the mothers of Canada.
A nice big healthy roaring debate on childbirth would be such a healthy thing for everyone, don’t you all agree???
Jenny Hatch
UPDATE: June 25th, 2007
A response:

“Thank you for your email. Dr. Lalonde will most probably respond after our annual meeting.

Regards,

Geneviève St-Gelais”

Coordinator, Communications and Publications/
Coordonatrice au service des communications et publications
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)
La Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada (SOGC)
780 promenade Echo Drive Ottawa, ON K1S 5R7 (Canada)
Tel: 1-800-561-2416 or 1-613-730-4192 ext: 329
Fax: 613-730-4314
E-mail:gstgelais@sogc.com
SOGC Website: http://www.sogc.org

Doctors blast DIY deliveries

“The risks of giving birth without a skilled attendant “outweigh any possible benefits” and practitioners are needlessly endangering themselves and their unborn babies, according to the advisory, which is the strongest public stance against the practice by a group of medical professionals to date.”

(sarcasm implied)
Man, I am so glad these docs took the time to weigh everything and decide that my lifestyle is a threat to my children. I never would have known that giving birth alone was so horrible if they had not taken the time to talk about it and decide to make a public statement. It’s not like the media or two hundred years of fear based victorian ingnorance has ever made it seem like birth was a great mystery only to be guarded by the doctor on his noble steed of protection and heroic interventions.
 

 

(And just a leetttle more sarcasm)

And all I have ever heard from Radio, Television, and media in general is what is normal and natural in childbirth. Watch any soap opera today and what you will see is mothers giving birth without drugs or medical interventions, and then breastfeeding for the long haul. “This segment brought to you by La Leche League.”

If those obstetricians in Canada had not told me that what I was doing was dangerous, I may have never even guessed for a minute that husband/wife hombirth was deadly for me and my newborn, because all I have ever been exposed to and watched on television and in the movies was pure natural drug free birth. And all that has ever been promoted by commercials, advertising, and the powers that be is pure natural family living, because we all know chemical free living is best for the child, and all that the government, the medical profession, and advertising want to do is make certain that I welcome a healthy child into my life, because we ALL know that a healthy baby is all that matters.

Whew, I feel better to be so informed. Thanks. Without you people pointing it out, you know, taking the time to say something out loud, in public, I never would have figured it out!

I guess now I should just dump my 19 years of research and bow down to the medical gods, because hey, they said so. And everyone knows that doctors always practice evidence based medicine, and they know everything, because dangit, they are full fledged SCIENTISTS, and we all know it takes years and years of Big Pharma Brainwashing to get to that level of Credibility!
 

 

OK, I’ve had my sarcastic rant. Back to the point of this blog post:

The incoming president of the Candadian equivalent of ACOG, The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), Dr. Guylaine Lefebvre claims that those promoting Freebirth are “tragically misinformed.”
And a Dr. Senikas claims that quote: “Unassisted childbirth is unsafe − period,” says Dr. Vyta Senikas, SOGC’s associate executive vice-president.

“Senikas says the people advocating “freebirthing” are tragically uninformed and are promoting high-risk, dangerous behaviour disguised as sound medical advice.

“You have to look at the source. These are not trained and educated medical professionals,” Senikas says.

“Look at the source”….hmmmm….seems judgemental to me. Sure, I’m a mother who only had two years of schooling beyond high school, in Musical Theatre at that….so I guess I am a know nothing cretin, who has absolutely no right to make health care decisions for and in behalf of my children. The thousands of hours I have spent researching childbirth, teaching childbirth classes, attending births, giving birth to my own five children, writing my three books, all largely about birth, organizing a birth conference, and now this blog, again devoted to the promotion of home birth, all of this leaves me “tragically uninformed” about …..birth.
 

 

(just a little more sarcasm)

WOW! Thanks Dr. Senikas. I had no idea I was such a retard when it came to birth. Without you pointing out my deficiencies as an uncredentialed, uninformed, tragic sort of person promoting something that is so dangerous and deadly to me and my child, I may have gone ahead and done something really stupid like get pregnant with my sixth child, and then actually had the gall to do my own prenatal care, and then, (NO, someone stop her before she does it again….we have to SAVE HER FROM HERSELF!!!) I may have given birth in my bedroom as my great grandmothers did for thousands of years before I was born.

