HW 38 - Insights from pregnancy & birth book - part 1

1. The book is designed to show some of the corruptions behind the obstetrics and gynecological care at hospitals. The system is changing and women no longer have rights when it comes to giving birth and hospitals can’t protect them because doctors are facing issues themselves.

2. The essential question of the book seems to be: “The system of birth is seriously flawed but what can we do to improve women’s experiences with birth in the United States?” “This book will show that by embracing a medical model of birth and allowing obstetricians control of our maternity care, we Americans have accepted health care for women and babies that is not only below standard for wealthy countries but often amounts to neglect and abuse” (Pg. 5).

3. The book is trying to express why obstetrics and gynecology are so sacred and why women are almost always referred to hospitals rather than having the option of a midwife. For example having a midwife is not an option in some cities. “Obstetricians ‘attend’ 90 percent of births and have a great deal of control, essentially a monopoly, over the maternity care system” (Pg. 5).

I never thought about the power obstetricians had and reading the book made me a little more skeptical because there are certain things obstetricians are not allowed to do for fear of litigation and for a bond of silence between doctors. If a doctor finds something that is not right, maybe a patient being abused by a doctor they would be reprimanded for standing in rather than trying to help the patient. This is the same with doctors if there is something going on with another doctor one doctor is not allowed to testify against another out of fear of being fired. It’s sad the position a doctor is placed in.

4. *That women should not be pressured into being given drugs even without their knowledge.
*Doctors should actually stay with the women while they are in the process of dilating and having contractions so they understand the situation before they come into it.
*A doctor should need to provide statistics about the number of patients that have been given c-sections, episiotomies, and general statistics from the doctor they choose.
*Women should be allowed to choose whatever kind of birth they would like to have, because in some states there may be more obstetricians than midwives.
*The fact that doctors have an unspoken bond of silence toward one another and are not allowed testifying against another doctor who may not be giving patients the proper treatment.

5. The book gives statistical data to support each of the topics the author is referring to throughout the book. I can trust this information because the statistics speak for themselves; however the book continues restating the same point multiple times. The text does not convince me because I didn’t know that some of these things existed in our society but the book doesn’t make me want to become more motivated to make a change it seems like the author is saying that this is the way it is and that’s that.