My great, great grandmother gave birth to fourteen children in her Michigan Farmhouse. She was just dang lucky to be alive….it was all just a stinkin’ coincidence that she made it through birth number one at home, much less, birth number fourteen because home birth is so deadly and dangerous, as every doctor and enlightened person knows.

The reporters found it necessary to quote the infamous Dr. Crappen in another article found here

“Dr. John Crippen, a doctor in the U.K. who writes an award-winning blog, has reacted angrily to freebirth. saying “giving birth is the most dangerous thing that most woman will do during their life.””

As I have said recently, Dr. C left three little words out of his famously quoted statement.

Doc, you left out: “In the Hospital”

“Giving birth IN THE HOSPITAL is the most dangerous thing that most woman will do during their life”
Yet it appears that the Canadian Nanny state Medical Machine has some issues regarding their own birth practices.

Doctors call for national birthing strategy

While spewing bogus stats on us Free Birthers, the real story is their own carefully collected statistics, which paint a dire picture for birthing women all over Canada.
 

 

QUOTES:

“Canada needs a national birthing strategy to combat a poor international record for safe deliveries, says the outgoing president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.”

“Last June, when the most recent OECD statistics were released, Canada had stumbled, ranking 11th for maternal mortality rates; 14th in perinatal mortality and 21st for prevalence of infant mortality.

“Safety for women having babies is something we expect. That we have concerns is worrisome,” said Dr. Don Davis, the society’s outgoing president.

About 80 per cent of births in Canada are attended by an obstetrician.”

Here are some facts for you condemning doctors and your cult of professionalism…..

The most educated women are giving birth at home alone.

The most healthy women are the ones who look at the so called “free” health care you provide, and say “no thanks”.

The most protective parents are the ones who have read the research, which many doctors do not even bother to review, and have decided the Medical Professions own statistics are what make the case for Free Birth. Yeah, its true docs. We have found your statistics and practices WORRISOME for years, and we have bowed out and said NO to your drugs, surgery, and scare “Cover your medical butt” prenatal care.
 

 

The article ends with these sobering words:

“Fewer and fewer family doctors are willing to live the lifestyle of obstetrics,” said Black. “The traditional way – where the doctors is the only one who can deliver a baby – is going to have to change. Nurses and midwives are very capable of delivering low-risk babies.”

I would add that parents themselves are highly capable of delivering their own children. To me it would be the height of irony for the Cult of Professionals backed up by government and the courts to outlaw Unassisted Birth, fully knowing and accepting that the birth machine is murdering and maiming healthy mothers and babies all over the world.
 

 

All we are asking for is the freedom to give birth where we feel comfortable.

What do you care how we give birth? Obviously the health of the family is not a concern or you would have changed your birth machine to cater to the real needs of mothers years ago. But a monopoly is so fun…makes one feel so powerful….And those credentials….That big name plate on the wall, with all of those signatures declaring doctor so and so worthy to cut and drug willy nilly.

Well guess what?

The jig is up.

We parents have called your bluff.

Giving birth is no longer the medical mystery of our grandmothers day when grandma took her gas like a lady and spread her legs for the forceps and the knives. And then thanked the doc for the thrill of having him yank the baby out while she soundly slept.
 

 

We Freebirthers demand to give birth privately, in the sanctity of our own homes.

Awake, aware, and ready to welcome our babes alone.
 

 

Would you deny me my rights of self determination as a mother?

If you do, I will fight you to the highest courts in the land.

Doesn’t it seem just a tad insane for our society to allow mothers to murder their own children during pregnancy with abortion, protected by the courts and screaming feminists in the streets and yet if we desire to give birth privately, we become worthy of the highest scorn and condemnation of the medical profession?
 

 

Crazy!

Media Centre
Media Advisories
SOGC Annual Clinical Meeting, Ottawa, June 21 to 26, 2007
The Dangers of Unassisted Childbirth
Jenny Hatch

I have created a new catagory on this blog to pull together everything that is being said in the media and in the blogosphere about Freebirth. Go Here to see it all.

I have watched the development of the media interest in Unassisted Birth this past month, and have been thrilled by it.
I first heard about the League of liberated women in 1989, so this has been a very long journey for me.
During my first birth in 1988, while experiencing the mysteries of labor for the first time, determined to give birth without drugs, and still at home, I had the deep desire enter my heart to stay at home and give birth in my own bedroom. I dutifully went to the hospital after asking my mother and my husband if we could “just stay home”, and they responded with the utmost fear and dread.
But less than a year later I was studying Bradley Childbirth books and materials and in a little known book on home birth read about Pat Carter and her league. And I made the determination then that I would join her group by giving birth alone in the sanctity of my own home.
David and Laura Shanley were interviewed with an actual camera by a reporter from the AP for an internet and television broadcast.
And even as I type Laura is in a London Hotel waiting to appear on the Richard and Judy Show.
She Said:
“UC on TV in the UK and elsewhere
——————————————————————————–
Hi Everyone,
Rixa Freeze will be appearing on GMTV in the UK tomorrow (Wed.) morning on a show called “UK Today” –
The show was taped today, and Rixa thought it went well, although they gave more time to an M.D. than she would have liked! The segment may be available online. If so, I’ll try and post a link.
Meanwhile, I’m getting ready to fly to London tomorrow where I’ll appear on the “Richard and Judy Show” on Friday –
I believe the program airs at 5pm, but I think my segment may come on later in the show. Two other UC mums, Julia and Natalie, will also be appearing with me. Should be fun!
And if things weren’t crazy enough, David and I were interviewed yesterday by Maura Axelrod, a producer from Associated Press television. Maura’s interest in UC was piqued when she saw the Reuters article that was published several weeks ago. As it so happened, Maura was vacationing in Boulder, and sent me an email asking if we could get together. I said sure, and she mapquested my address (she’s staying with family).
Turns out she was literally “one minute” from my house, so she walked over with her camera and did the interview! Joy, John, and Molly (doggie) appeared briefly, as well. Maura will submit a 5 to 7 minute segment to the AP, probably by the end of the month. We’re not sure who will air it or when, so keep your eyes peeled. If you see me on TV let me know!
Laura”
I was interviewed last month by an editor at Eve Magazine in London (it will be in the July edition of the mag), and Laura and Lynn Griesemer were interviewed by the Washington Post for an article that will appear in July.
My question is, why is the American Media (The Post and Denver Westword excluded from this assessment), so reluctant to share the good news of UC Birth?
My only thought is that Ostrich in the sand like, they have bowed down to their advertisers and are not willing to promote anything that would affect the bottom line. As the old media machine dies off and the pharmaceutical companies who give the media elites their marching orders loses its grip on American Culture and People, I predict that many more reporters will become interested in this phenomenon of parents taking personal responsibility for the births of their children, and the good news of husband/wife childbirth will be blasted from the housetops.
Only England has responded in typical media fashion after the story hit the airwaves, with requests for magazine and television media appearances.
American Media has largely ignored: (The WaPo’s interest and willingness to take it on is further proof that they are the best national paper in the country)

The American Media turns into ostriches whenever alternative healing is being discussed.
Watch any show on television and just count up the big pharma ads to see who runs things in our country. The recent Oprah Show on Autism was a reminder of how much pressure producers are under to keep the party line on the airwaves. The parents on the show were threatened that if they used the word Vaccine during the show, they would be edited out. One of the mothers appealed to Oprah directly and asked that it be addressed and Oprah said OK.

Free Birth is a tremendous threat to the current practice of medicine, because parents who have been encouraged to run from the birth machine also tend to say no to vaccines and antibiotics, and are in a much better position emotionally to stand up to the current tyrannys that exist to prevent mothers and fathers from creating a healthy family.
So, I have a challenge for American Media and the People of our country. Let’s have a good healthy debate! In the media, on the airwaves, radio, and internet. Let’s talk about family life and have a good old fashioned Contentious debate, the Book of Mormon calls this “wonderful Contentions” and it is the very type of debate that ushered in The Great American Experiment.
Our beautiful Constitution came after some of the most vociferous debate ever engaged in by the human family.
I would contend that the same sort of debate NEEDS to take place regarding how best to birth, feed, raise, and heal children.
Because the Medical Monopoly has shut out all debate, and many people ASSUME it is the only and best way to create a family, those of us promoting something else have been largely ignored and completely shut out of the conversation.
I would simply challenge anyone reading this to question your assumptions about family life.
As for the debate: BRING IT ON!!!
Jenny Hatch